Nutritional and antinutritional compounds in leaves of quinoa

Abstract

In the context of climate change, especially for the temperate continental climate, new potential crop species are emerging, originating from the tropics. One of them is quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with multiple benefits for seed and leaf production. Quinoa is native to South America, grown mainly for seeds, with a high ecological plasticity. Little is known about the potential of using quinoa plants as a leafy vegetable for food diversification. In this study, the nutritional and antinutritional content of quinoa leaves was evaluated in three cultivars (Titicaca, Puno, Vikinga), considering different densities and times of sowing. Puno cultivar had a higher total content of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and dietary fibers, and lower mineral contents in leaves. Low levels of antinutrient compounds were found in Vikinga leaves. Regarding the time of the crop establishment, the highest content of primary metabolic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, dietary fibers) was achieved by April 17, the sowing date. Crop densities of 7.7, 3.2, and 1.6 mil. plants/ha did not significantly influence the content of compounds with antinutritive role, such as oxalates, saponins or trypsin inhibitors. The content of mineral elements such as: Fe, Zn, Na and K were significantly influenced by the cultivar, compared to Mg and Ca whose values were insignificant regardless of the treatment.