Abstract
The existence of more of 16,000 varieties of quinoa accessions around the world has caused a disregard on their structural and phytochemical characteristics. Most of such accessions belong to cultivars settled in Colombia. The goal of this research was to evaluate the structural attributes and antioxidant capacities from six quinoa cultivars with high productive potential from central regions in Colombia. This study used middle-range infrared spectroscopy (IR-MIR) to determine the proteins, starch and lipids distinctive to quinoa grains. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization Orbitrap, along with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/ESI-Orbitrap MS), were also used to identify the existence of polyphenols in cultivars. The antioxidant capacity was determined through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. The spectrums exhibited significant variances on the transmittance bands associated with 2922 cm−1, 1016 cm−1 and 1633 cm−1. Moreover, the intensity variations on the peaks from the secondary protein structure were identified, mainly on the bands associated with β-Sheet-1 and -2, random coil α elice and β-turns-2 and -3. Changes found in the ratios 996 cm−1/1014 cm−1 and 1041 cm−1/1014 cm−1 were associated with the crystalline/amorphous affinity. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, great differences were identified (p < 0.001) mainly through FRAP methods, while the phenolic acids and flavonoids were determined by UHPLC/ESI-Orbitrap MS techniques. The presence of apigenin and pinocembrin on grains was reported for the first time. Titicaca and Nariño were the most phytochemically diverse quinoa seeds.
Highlights
According to different scientific reports, quinoa had its origins in South America between Colombia and Chile
Colombian cultivars show a cream-white color associated with genomic quinoas from the inter-Andean Valley region, with typical short days with a high sensitivity to luminosity [8,19]
Resultsbrought an ease to its spreading to new cultivars, showing attributes linked to pericarpic
Summary
According to different scientific reports, quinoa had its origins in South America between Colombia and Chile. The distribution of cultivars happens according to their source of origin as quinoa from: the altiplano Inter-Andean Valley, from the coast and from Salares and Yungas [1]. Quinoa species show a great adaptability to harsh edaphoclimatic conditions, mainly related to dramatic changes in the temperature, salinity stress and lower availability of water and nutrients [2]. Amaranth, buckwheat and chia were underutilized for the effect of introduction in crops such as rice, wheat, soybean and barley. Underutilized species are important components of the local agriculture and comprise a broad variety of crops that are traditionally used and that may have potential for adaptation to climate change, medicinal properties and functional food development [3]. The quinoa cultivars incorporated into genetic improvement can reduce the richness of this species [4,5]
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