Natural diversity of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoid glycosides, carotenoids and chlorophylls in leaves of six different amaranth species. (30th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schröter, David; Baldermann, Susanne; Schreiner, Monika; Witzel, Katja; Maul, Ronald; Rohn, Sascha; Neugart, Susanne
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 267(2018)
• Page Start: 376
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2018-11-30
• Subjects: Amaranthus sp. -- Caffeic acid derivatives -- Metabolic profiles -- Indigenous plants -- Plant secondary metabolites; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.11.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: Novel hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives identified and quantified in amaranth leaves. Significant differences found in secondary metabolite profiles of amaranth leaves. Species authentication facilitated by plant secondary metabolite profiles. Metabolic species authentication was confirmed by RAPD-PCR fingerprinting. Abstract: Amaranth species are globally grown food crops. However, knowledge about the composition of their secondary metabolites is insufficient. Here, selected hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoid glycosides, carotenoids and chlorophylls in the leaves of 14 genotypes from six different amaranth species were identified and quantified. For the first time, caffeic acid esters of isocitric and several aldaric acids were isolated and quantified in a leafy food matrix. High concentrations of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and chlorophylls, and moderate amounts of flavonoids and carotenoids were detected. A hierarchical clustering method of the metabolic profiles followed by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR fingerprinting was used to group the genotypes. Using this combined approach, three main groups of amaranth species were assigned. The information provided in this study increases the attractiveness of the amaranth genus as a food crop due to its strong diversity of plant secondary metabolites that are associated with numerous health-promoting benefits.