Phenolic Compounds and Saponins in Quinoa Samples (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grown under Different Saline and Nonsaline Irrigation Regimens

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 60; no. 18; pp. 4620 - 4627
• Main Authors: Gómez-Caravaca, Ana María, Iafelice, Giovanna, Lavini, Antonella, Pulvento, Cataldo, Caboni, Maria Fiorenza, Marconi, Emanuele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 09.05.2012
• Subjects: Agricultural Irrigation - methods; Antioxidants - analysis; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; Cereal and baking product industries; Chenopodium quinoa; Chenopodium quinoa - chemistry; Chenopodium quinoa - growth & development; Cinnamates - analysis; drought; Droughts; Flavonoids - analysis; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; irrigation; Italy; nutrients; phenolic compounds; Phenols - analysis; Salinity; salt stress; saponins; Saponins - analysis; Seeds - chemistry; Seeds - growth & development; Stress, Physiological; South America; Italy; phenolic compounds; irrigation level; quinoa; salt water; saponins; Water; Irrigation; Quinoa; Sample; Chenopodiaceae; Saponin; Salt; Pseudocereals; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phenols; Spermatophyta; Chenopodium quinoa
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf3002125

Quinoa is a pseudocereal from South America that has received increased interest around the world because it is a good source of different nutrients and rich in antioxidant compounds. Thus, this study has focused on the effects of different agronomic variables, such as irrigation and salinity, on the phenolic and saponin profiles of quinoa. It was observed that irrigation with 25% of full water restitution, with and without the addition of salt, was associated with increases in free phenolic compounds of 23.16 and 26.27%, respectively. In contrast, bound phenolic compounds were not affected by environmental stresses. Saponins decreased if samples were exposed to drought and saline regimens. In situations of severe water deficit, the saponins content decreased 45%, and 50% when a salt stress was added. The results suggest that irrigation and salinity may regulate the production of bioactive compounds in quinoa, influencing its nutritional and industrial values.