Physico-chemical analysis, antioxidant capacity and vitamins of six ecotypes of chilean quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd)

Abstract

Quinoa has gained an increasing interest in recent years due to its nutritional value as well as its antioxidant capacity and phytochemical content. The objective of this work was to determine the physico-chemical properties, vitamins (B1, B2, B3 and E) and the antioxidant activity of six ecotypes of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) cultivated in three quinoa production zones in Chile (North Highlands, Center and Southern Chile). The samples are called Ancovinto and Cancosa from the North, Cáhuil and Faro from the Center, and Regalona and Villarica from the South. To evaluate the differences among ecotypes, an analysis of variance was conducted using one-way ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) test. Proximate analysis of quinoa seeds including moisture, crude protein, fat, crude fiber, ash and available carbohydrates for the six ecotypes showed differences among samples (p-value<0.05). All cultivars showed good quality with respect to protein, Regalona and Villarica from Southern presented the highest content (14.66 and 16.10g/100g, respectively). According to DPPH and TPC analysis, Faro and Cáhuil from Centre showed the highest antioxidant capacity (p-value<0.05). Southern Regalona presented the highest content in vitamins B1 (0.648 ± 0.006mg/100g) and B3 (1.569 ± 0.026mg/100g) while the highest value of vitamin B2 (0.081 ± 0.002mg/100g) was observed in the Northern Ancovinto samples. Regarding vitamin E, the highest value was shown by the Southern Villarica samples (4.644 ± 0.240mg/100g d.m.).These results represent fundamental information required for further quinoa processing.