Composition of Atriplex hortensis, sweet and bitter Chenopodium quinoa seeds

Abstract

Composition and amino acid profiles of seeds from garden orach (Atriplex hortensis) and sweet quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. 'Surumi') were compared with bitter quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Protein content was 14.8 and 15.7% for sweet and bitter quinoa, respectively. Garden orach seeds had a protein content of 25.7%, similar to that found in legumes. Fat and ash contents were similar for all three samples (5.3 to 6.2% fat; 2.6 to 3.2% ash). Amino acid profiles showed a balanced content of essential amino acids for all three samples when compared with reference patterns from the World Health Organization. Garden orach and quinoa seed proteins contained higher lysine contents compared with cereals.