Marcone M F
Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Feb;48(2):378-82. doi: 10.1021/jf991133a.
This paper reports the first ever investigation of the chemical components/composition of the seeds of Amaranthus pumilus (a threatened amaranth species) and compares the results to those of the more commonly cultivated Amaranthus hypochondriacus (Plainsman). This study clearly revealed that much genetic diversity exists between these species, indicating that potential breeding possibilities for the improvement of more commonly cultivated amaranth lines do exist. A. pumilus offers a much larger and more desirable seed size and weight (2-3-fold higher), permitting greater biomass production, in addition to lower levels (half) of free carbohydrate for improved value/performance in diabetic-type diets. In addition to the higher edible oil content found in A. pumilus, its lower saturated/unsaturated ratio (one of the lowest thus far measured) makes it potentially a better source of nutritional oil. In addition to the 2-fold-higher quantity of vitamin E found in A. pumilus, the higher levels of squalene also found may one day serve as a renewable crop source of this compound and may diminish the world's dependence upon marine animals. Considering the imminent danger posed to the survival of the seabeach amaranth in its native environment, it is hoped this study will raise public awareness of the importance of this species and thereby protect it from reaching extinction.
本文首次报道了对濒危苋属物种矮生苋种子化学成分的研究，并将结果与更常见的栽培种皱果苋（平原人苋）进行了比较。这项研究清楚地表明，这些物种之间存在很大的遗传多样性，这表明确实存在改良更常见栽培苋属品系的潜在育种可能性。矮生苋的种子大小和重量大得多且更理想（高出2至3倍），除了可实现更高的生物量生产外，其游离碳水化合物含量较低（减半），在糖尿病型饮食中具有更高的价值/性能。除了矮生苋中发现的食用油含量较高外，其较低的饱和/不饱和比（是迄今为止测量到的最低值之一）使其有可能成为更好的营养油来源。除了矮生苋中维生素E含量高出2倍外，还发现其角鲨烯含量较高，也许有朝一日它可成为这种化合物的可再生作物来源，并可能减少世界对海洋动物的依赖。鉴于海滩苋在其原生环境中的生存面临迫在眉睫的危险，希望这项研究能提高公众对该物种重要性的认识，从而保护它不致灭绝。
