Seephua Nidthaya, Boonarsa Parinya, Li Hua, Thammapat Pornpisanu, Siriamornpun Sirithon
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand.
Research Unit of Thai Food Innovation, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand.
Foods. 2025 May 21;14(10):1832. doi: 10.3390/foods14101832.
This study assessed the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, phytosterol content, amino acids, and fatty acid profiles of watermeal cultivated under farm conditions (WF1) and harvested from natural environments (WF2 and WF3). WF1 exhibited the highest levels of protein (22.7%), dietary fiber (16.5%), total phenolic content (3.9 mg GAE/g DW), and total flavonoid content (5.0 mg QE/g DW). Chlorophyll and -glucan contents were comparable across all samples. WF1 also showed the highest total amino acid content, while WF2 had the highest lysine and tryptophan levels. Although essential amino acid profiles were slightly below WHO/FAO/UNU reference values, watermeal remains a promising complementary plant protein source. Fatty acid analysis revealed a consistently high α-linolenic acid content (30%) across all samples, highlighting its value as a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids. Minor differences in amino acid and fatty acid profiles suggest an influence of environmental conditions. The most pronounced difference between the farmed and naturally sourced samples was observed in phytosterol content, which was highest in the farmed sample. Overall, despite variations in cultivation sources, watermeal consistently exhibits a rich nutritional profile, reinforcing its potential as a sustainable, nutrient-rich biomaterial for functional food applications.
本研究评估了在农场条件下种植的（WF1）以及从自然环境中收获的（WF2和WF3）无根萍的营养成分、生物活性化合物、植物甾醇含量、氨基酸和脂肪酸谱。WF1的蛋白质含量（22.7%）、膳食纤维含量（16.5%）、总酚含量（3.9毫克没食子酸当量/克干重）和总黄酮含量（5.0毫克芦丁当量/克干重）最高。所有样品中的叶绿素和β-葡聚糖含量相当。WF1的总氨基酸含量也最高，而WF2的赖氨酸和色氨酸水平最高。尽管必需氨基酸谱略低于世界卫生组织/联合国粮农组织/联合国大学的参考值，但无根萍仍是一种很有前景的补充植物蛋白来源。脂肪酸分析显示，所有样品中的α-亚麻酸含量始终很高（30%），突出了其作为ω-3脂肪酸天然来源的价值。氨基酸和脂肪酸谱的微小差异表明环境条件有影响。养殖样品和天然来源样品之间最明显的差异体现在植物甾醇含量上，养殖样品中的植物甾醇含量最高。总体而言，尽管种植来源存在差异，但无根萍始终呈现出丰富的营养成分，强化了其作为功能性食品应用的可持续、营养丰富的生物材料的潜力。
