Mihai Raluca A, Vivanco Gonzaga Ramiro Fernando, Romero Balladares Nathaly Raquel, Catana Rodica D
CIAM, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Ruminahui s/n y, Sangolqui 171103, Ecuador.
Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Ruminahui s/n y, Sangolqui 171103, Ecuador.
Toxics. 2025 May 29;13(6):453. doi: 10.3390/toxics13060453.
This study investigates the impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi Volcano on the nutritional quality and biological traits of potato tubers ( L.) cultivated in the Cotopaxi region.
Samples collected from exposed and unexposed areas were used to characterize the volcanic ash influence on the metabolic aspects of the potato crop. The colorimetric method; DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays; and ICP-OES were used to better understand potatoes' reaction to the stress.
Antioxidant activity was significantly higher (4.80 ± 2.38 µmol Trolox g DW-DPPH assay; 11.05 ± 2.57 µmol Trolox g⁻ DW-ABTS assay; and 11.96 ± 4.57 µmol Fe⁺ g⁻ DW-FRAP assay) in ash-exposed samples, suggesting enhanced stress responses. The bioactive compounds studied followed a comparable trend, with high content in the exposed tubers. Also, significant changes in elemental composition were registered: Potassium levels decreased in unexposed samples, while magnesium and iron levels increased. Metallic elements (zinc; lithium; boron; manganese; barium; lead; nickel; chromium; indium) were in concentrations <0.01 mg/kg.
These findings demonstrate that volcanic ash alters the metabolic and antioxidant profiles of potato tubers, enhancing nutraceutical properties while posing food safety risks due to heavy metals. This dual impact highlights the challenges and opportunities for agriculture in volcanic regions like Cotopaxi.
本研究调查了科托帕希火山的火山灰对在科托帕希地区种植的马铃薯块茎（L.）营养品质和生物学特性的影响。
从暴露区域和未暴露区域采集的样本用于表征火山灰对马铃薯作物代谢方面的影响。采用比色法、DPPH、ABTS和FRAP测定法以及电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法（ICP - OES）来更好地了解马铃薯对胁迫的反应。
在暴露于火山灰的样本中，抗氧化活性显著更高（DPPH测定法为4.80±2.38 μmol Trolox g干重；ABTS测定法为11.05±2.57 μmol Trolox g⁻干重；FRAP测定法为11.96±4.57 μmol Fe⁺ g⁻干重），表明胁迫反应增强。所研究的生物活性化合物呈现出类似的趋势，暴露的块茎中含量较高。此外，元素组成也有显著变化：未暴露样本中的钾含量降低，而镁和铁含量增加。金属元素（锌、锂、硼、锰、钡、铅、镍、铬、铟）的浓度<0.01 mg/kg。
这些发现表明，火山灰改变了马铃薯块茎的代谢和抗氧化特征，增强了营养保健特性，但同时由于重金属带来了食品安全风险。这种双重影响凸显了科托帕希等火山地区农业面临的挑战和机遇。
