Khattib Hamdan, Pintel Noam, Khatib Soliman, Rubinovich Lior, Avni Dorit
Bio-Compounds and Immune-Mediated Diseases Group, MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute, 1101600, Kiryat Shemona, Israel.
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tel Hai Academic College, 1220800, Kiryat Shemona, Israel.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jun 26;15(1):20308. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03742-w.
Current staple crops such as rice, wheat, and maize dominate food systems but lack climate resilience, necessitating a shift toward nutrient-rich, sustainable alternatives. Chenopodium quinoa, (C. quinoa) has gained global recognition for its adaptability and nutritional value. However, while quinoa grains have been extensively studied, young green quinoa (YGQ) leaves remain underexplored despite their potential to enhance both agricultural sustainability and human health. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of YGQ leaves extracts from eight quinoa accessions cultivated during the summer. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage cells (RAW264.7), we assessed the inhibition of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and Interleukin (IL)-6. Four types of extracts-Ethanol:Water (70:30) (ETDW), Ethanol (ET), Ethyl Acetate (EA), and Hexane (HE) were prepared, revealing significant and specific IL-6 inhibition, with ETDW exhibiting the highest suppressive effect (73-100%). LC-MS/MS analysis identified flavonoids as the likely bioactive compounds responsible for this activity. Importantly, toxicity assays confirmed the extracts' safety. These findings position YGQ leaves as a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods, which offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition by targeting the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, integrating YGQ leaves into food systems could support sustainable agriculture, as quinoa is a climate-resilient crop, providing dual benefits for public health and food security.
当前的主要作物,如水稻、小麦和玉米主导着粮食系统,但缺乏气候适应能力,因此有必要转向营养丰富、可持续的替代作物。藜麦(Chenopodium quinoa,C. quinoa)因其适应性和营养价值而获得全球认可。然而,尽管对藜麦籽粒进行了广泛研究,但嫩绿色藜麦(YGQ)叶的潜力尚未得到充分探索,尽管它们有潜力提高农业可持续性和促进人类健康。本研究调查了夏季种植的八个藜麦品种的YGQ叶提取物的抗炎特性。使用脂多糖(LPS)激活的小鼠巨噬细胞(RAW264.7),我们评估了关键促炎细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α和白细胞介素(IL)-6的抑制情况。制备了四种类型的提取物——乙醇:水(70:30)(ETDW)、乙醇(ET)、乙酸乙酯(EA)和己烷(HE),结果显示对IL-6有显著且特异性的抑制作用,ETDW表现出最高的抑制效果(73-100%)。液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)分析确定黄酮类化合物可能是负责此活性的生物活性化合物。重要的是,毒性试验证实了提取物的安全性。这些发现表明YGQ叶是生物活性化合物的宝贵天然来源,在功能性食品中具有潜在应用,通过针对预防非传染性疾病和慢性炎症性疾病,提供超越基本营养的健康益处。此外,将YGQ叶纳入粮食系统可以支持可持续农业,因为藜麦是一种气候适应能力强的作物,为公共卫生和粮食安全带来双重益处。