Abstract:

Morphometric and biochemical indices of the red-colored Amaranthus tricolor L. Valentina variety were studied, the content of the reduced form of vitamin C, the amaranthine pigment in roots, leaves, stems and inflorescences was determined. Studies have shown the presence of a high concentration of vitamin C in the leaves of amaranth both in the open ground (195 mg%) and in the film greenhouse (176 mg%). In the leaves of amaranth of different varieties of the species Amaranthus tricolor , a large amount accumulates a secondary compound - an antioxidant - amaranthine. The red-violet color of the inflorescences is due to the presence in the vegetative organs of the plant of the red-violet pigment of amaranthine. It is important to note that the amaranth Valentine variety have found substances with antioxidant activity: ascorbic acid, selenium, carotenoids, methionine. In the largest amount, amaranthine is found in the inflorescences (2.18 mg/g) and leaves (1.41 mg/g). Its predecessors are D-glucose and L-tyrosine - photosynthetic metabolites, which are used in growth processes and in the biosynthesis of amaranthine In red-colored plants of the genus Amaranthus , betacianin-amaranthine is 5-O-glucuronidoglucoside betanidine. Leaves with a high content of red-violet pigment amaranthine used in the production of food additives-dyes Amvita and Amphicra, used in the food concentrates industry. These additives, due to their antioxidant properties, enhance immunity and have immunomodulatory activity. Extraction of amaranth leaves in H2O revealed high rates of antioxidant activity (CCA from 1.81 mg EQ GK/g). The low gluten content makes amaranth an extremely valuable and useful for functional food.

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