Total fat content and fatty acid profile of pseudocereals
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abstract
Amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat are called “pseudocereals” since they produce starch-rich seeds like
cereals but they are dicotyledonous plants (and not monocotyledonous as cereals). According to some
phylogenetic classifications, amaranth (Amaranthus) and quinoa (Chenopodium) genera belong to the
order Caryophyllales, whereas buckwheat (Fagopyrum) belongs to Polygonales [1]. Pseudocereals have
recently gained more popularity as a part of human diet thanks to their chemical composition, particularly
as a source of protein, vitamins of B group, minerals and also for their gluten-free flour [2]. Some
pseudocereals can even present a fat content three times higher than cereals, with a fatty acid profile
dominated by unsaturated fatty acids [3-5].
The total fat content was determined using Soxhlet method, and the fatty acid profile was subsequently
determined using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The results for total fat
content ranged from 3.1% to 8.0%. and evidenced a significant predominance of unsaturated fatty acids.
For amaranth and buckwheat unsaturated fatty acids composed up to 81% of the total chromatographic
area while for quinoa this value ranged from 87.6% to 90.4%, depending on variety. Polyunsaturated fatty
acids formed 48.8% in amaranth, 61.1-64.9% in quinoa and 40.9% while monounsaturated fatty acids
compose 32.2% in amaranth, 26.7-29.2% in quinoa and 40.2% in buckwheat. Main unsaturated fatty
acids consisted of linoleic acid followed by oleic, linolenic and nervonic acids. Main dominance for
saturated fatty acids was for palmitic acid. Buckwheat shown significant differences in fatty acid
composition having much higher amount of oleic acid but lower amount of linoleic acid and no signs of
nervonic acid. This distinct fatty acid profile may be partially explained by the different botanical origin of
buckwheat, which belongs to the Polygonales order, while amaranth and quinoa are classified into the
Caryophyllales order.
Amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat are called “pseudocereals” since they produce starch-rich seeds like cereals but they are dicotyledonous plants (and not monocotyledonous as cereals). According to some phylogenetic classifications, amaranth (Amaranthus) and quinoa (Chenopodium) genera belong to the order Caryophyllales, whereas buckwheat (Fagopyrum) belongs to Polygonales [1]. Pseudocereals have recently gained more popularity as a part of human diet thanks to their chemical composition, particularly as a source of protein, vitamins of B group, minerals and also for their gluten-free flour [2].
Thanks are due to Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, CIMO Research Unit, Latvia University of Agriculture, and the ERAMUS Mobility program for the financial support.
The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO
(UID/AGR/00690/2013); Roberts and Santa are also grateful to Latvia University of Agriculture and to the ERAMUS+ Mobility programme for the financial support.
