Characterization of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and minerals in landraces of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) cultivated in Southern Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability for the synthesis of bioactive compounds and minerals in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) landraces. Total phenolic compounds, carotenoids, antioxidant activity and minerals were evaluated in 10 accessions of Cucurbita moschata landraces from the Genebank of Embrapa Temperate Agriculture (Pelotas -RS, Brazil). Twenty plants of each accession were cultivated in the field during the spring/summer of 2013/2014. After harvesting of mature fruits, the seeds were discarded and opposite longitudinal portions of the pulp were manually prepared for analysis of the bioactive compounds. For the determination of minerals, pumpkin samples were frozen in plastic bags, and after freeze-dried and milled. All analysis were performed in triplicate. The data obtained showed high genetic variability for the synthesis of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, antioxidant activity and minerals. The accessions C52, C81, C267 e C389 showed high levels of antioxidants and minerals, being recommended for use in pumpkin breeding programs. The accessions C52 and C389 are promising, especially because they present the highest levels of total carotenoids.Keywords: pumpkin; cucurbitaceae; ex situ conservation; genetic resources; characterization.Practical Application: Pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata) are important to the human diet due to its functional properties and benefits for the human health. Identify genetic variability for the synthesis of bioactive compounds and minerals can be useful for breeding programs, to develop cultivars with improved benefits to the consumers.

Caracterização morfológica de variedades crioulas de abóboras (Cucurbita maxima) do sul do Brasil

“…O Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (BAG) de Cucurbitáceas, da Embrapa Clima Temperado, conserva 640 acessos de diferentes espécies cultivadas dos gêneros Citrullus, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Lagenaria, Luffa, Momordica e Sicana, sendo que 85 acessos são variedades crioulas de Cucurbita maxima. Porém, apenas uma pequena parte do acervo total do BAG já foi caracterizada (Neitzke et al, 2009;Priori, 2011;Priori, 2015;Fischer, 2012;Fischer et al, 2015;Fischer et al, 2016;Priori et al, 2012;Priori et al, 2013;Priori, et al, 2017). Para a realização deste trabalho, nove variedades crioulas de C. maxima foram selecionadas, seguindo-se alguns critérios, como a quantidade de sementes disponíveis no BAG e suficientes para a implantação do experimento, os dados de passaporte (como local de coleta, características dos frutos, reveladas pelos agricultores que doaram as sementes, como formato, cor da casca e tamanho dos frutos).…”

Formulation of Composite Flour with Antioxidant from Goroho Plantain Flour (Musa Acuminafe, sp) and Yellow Pumpkin Flour (Cucurbita moschata) and Its Application on Biscuit Making

“…Yellow pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is rich in carbohydrates and carotenoids that can function as an antioxidant (Kim et al, 2012). Several studies confirmed the antioxidant capacity of pumpkin, including those carried out by Gumolung et al (2013), Idayu (2017) and Priori et al (2017). PF has been used into different composite flours for fortification purpose, some of them with rice flour for baby biscuits making (Sundari, 2011), cornflour for cereal making (Ramadhani et al, 2012), and wheat flour for bread making (Lestario et al, 2015).…”

Carotenoids in Raw Plant Materials

“…Priori et al [38] evaluated the genetic variability for the synthesis of bioactive compounds, total phenolic compounds, carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and minerals of 10 accesses of pumpkin (C. moschata) landraces. They found a high genetic variability for the synthesis of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and minerals, with the most promising C52 and C389 accessions, due to their high levels of total carotenoids.…”