Bioactive and pharmacological characterization of Chenopodium quinoa, Sorghum bicolor and Linum usitassimum: A review

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and flaxseed (Linum usitassimum L.) are grains and seeds popularly known for their nutritional values. This review aimed to discuss the nutritional profile of these grains and seeds, their bioactive compounds and how those compounds help to prevent chronic diseases. These crops were selected for this study as they are all free of gluten; they are a rich source of protein, and they all have a low glycemic index (GI) i.e. they do not spike the blood sugar level, which makes them a good choice for people with diabetes and celiac disease. During the study, it was found that some or all of the bioactive compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, tocopherol, tannins, betalains, stillbenoids, polycosanols, alpha-linoleic acid, and lignans have anti- cancerous, anti- diabetic, anti-hypertensive and cardiovasculareffects on the body. Quinoa posses’ bioactive compounds like quercetin, kaempferol, Betacyanins, betalains and tocopherol, that have biological functions such as anti-hypertensive, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, anti-thrombosis, and anti-atherosclerosis effects on the body. Sorghum contains trans-resveratrol, caffeic acid, gallic acid, campesterol, stigmasterol and gallotannins, which helps prevent lung, breast and prostate cancer, prevents type-2-diabetes, and has neuroprotective effect. Flaxseed bioactives like Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans and cyanogenic glycosides have Immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-mutagenic and anti-obesity effects. Since the world is moving towards a healthy lifestyle, grains and seeds are a good source of nutritious foods.

Garden cress seeds: a review on nutritional composition, therapeutic potential, and industrial utilization

“…The methanolic extract of defatted seeds has yielded phenolic components such as sinapic acid and sinapin (Oe & Gmelin, 1952 ). Flavonoids are the most prevalent and abundant class of plant polyphenols that can be obtained from a diet high in plants (Gupta & Morya, 2022 ). Subclasses of flavonoids (C6–C3–C6) may be divided into flavones, flavanones, flavanols, isoflavones, flavanols, chalcones, and anthocyanins, and they are usually found conjugated to sugars in the form of O‐glycosides or C‐glycosides, which are the most prevalent (Gupta & Morya, 2022 ).…”

“…Flavonoids are the most prevalent and abundant class of plant polyphenols that can be obtained from a diet high in plants (Gupta & Morya, 2022 ). Subclasses of flavonoids (C6–C3–C6) may be divided into flavones, flavanones, flavanols, isoflavones, flavanols, chalcones, and anthocyanins, and they are usually found conjugated to sugars in the form of O‐glycosides or C‐glycosides, which are the most prevalent (Gupta & Morya, 2022 ). The seeds of Lepidium sativum have recently yielded two novel acylated kaempferol and quercetin chemicals, which have just been discovered.…”

Influence of different types of soils on the growth and yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.)

“…In recent years, the cultivation of pseudo cereals such as grain Amaranth, Quinoa, Canihua and Buckwheat are gaining importance due to attractive nutritive values. Among the pseudo cereals, Quinoa has emerged as a fascinating crop for research, production and consumption in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa (Gupta and Morya, 2022). It originated in the Andean regions of the Americas and belonged to the family Amaranthaceae / Chenopodiaceae (Karina et al, 2014).…”