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AMARANTH: A FEW ASPECTS OF CULTIVATION, PROCESSING,
STUDIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL PROPERTIES ...........
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RESUME
This
article covers the data on the varieties, the peculiarities of cultivation
for food purposes on the territory of the Central Chernozemya. It also
shows an analysis of the existing methods of generation of oil out of
amaranth seed. It describes the technologies of generation of amaranth
embryonic flakes, starchy-protein flour and oil based on the method of
cold pressing.
Here are
also presented data on biochemical composition of the generated products,
chemical composition of oil, as well as the results of the researches of
the effect of amaranth oil upon lipid metabolism, regenerative and
antitumoral properties.
INTRODUCTION
Over the
last years there has been a considerable interest for the production of
amaranth seed in Russia which can fit for food purposes, as well as the
generation of functional products on basis of amaranth oil in medicine
[1]. However, there are a few issues which fail to highlight the
comprehensive research of cultivation of zoned varieties and methods of
processing of amaranth seed with a purpose of generation of not only high
quality food and medical oil, but also other products (starchy-protein
flour, amaranth flakes).
The
objective of the research is the substantiation of criteria of the
selection of amaranth varieties fit for cultivation in the Central
Chernozem region of Russia; the development of technology of the
generation of oil out of amaranth seed; establishment of harmlessness of
amaranth oil and a comparative study of biological efficiency of this oil
in the experiments on rats, study of functional capacities of amaranth oil
with respect to the normalization of lipid metabolism and improvement of
regenerative functions of an organism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS OF
RESEARCHES
Amaranth
seeds of the harvest as of 1992-2004 grown on the territory of Voronezh
region were used for the researches.
Amaranth
oil generated by Voronezh State University in a joint effort with Voronezh
State Technological Academy was taken for the purpose of the researches.
Fatty-acid composition of lipids was defined based on the method of
gas-liquid chromatography, the content of vitamin E was defined based on
the method of thin-layer chromatography, carotinoids was defined based on
the method of columnar chromatography [22]. The defining of the fractional
composition of phospholipins was carried out based on the method of
two-dimensional chromatography in a thin layer on a plate Sylifol. The
defining of the mass share of moisture was carried out according to GOST
13496.3, raw protein according to GOST 13496.4, acid number according
to GOST 13496.18, peroxide number according to MU№115-60.
RESULTS AND THEIR
DISCUSSIONS
Cultivation of amaranth on the territory of Voronezh chernozem zones
Amaranth
has been being cultivated on the territory of Voronezh region for over 40
years, particularly, as a fodder and ornamental variety. Over the last
decades, industrial sowings for the processing for food purposes have
appeared in the region.
Voronezh
region is a source of rich and ecologically pure chernozems of the central
region of Russia.
Amaranth
requires drained, air-and-water permeable soil and does not bear heavy
loamy and clay, overdewy and sandy soil, and effectively contributes to
the increase of soil fertility. It ineffectively grows on acid soils
(optimal pH 5,8-6,5).
The
duration of vegetation period in the Central Chernozem Region is 146-161
days,
the sum of active temperatures 2400-2700С, precipitations per year is
450-520 mm, out of which in a warm period 250-300mm.
The
limited factor concerning amaranth cultivation in the Central Chernozem
Region is early frosts. Many years studies of white seed varieties such
as Shuntuk, Kizlyarets zoned in Russian showed that the varieties fail to
ripen in Voronezh region on account of a prolonged vegetation period.
Soil-climatic conditions of the Central Chernozem Region are quite
favourable for the cultivation of amaranth seed with the vegetation period
of 120-125 days.
The
variety Ultra has light green leaves, a straight stem with 105 cm in
height, inflorescence is light green, it turns yellow during ripening, the
seeds are white. Weight of 1000 seeds is 0.6 gr. Vegetation period is 96
days. This variety is intended for mechanical harvesting. Seed
productivity is 14 centner/hectare [3].
We
suggest a technology concerning the cultivation of amaranth without using
manual labour with subsequent modes of processing of seeds which is
considered to be ecologically safe and economically advantageous.
The
mechanical separation of embryos from perisperm is possible due to the
anatomic structure of amaranth seeds. The technology includes a
preliminary generation of embryonic flakes and starchy-protein flour,
extraction of amaranth oil from the embryos by means of mechanical
pressing [4].
Amaranth
embryonic flakes are a good source of proteins of vegetable origin
characterized by the best indices of equilibration of amino acid
composition as compared with the proteins of grains and legumes.
The
proteins in amaranth flakes have a high content of water and salt soluble
fractions which contribute to a more complete assimilation of a product by
mans organism. In addition, the flakes are a rich source of mineral
substances such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, copper and zinc.
Amaranth flakes can be applied in bakery, confectionary, milk-vegetable
products.
Starchy-protein flour can also be applied for further processing in food
and cosmetic industry.
Amaranth
oil containing biologically active compounds: squalen, tocopherol,
phospholipin, phytosterol can be used for food and medical purposes. |
