Nutrient composition of Chenopodium formosanum Koidz. bran: Fractionation and bioactivity of its soluble active polysaccharides

BACKGROUND: Chenopodium formosanum Koidz. Amaranthaceae—also known as Djulis or red quinoa (RQ)—is a cereal plant indigenous to Taiwan, known for its high nutrient value. However, its bran is considered a waste product and the nutrient value has never been analyzed. METHODS: In this study, we examined the proximate composition of RQ bran, specifically its soluble polysaccharide fractions. RESULTS: RQ bran exhibited high contents of protein (16.56%), ash (7.10%), carbohydrate (60.45%), total polyphenolics (1.85%), betaxanthin (9.91 mg/100 g of RQ bran), and indicaxanthin (7.27 mg/100 g of RQ bran). Specifically, it was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; 39.24%)—with an n-6/n-3 and PUFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio of 18.137 and 0.743, respectively. Four soluble polysaccharide fractions were also obtained: CF-1, CF-2, CF-3, and CF-4, with yields of 3.90%, 6.74%, 22.28%, and 0.06%, respectively, and molecular weights of 32.54, 24.93, 72.39, and 55.45 kDa, respectively. CF-1, CF-2, CF-3, and CF-4 had respectively 15.67%, 42.41%, 5.44%, and 14.52% peptide moiety content and 38.92%, 50.70%, 93.76%, and 19.80% carbohydrate moiety. In CF-2, the glucose content was 95.86 mol% and that of leucine was 16.23%, implicating the presence of a typical leucinoglucan. All four polysaccharide fractions lacked glutamic acid and hydroxyproline. The IC50 of CF-1, CF-2, and CF-3 was respectively 12.05, 3.98, and 14.5 mg/mL for DPPH free radical–scavenging ability; 5.77, 4.10, and 7.03 mg/mL for hydrogen peroxide–scavenging capability; 0.26, 0.05, and 0.19 mg/mL for O(2)(−) free radical–scavenging capability; and 100.41, 28.12, and 29.73 mg/mL for Fe(2+) chelation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that RQ bran has a large amount of nutrient compounds, and a cost-efficient process for their extraction is needed. Their biomedical application as nutraceuticals also warrants further investigation.