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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151444
Title: CAROTENOID AND ANTHOCYANIN CONCENTRATIONS AND ASSOCIATED ANTIOXIDANT VALUES IN HIGH PIGMENT POTATOES

Author
item Brown, Charles
item Yang, Ching Pa
item Navarre, Duroy - Roy
item CULLEY, DAVID - BATELLE PNW LAB

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2003
Publication Date: 3/1/2004
Citation: Brown, C.R., Yang, C., Navarre, D.A., Culley, D. 2004. Carotenoid and anthocyanin concentrations and associated antioxidant values in high pigment potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research. 81:48.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Potatoes may contain anthocyanins and carotenoids to varying degrees. Previous breeding work has shown that high levels of both categories can be selected by taking advantage of variation available in North American breeding programs and in certain native cultivars of South America. The antioxidant potential is measured by the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) a method of assaying an extract's ability to forestall the loss of fluorescence of a fluorogenic compound in the presence of a radical generator. The method establishes a fluorescence 'area-under-the-curve' which is calibrated against suitable standards. For instance, a solidly red fleshed clone had 38 mg of anthocyanin (predominantly acylated glycosides of pelargonidin) per 100 g fresh weight. The aqueous extract of this clone showed an antioxidant potential of 354 mg Trolox equivalents per 100 g fresh weight. This clone's ORAC value is approximately three and half times higher than white and lightly yellow flesh clones. In the case of carotenoids, white flesh clones generally have about 50 micrograms per 100 g fresh weight of total carotenoid, which is extracted with organic solvent (e.g. chloroform). Light yellow flesh clones have about 150 micrograms, while brilliantly yellow to orange flesh clones (YO) in the breeding program at Prosser have as much as 800 micrograms per 100 g fresh weight. White flesh and light yellow clones show about 3 micrograms tocopherol equivalents per 100 g fresh weight in ORAC assays while YO clones measure roughly twice that. Although significant antioxidant value has not previously been attributed to potato for the human diet, these results suggest that a revision is needed. (Oral, Breeding and Genetics)