Development of carrot nutraceutical products as an alternative supplement for the prevention of disease

Authors: RIAZ, NADIA - Lahore College For Women University; YOUSAF, ZUBAIDA - Lahore College For Women University; YASMIN, ZARINA - Ayub Agricultural Research Institute; MUNAWAR, MUNEEB - Ayub Agricultural Research Institute; YOUNAS, AFIFA - Lahore College For Women University; RASHID, MADIHA - Lahore College For Women University; AFTAB, ARUSA - Lahore College For Women University; SHAMSHEER, HAFIZA BUSHRA - Lahore College For Women University; YASIN, HAMNA - Lahore College For Women University; NAJEEBULLAH, MUHAMMAD - Ayub Agricultural Research Institute; Simon, Philipp

Submitted to: Frontiers in Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/25/2021
Publication Date: 1/3/2022
Citation: Riaz, N., Yousaf, Z., Yasmin, Z., Munawar, M., Younas, A., Rashid, M., Aftab, A., Shamsheer, H., Yasin, H., Najeebullah, M., Simon, P.W. 2022. Development of carrot nutraceutical products as an alternative supplement for the prevention of disease. Frontiers in Nutrition. 8:787351. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.787351.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.787351

Interpretive Summary: Carrots are a familiar vegetable and the richest source of vitamin A from plant sources in the US diet, attributable to their orange carotenoid pigments. In addition to the important health benefits from vitamin A that carotenoids deliver to consumers, carotenoids are also potent antioxidants, which protect against toxic compounds and inflammation. Carrots also contain other potent antioxidants in the form of colorless chemicals called flavonoids and, in purple carrots, red and purple anthocyanin pigments. Given these health benefits, in this study three carrot products - jams, candies, and juices, were prepared from five different carrot varieties that varied in carotenoid and antioxidant content. The retention of carotenoids and antioxidants was measured in the three carrot products to determine if these processed foods were able to deliver the nutrients found in raw carrots. Both antioxidants and carotenoids found in raw carrots were well-retained in carrot products tested, with retention in jam slightly better than in candy or juice. This study is of interest to carrot processors developing nutritionally enhanced snacks, and also to carrot growers, consumers, and nutritional scientists.

Technical Abstract: Nutraceuticals can be an alternative supplement to overcome the nutrition deficiency for a healthy lifestyle. They could also play a key role in disease management. To develop carrot nutraceutical products, 64 genotypes from four different continents were assessed by morpho-nutrition variables. Genetic variability, heritability, strength and direction of association, direct and indirect effects of physiochemical and nutritional traits on ß-carotenoid were evaluated. Core diameter, foliage weight, root weight and shoulder weight showed significant effects on beta carotenoid accumulation. Principal component analysis for physiochemical and nutritional assessment divided these genotypes into two distinctive groups, Eastern carrots and Western carrots. Calories (33.0), moisture (24.4) and protein (0.12) directly affected ß-carotene. However, vitamin C (-0.214), carbohydrates (-8.5) and fat (-0.08) affects negatively. Five genotypes (T-29, PI 634658, PI 288765, PI 164798 and Ames 25043) with highest beta carotenoid contents were selected for making three nutraceutical supplements (carrot-orange mix juice, carrot jam and carrot candies). These nutraceutical supplements retained high ß-carotenoid content coupled with antioxidant properties. Carrot jam (6.5mg/100g) and carrot candies (4.8mg/100gm) showed greater concentrations of ß-carotene than carrot-orange mix juice (1.017). Carrot jam presented gradual increase in antioxidant activity with highest in T-29 (39%) followed by PI 634658 (37%), PI 164798 (36.5%) and Ames 25043 (36%) and PI 288765 (35.5%). These nutraceutical products with 4 -6.5mg/100gm beta carotenoid content, higher than the USDA recommended dietary intake of 3-6mg ß carotene/day can be recommended for daily use to lower the risk of chronic disease.