Abstract
Flowers are used for ornamental purposes and to enhance the appearance, taste, and value of foods. Ecuador is a country with great biodiversity including flowers. There is limited information on the physicochemical characteristics of these plants, particularly those related with human health. In this context, thirteen floral species in the Andean region of the Province of Pichincha, Ecuador were characterized. The following parameters were evaluated: pH, soluble solids, ash, moisture, and color; the content of carotenoids and total phenolic compounds by spectrophotometry; and the antioxidant capacity, which was determined by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity. These results demonstrated that the Cassia fistula and Tecoma stans flowers had high pH; Pyrostegia venusta showed high soluble solids content; Tecoma stans had high total titratable acidity; Abutilon pictum had high ash; Gazaniax hybrida had high moisture. The highest contents of total carotenoids and total phenolics were presented by Gazania x hybrida (69.28 ug/g) and Glaucium flavum (355.46 mg eq. Gallic acid/g), respectively. The highest values of antioxidant capacity were presented by Oxalis tetraphylla and Glaucium flavum (166.90 and 164.00 µMeq trolox/g, respectively). These results indicated that Andean floral species could have potential beneficial properties that can be applied for human health.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Communication, Smart Technologies and Innovation for Society - Proceedings of CITIS 2021 |
Editors | Álvaro Rocha, Paulo Carlos López-López, Juan Pablo Salgado-Guerrero |
Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH |
Pages | 175-186 |
Number of pages | 12 |
ISBN (Print) | 9789811641251 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2022 |
Event | 7th International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Society, CITIS 2021 - Virtual, Online Duration: 26 May 2021 → 28 May 2021 |
Publication series
Name | Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies |
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Volume | 252 |
ISSN (Print) | 2190-3018 |
ISSN (Electronic) | 2190-3026 |
Conference
Conference | 7th International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Society, CITIS 2021 |
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City | Virtual, Online |
Period | 26/05/21 → 28/05/21 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgements This research was carried out under the framework contract MAE-DNB-CM-2017-0080-UTE. Project MAE-DNB-2019-0911-O and was financed by the Ecuadorian Corporation for the Development of Research and the Academy (CEDIA) within the CEPRA-XII-2019-Flores Andinas Project “Physical-chemical characterization and bioactivity tests of Andean floral species with nutritional potential and preventive effect of certain human diseases.”
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Keywords
- Andean flowers
- Antioxidant
- Carotenoids
- Glaucium flavum
- Phenolic compounds