Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-018-9900-7 ORIGINAL PAPER Physicochemical, nutritional and antioxidant characterization of three vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus L., Chenopodium berlandieri L., Portulaca oleracea L.) as potential sources of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds Yair O. Santiago‑Saenz 1  · Alma D. Hernández‑Fuentes 1  · Rebeca Monroy‑Torres 2  · Raquel Cariño‑Cortés 3  · Rubén Jiménez‑Alvarado 1 Received: 8 May 2018 / Accepted: 8 August 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract The aim of this work was the characterization of three endemic plant species [quelite cenizo and quintonil (quelites), and purslane], from Mexico, in terms of their physicochemical, nutritional and antioxidant properties. These species are highly used by rural populations in their local dishes. Nevertheless, scarce information exists about their nutritional and functional properties. The experimental included physicochemical properties, nutrimental composition, qualitative and quantitative analysis of antioxidants by HPLC. The results showed that purslane was the sample with the highest concentration of total carotenoids (2.85 mg/g DW), and with the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP methods. Quelite cenizo and purslane displayed similar values for antioxidant activity by ABTS method, nevertheless, the former showed higher values for total phenolics (10.24 mg GAE/g DW) and favonoids (17.57 mg QE/g DW) content than the latter. Finally, quintonil showed similar results for total chlorophyll (70.50 mg/g DW) and protein (3.65 g/100 g FW) to those found in quelite cenizo. The contents of Fe, Ca, and Mg were higher in quintonil, meanwhile the contents of P, K and Zn were higher in quelite cenizo. The analysis by HPLC also showed the presence of ferulic, and chlorogenic acids as the most abundant phenolic acids, meanwhile rutin and phloridzin were the main favonoids in the quelites, displaying higher contents than in the purs- lane. Therefore, it can be assumed that these samples possess high nutritional quality and could be considered for their use in strategies to improve food security in rural populations. Keywords Amaranthus hybridus L. · Chenopodium berlandieri L. · Portulaca oleracea L. · Antioxidant compounds · Food safety Introduction There are several crops of plants for human consumption with a good resistance to stressors, whose production cost is minimal, so they have a high potential to be commer- cialized and consumed in rural populations, contributing to improve the living conditions of the region. Among these crops, the Amaranthaceae and Portulacaceae families can be highlighted. Portulaca oleracea (Purslane) is an edible plant growing wild with a cosmopolitan distribution, which is very adapt- able to diferent environments. Purslane has been proposed in this research not only for its frequency in consumption but for the numerous phytochemicals and fatty acids such as α-Linolenic acid (omega-3), β-carotenes, α-tocopherols, * Rubén Jiménez-Alvarado ruben_jimenez@uaeh.edu.mx 1 Laboratorio de Postcosecha, Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Rancho Universitario, Av. Universidad km.1, Ex-Hacienda de Aquetzalpa AP 32, C.P 43600 Tulancingo, Hgo, Mexico 2 Laboratorio de Nutrición Ambiental y Seguridad Alimentaria. Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, División de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guanajuato, Blvd. Puente Milenio 1001, Fracción del Predio de San Carlos, C.P 37670 León, Gto, Mexico 3 Laboratorio de Toxicología Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Dr. Eliseo Ramírez Ulloa, 400, Colonia, Doctores, C.P 42090 Pachuca, Hgo, Mexico