Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Exploring a Superfood from Andean Indigenous Cultures with Potential to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers

Title:Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Exploring a Superfood from Andean Indigenous Cultures with Potential to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers

Volume: 14

Author(s): Jaime López-Cervantes, Dalia Sánchez-Machado*, David S. de la Mora-López and Ana Sanches-Silva

Affiliation:

• Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, MX-85000, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora,Mexico

Keywords: Quinoa, functional food, nutritional components, health benefits, cardiovascular disease, processing effects.

Abstract:

Background: The pseudo-cereal quinoa has attracted worldwide attention in recent years, due to it being considered a functional food. This stress-tolerant crop has historically been used by Andean cultures as a staple food. Nowadays, the consumption of quinoa in high-income countries is increasing due to it being associated with numerous health benefits, namely related to cardiovascular health.

Objective: We have carried out an extensive review on quinoa, including its main uses, applications, and components (nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactives) and their relationship with biological activities and cardiovascular health.

Key findings and Conclusions: Quinoa possesses numerous activities, including protection against cardiovascular, metabolic, and degenerative diseases, improvement of the immune system, reduction of symptoms associated with post-menopause, and promotion of muscle mass increase. Some of the quinoa’s activities are due to its balanced amino acid profile, high fiber content, presence of phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins. A plethora of bioactives can also be found in quinoa, such as phytosterols, saponins, phenolics, bioactive peptides, and phytoecdysteroids. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of action involved in the biological/therapeutic action of some quinoa components, namely those related to the potential to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers. The knowledge of factors that affect quinoa variability, such as processing conditions, is also of great importance for being able to obtain more benefits from this crop.

Cite this article as:

López-Cervantes Jaime, Sánchez-Machado Dalia *, de la Mora-López S. David and Sanches-Silva Ana , Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Exploring a Superfood from Andean Indigenous Cultures with Potential to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2021; 14 (6) : e301221190181 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467214999210111222233