Some compositional properties of seeds and oils of eight Amaranthus species

Grain of 21 Amaranthus accessions (eight species) was analyzed for crude fat, fatty acid profiles (FAP), and vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols). Contents of (1 --> 3), (1 --> 4) beta-glucan were determined in 12 accessions (four species), and trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) in 20 accessions (six species). FAP and vitamin E profiles were compared to those of barley, buckwheat, corn, lupin, oat, and wheat oils. Crude fat content ranged from 5.2 to 7.7%, and of the oils examined, amaranth oil was most similar in FAP to corn and buckwheat oils. Amaranth was higher than all but wheat and lupin in tocopherol content but was virtually devoid of tocotrienols, which have been shown to have hypocholesterolemic activity. Amaranth grain did not contain (1 --> 3), (1 --> 4) beta-glucans and was low in trypsin inhibitor activity (less than or equal to 4.3 trypsin units inhibited/mg). Any hypocholesterolemic effects of dietary amaranth are apparently due to substances other than (1 --> 3), (1 --> 4) beta-glucans or tocotrienols.