Health-Promoting compounds in Potatoes: Tuber exhibiting great potential for human health.

Potatoes are consumed worldwide because of their high accessibility, low cost, taste, and diversity of cooking methods. The high carbohydrate content of potatoes masks the presence of -vitamins, polyphenols, minerals, amino acids, lectins and protein inhibitors in the minds of consumers. The consumption of potatoes faces challenges among health-conscious people. This review paper attempted to provide up-to-date information on new metabolites reported in potatoes that play role in disease prevention and overall human well-being. We tried to compile information on antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, antiobesity, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory potential of potato along with role in improving gut health and satiety. In-vitro studies, human cell culture, and experimental animal and human clinical studies showed potatoes to exhibit a variety of health-enhancing properties. This article will not only popularize potato as a healthy food, but will also improve its use as a staple for the foreseeable future.

The Glycemic Index and Human Health with an Emphasis on Potatoes.

Diabetes and obesity are associated with the excessive intake of high-glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates, increased glycemic load (GL) foods, and inactive lifestyles. Carbohydrate-rich diets affect blood glucose levels. GI is an indicator of the impact of a specific food on blood glucose, while GL represents the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in the overall diet and their interactions. There are in vitro and in vivo methods for estimating GI and GL. These values are useful human health markers for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy. Potato is a major starchy vegetable, which is consumed widely and is the fourth most important crop globally. However, the GI of diets rich in starchy vegetables such as potatoes has not been studied in detail. The GI values in potatoes are affected by external and internal factors, such as methods of cooking, methods of processing, resistant starches, cultivation methods, mixed meals and food additions, and hormone levels. This review summarizes how these factors affect the GI and GL associated with diets containing potatoes. Understanding the impacts of these factors will contribute to the development of new and improved potato varieties with low GI values. The consumption of low-GI foods will help to combat obesity. The development of low-GI potatoes may contribute to the development of meal plans for individuals living with diabetes and obesity.

Skin Color Retention in Red Potatoes during Long-Term Storage with Edible Coatings.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of edible coatings and cold storage conditions on the skin color of red potatoes (Ciklamen and Modoc) stored for six months at 4 ± 2 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). The four different formulations used were sodium alginate (F1), sodium alginate and potato starch (F2), zein and chitosan (F3), and chitosan, sodium alginate and potato starch (F4), in addition to the control treatment with distilled water. The treated samples were assessed periodically during six months of storage for changes in color, levels of reducing sugars, total phenolics and sensory qualities. The results indicated that the treatment with edible coatings significantly enhanced the chroma value of skin color, especially F1 and F2 formulations. However, these coatings instilled a limited effect on the level of reducing sugars. Moreover, F1 and F4 formulations exerted a significant effect (p < 0.05) on anthocyanin content examined after three months of storage. Alginate-based edible coatings significantly improved sensory evaluation, especially in terms of the color, gloss, and general acceptability of red skin potatoes.

The Bioaccessibility of Phenolics, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, and Capsaicinoid Compounds: A Comparative Study of Cooked Potato Cultivars Mixed with Roasted Pepper Varieties.

An in vitro method was used to assess the bioaccessibility of phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and capsaicinoid compounds in different cooked potatoes mixed with roasted peppers (Capsicum annuum), Joe Parker (JP, hot), and Sweet Delilah (SD, sweet). The present study identified differences in the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds among the potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) Purple Majesty (PM; purple flesh), Yukon Gold (YG; yellow flesh), Rio Grande Russet (RG; white flesh) and a numbered selection (CO 97226-2R/R (R/R; red flesh)). The bioactive compounds and capsaicinoid compounds in potatoes and peppers were estimated before and after in vitro digestion. Before digestion, the total phenolic content of potato cultivars mixed with JP was in the following order: R/R > PM > YG > RG. The highest levels of carotenoids were 194.34 µg/g in YG and 42.92 µg/g in the RG cultivar when mixed with roasted JP. The results indicate that the amount of bioaccessible phenolics ranged from 485 to 252 µg/g in potato cultivars mixed with roasted JP. The bioaccessibility of flavonoids ranged from 185.1 to 59.25 µg/g. The results indicate that the YG cultivar mixed with JP and SD showed the highest phenolic and carotenoid bioaccessibility. In contrast, the PM mixed with JP and SD contained the lowest phenolic and carotenoid bioaccessibility. Our results indicate that the highest flavonoid bioaccessibility occurred in R/R mixed with roasted JP and SD. The lowest flavonoids bioaccessibility occurred in PM and the RG. The maximum bioaccessible amount of capsaicin was observed in YG mixed with JP, while the minimum bioaccessibility was observed with PM.

Segmentation of Potato Consumers Based on Sensory and Attitudinal Aspects.

Consumer hedonic scores for potatoes were linked to sensory characteristics to understand the underlying consumer segments, flavor and texture preferences and attitudinal associations regarding potatoes. Consumers were asked to evaluate liking on a 9-point hedonic scale for 12 cultivars of potatoes. Sensory findings were collected by using a consensus-based descriptive analysis approach for the same cultivars. Segmentation analysis procedure identified three subgroups of consumers with different overall liking patterns, indicating variability in the acceptance of different potato cultivars. Drivers of liking were identified for respective segments by using preference mapping. Dissimilar features were found important in determining potato liking patterns. Purple Majesty, Masquerade and Rio Colorado cultivars were found most liked by respondents, while Russian Banana were found to be liked the least. Tuber color, price, variety name on package, color of peel, and being locally produced were found to be important factors in purchasing decisions.

Capsaicinoids, Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activities of Capsicum annuum: Comparative Study of the Effect of Ripening Stage and Cooking Methods.

Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are an important crop usually consumed as food or spices. Peppers contain a wide range of phytochemicals, such as capsaicinoids, phenolics, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. Capsaicinoids impart the characteristic pungent taste. The study analyzed capsaicinoids and other bioactive compounds in different pepper cultivars at both the mature green and red stages. The effect of roasting on their nutritional content was also investigated. In the cultivars tested, the levels of capsaicin ranged from 0 to 3636 µg/g in the mature green stage and from 0 to 4820 µg/g in the red/yellow stage. The concentration of dihydrocapsaicin ranged from 0 to 2148 µg/g in the mature green stage and from 0 to 2162 µg/g in the red/yellow stage. The levels of capsaicinoid compounds in mature green and red /yellow stages were either reduced or increased after roasting depending on the cultivar. The ranges of total phenolic and total flavonoids compounds were 2096 to 7689, and 204 to 962 µg/g, respectively, in the green and red/yellow mature stage pods. Ascorbic acid levels in the peppers ranged from 223 to 1025 mg/ 100 g Dry Weight (DW). Both raw and roasted peppers possessed strong antioxidant activity as determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) reagent (DPPH, 61-87%) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS, 73-159 µg/g) assays. Ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity decreased after roasting in the mature green and red stages, whereas total phenolics and flavonoids increased except in the mature green stage of Sweet Delilah and yellow stage of Canrio.

Inhibition of α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and aldose reductase by potato polyphenolic compounds.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is becoming a serious global health problem. Diabetes has been considered to be one of the major risks of cataract and retinopathy. Synthetic and natural product inhibitors of carbohydrate degrading enzymes are able to reduce type 2 diabetes and its complications. For a long time, potatoes have been portrayed as unhealthy for diabetic patients by some nutritionist due to their high starch content. However, purple and red potato cultivars have received considerable attention from consumers because they have high levels of polyphenolic compounds that have potent antioxidant activities. In this study, we screened the total phenolics (TP) and total anthocyanins (TA) and analyzed the phenolic and anthocyanin compounds in selected potato cultivars and advanced selections with distinct flesh colors (purple, red, yellow and white). Purple and red potato cultivars had higher levels of TP and TA than tubers with other flesh colors. Chlorogenic acid is the predominant phenolic acid, and major anthocyanin is composed of the derivatives of petunidin, peonidin, malvidin and pelargonidin. We tested the potential inhibitory effect of potato extracts on the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which were targeted to develop antidiabetic therapeutic agents. We also measured inhibitory effect of potato extracts on aldose reductase (AR) which is a key enzyme that has been a major drug target for the development of therapies to treat diabetic complications. Purple flesh tubers extract showed the most effective inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and aldose reductase with IC50 values 25, 42, and 32 µg/ml, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that anthocyanins are noncompetitive inhibitors of these enzymes, whereas phenolic acids behaved as mixed inhibitors for α-amylase and α-glucosidase and noncompetitive inhibitors for AR. This study supports the development of a positive and healthful image of potatoes, which is an important issue for consumers.

Rapid high throughput amylose determination in freeze dried potato tuber samples.

This protocol describes a high through put colorimetric method that relies on the formation of a complex between iodine and chains of glucose molecules in starch. Iodine forms complexes with both amylose and long chains within amylopectin. After the addition of iodine to a starch sample, the maximum absorption of amylose and amylopectin occurs at 620 and 550 nm, respectively. The amylose/amylopectin ratio can be estimated from the ratio of the 620 and 550 nm absorbance values and comparing them to a standard curve in which specific known concentrations are plotted against absorption values. This high throughput, inexpensive method is reliable and reproducible, allowing the evaluation of large populations of potato clones. 

Biguanide related compounds in traditional antidiabetic functional foods.

Biguanides such as metformin are widely used worldwide for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. The identification of guanidine and related compounds in French lilac plant (Galega officinalis L.) led to the development of biguanides. Despite of their plant origin, biguanides have not been reported in plants. The objective of this study was to quantify biguanide related compounds (BRCs) in experimentally or clinically substantiated antidiabetic functional plant foods and potatoes. The corrected results of the Voges-Proskauer (V-P) assay suggest that the highest amounts of BRCs are present in green curry leaves (Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel) followed by fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), green bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Descourt.), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Whereas, garlic (Allium sativum L.), and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam.) contain negligible amounts of BRCs. In addition, the possible biosynthetic routes of biguanide in these plant foods are discussed.

Reduction of acrylamide formation by vanadium salt in potato French fries and chips.

The effects of vanadyl sulphate on the formation of acrylamide have been studied in fried potato products, such as French fries and chips. Acrylamide formation was inhibited by 30.3%, 53.3% and 89.3% when the sliced potato strips were soaked in 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 M vanadyl sulphate (VOSO(4)) solutions, respectively, for 60 min before frying. Moreover, 57.7%, 71.4% and 92.5% inhibition of acrylamide formation was observed when chips were soaked in the respective vanadyl sulphate solution before frying. In a separate model reaction, a solution containing an equimolar concentration of L-asparagine and D-glucose showed a significant inhibition of acrylamide formation when heated at 150 °C for 30 min in the presence of vanadyl sulphate (VOSO(4)). The results indicate that the binding of VO(2+) to asparagine and the decrease in the pH of the potato samples resulted in a significant reduction of acrylamide formation in fried potato products.

Pyrosequencing Assessment of Soil Microbial Communities in Organic and Conventional Potato Farms.

Organic farming is frequently touted as being beneficial to soil health by increasing microbial community diversity; however, contradictory results exist in the literature. In this study, we compared several organic and conventional potato farms in Colorado for differences in soil nutrients and microbial communities using 454 pyrosequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Organic farms showed a slightly higher diversity and evenness within the microbial community compared with conventional farms. No difference in the number of observed or estimated total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was observed between management strategies. However, the relative abundance of 16 OTUs (3% genetic distance) differed between the organic and conventional farms, with seven increasing and nine decreasing in organic farms. A variety of known potato fungal pathogens (e.g., Alternaria spp., Ulocladium spp., and Pythium ultimum) were detected in the soil, including three different OTUs (3% genetic distance) with a high homology to the early blight pathogen Alternaria solani. Relative abundance for Alternaria spp. was higher in conventional farms (relative abundance 30.15 versus 7.8%), whereas the relative abundance for P. ultimum was higher in organic farms (relative abundance 0.25 versus 0.05%). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, using primers specific for A. solani, Phoma foveata, and Pythium ultimum, yielded similar results to the pyrosequencing, validating the use of pyrosequencing data for the quantification of OTU relative abundances.

Regulation and function of Arabidopsis JASMONATE ZIM-domain genes in response to wounding and herbivory.

Jasmonate (JA) and its amino acid conjugate, jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile), play important roles in regulating plant defense responses to insect herbivores. Recent studies indicate that JA-Ile promotes the degradation of JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) transcriptional repressors through the activity of the E(3) ubiquitin-ligase SCF(COI1). Here, we investigated the regulation and function of JAZ genes during the interaction of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) with the generalist herbivore Spodoptera exigua. Most members of the JAZ gene family were highly expressed in response to S. exigua feeding and mechanical wounding. JAZ transcript levels increased within 5 min of mechanical tissue damage, coincident with a large (approximately 25-fold) rise in JA and JA-Ile levels. Wound-induced expression of JAZ and other CORONATINE-INSENSITIVE1 (COI1)-dependent genes was not impaired in the jar1-1 mutant that is partially deficient in the conversion of JA to JA-Ile. Experiments performed with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide provided evidence that JAZs, MYC2, and genes encoding several JA biosynthetic enzymes are primary response genes whose expression is derepressed upon COI1-dependent turnover of a labile repressor protein(s). We also show that overexpression of a modified form of JAZ1 (JAZ1Delta3A) that is stable in the presence of JA compromises host resistance to feeding by S. exigua larvae. These findings establish a role for JAZ proteins in the regulation of plant anti-insect defense, and support the hypothesis that JA-Ile and perhaps other JA derivatives activate COI1-dependent wound responses in Arabidopsis. Our results also indicate that the timing of JA-induced transcription in response to wounding is more rapid than previously realized.

Tomato MAPKs LeMPK1, LeMPK2, and LeMPK3 function in the systemin-mediated defense response against herbivorous insects.

Systemin is a wound-signaling peptide that mediates defenses of tomato plants against herbivorous insects. Perception of systemin by the membrane-bound receptor SR160 results in activation of MAPKs, synthesis of jasmonic acid (JA), and expression of defense genes. To test the function of MAPKs in the response to systemin, we used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in plants that overexpress the systemin precursor prosystemin (35S::prosys plants). These transgenic plants accumulate high levels of defense proteins and exhibit increased resistance to herbivorous insects. Cosilencing of the MAPKs MPK1 and MPK2 reduced MPK1/2 kinase activity, JA biosynthesis, and expression of JA-dependent defense genes. Application of methyl-JA restored the full defense response. These data show that MPK1 and MPK2 are essential components of the systemin signaling pathway and most likely function upstream of JA biosynthesis. MPK1 and MPK2 are 95% identical at the amino acid level. Specific VIGS of only MPK1 or MPK2 resulted in the same reduction of defense gene expression as cosilencing of MPK1 and MPK2, indicating that gene dosage effects may be important for MPK signaling. In addition, VIGS of the closely related MPK3 also reduced systemin-induced defense responses. The function of MPK1/2 and orthologs in pathogen-induced defenses is well established. Here we show that cosilencing of MPK1 and MPK2 compromised prosystemin-mediated resistance to Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera) herbivory, demonstrating that MPK1 and MPK2 are also required for successful defenses against herbivorous insects.

Loss of function of COBRA, a determinant of oriented cell expansion, invokes cellular defence responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.

An Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutant that results in complete loss-of-function of the COBRA gene has been identified. The COBRA gene encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that modulates cellulose deposition and oriented cell expansion in roots. The loss-of-function mutant allele (named "cob-5") exhibits abnormal cell growth throughout the entire plant body and accumulates massive amounts of stress response chemicals such as anthocyanins and callose. To gain further insight into the mechanism by which COBRA affects cell growth and physiology, the whole-genome gene expression profile of cob-5 plants was compared with that of wild-type plants. Consistent with the mutant phenotype, many genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated in the cob-5 plants, whereas genes involved in cell elongation were down-regulated. The most striking feature of the gene expression profile of cob-5 was the massive and co-ordinate induction of defence- and stress-related genes, many of which are regulated by the plant stress signal jasmonic acid (JA). Indeed, the cob-5 plants over-accumulated JA by nearly 8-fold compared with wild-type plants. Furthermore, induction of cell elongation defects in conditional allele cob-3 plants triggers the expression of a defence-responsive gene. These results provide potential clues to the mechanisms by which plant cells initially perceive biotic stress at the cell surface.

Role of beta-oxidation in jasmonate biosynthesis and systemic wound signaling in tomato.

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a lipid-derived signal that regulates plant defense responses to biotic stress. Here, we report the characterization of a JA-deficient mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) that lacks local and systemic expression of defensive proteinase inhibitors (PIs) in response to wounding. Map-based cloning studies demonstrated that this phenotype results from loss of function of an acyl-CoA oxidase (ACX1A) that catalyzes the first step in the peroxisomal beta-oxidation stage of JA biosynthesis. Recombinant ACX1A exhibited a preference for C12 and C14 straight-chain acyl-CoAs and also was active in the metabolism of C18 cyclopentanoid-CoA precursors of JA. The overall growth, development, and reproduction of acx1 plants were similar to wild-type plants. However, the mutant was compromised in its defense against tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) attack. Grafting experiments showed that loss of ACX1A function disrupts the production of the transmissible signal for wound-induced PI expression but does not affect the recognition of this signal in undamaged responding leaves. We conclude that ACX1A is essential for the beta-oxidation stage of JA biosynthesis and that JA or its derivatives is required both for antiherbivore resistance and the production of the systemic wound signal. These findings support a role for peroxisomes in the production of lipid-based signaling molecules that promote systemic defense responses.