Comparative Study on the Chemical Structure and In Vitro Antiproliferative Activity of Anthocyanins in Purple Root Tubers and Leaves of Sweet Potato ( Ipomoea batatas).

The structure and in vitro antiproliferative activity of anthocyanins in the root tubers of a sweet potato variety cv. Bhu Krishna and the purple leaves of a promising accession S-1467 were studied with the objectives of understanding the structure-activity relationship and comparing the leaf and tuber anthocyanins. The chemical structure of anthocyanins was determined by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis. A fluorescence-resonance-energy-transfer-based caspase sensor probe had been used to study the antiproliferative property, and analysis of the cell cycle was performed after staining with propidium iodide and subsequent fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Structurally, the anthocyanins in root tubers were identical to those in leaves, but there was a difference in the proportion of various aglycones present in both. This has led to distinguishable differences in the antiproliferative activity of leaf and tuber anthocyanins to various cancer cells. All nine anthocyanins were found in acylated forms in both tubers and leaves. However, peonidin derivatives were major anthocyanins in tubers (33.98 ± 1.41 mg) as well as leaves (27.68 ± 1.07 mg). The cyanidin derivatives were comparatively higher in leaves (20.55 ± 0.91 mg) than tubers (9.44 ± 0.94 mg). The tuber and leaf anthocyanins exhibited potential antiproliferative properties to MCF-7, HCT-116, and HeLa cancer cells, and the structure of anthocyanins had a critical role in it. The leaf anthocyanins exhibited significantly higher activity against colon and cervical cancer cells, whereas tuber anthocyanins had a slightly greater effect against breast cancer cells.

Effect of chemical modification with citric acid on the physicochemical properties and resistant starch formation in different starches.

Potato, cassava, sweet potato, banana and lentil starches were modified with citric acid (CA) with the main objective of enhancing the resistant starch (RS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) fractions and to compare starches of diverse botanical origins. The percentage CA substitution of modified starches ranged from 3.84 to 15.06 and showed similar type of XRD patterns, but with variation in intensity and percentage crystallinity. The peaks around 1705 cm-1 and 1150 cm-1 in FT-IR spectra of modified starches confirmed the presence of CA group. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that there were no noticeable changes in granular structure and morphology. No peaks could be observed in RVA pasting profiles of modified starches, confirming cross-linking reaction. The SDS and RS were significantly higher in modified starches of all origins and consequently there was a lower estimated glyceamic index (EGI). Modified starches were associated with lower setback viscosity indicating their lower temperature stability.