French researchers have identified a local amaranthus genotype with the highest squalene yield, as growing demand for amaranth seeds for human health is expected. This is particularly relevant as the market increasingly explores options like popped amaranth and innovative culinary uses such as amaranth seeds cooking.
Amaranth, classified as a pseudocereal, is attracting increasing attention in both scientific and industrial fields due to its valuable biological properties, diverse phytochemical composition, and extensive pharmacological activity. This surge of interest reflects its potential applications in various fields. The availability of green amaranth seeds has further fueled this interest.
What Amaranth is Good For
Amaranth, including rajgira, is known for its substantial nutritional value attributed to its amino acids, fiber, trace elements, vitamins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
Amaranth seeds and leaves exhibit important antioxidant properties in vitro, and the seeds are enriched with polyphenols.
Amaranth is considered a natural biopharmaceutical plant. Squalene can reach 8% in amaranth oils, and it can be combined with tocopherols to regulate lipid metabolism. Consequently, the quality of amaranth oil is comparable to sea buckthorn oil. Amaranth oils are widely used to treat radiation sickness and burns.
Amaranths are “C4 metabolism” plants. Their special C4 anatomical structure found in their leaves, bracts, and seedpods enables efficient photosynthesis through the C4 pathway, which allows them to produce sufficient biomass and quickly adapt to harsh environmental conditions.
Amaranths have evolved physiological traits that increase their genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity, which enables them to tolerate pathogen attack and facilitates cultivation. Although this plant can grow on different soil types (loamy, sandy, and silty), moisture levels (strong water-holding capacity), pH (5 to 8), and temperatures (18-35 °C), it is extremely tolerant to heat and drought, grows in full sun and is widely adapted to different geographical locations.
The Amaranth Seed Market is Growing at a Rapid Pace
The variability in amaranth seed yield allows scientists and researchers to study yield improvement and access a rich reservoir of genetic material.
Globally, amaranth seed yields range from 1500 to 7200 kg per hectare.
China, India, Russia, Nepal, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Kenya are the major producers of *amaranth seeds*.
Although FAOSTAT data on world amaranth production are limited, it is indicated that in Europe, seed yields vary considerably in the following countries: Germany (2100-3300 kg-ha), Italy (1200-6700 kg-ha), Slovak Republic (2100-2700 kg-ha), Croatia (1300-2600 kg-ha), Denmark (1000 kg-ha), Turkey (2105-4490 kg-ha), Romania (2650 kg-ha), and Ukraine (2460-4350 kg-ha).
There are currently no published statistics on amaranth seed production in France.
Genetic factors, environmental conditions, cultivation height, biological or conventional farming, irrigation and/or fertilizer use, and harvest time contribute to the variation of bioactive chemical compounds.
Several studies have been conducted to investigate the chemical characterization of amaranth seeds globally such as protein, fiber, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, polyphenols, flavonoids, tocopherols, sterols, and squalene.
Squalene serves as a biosynthetic precursor to steroids. It is known as the predominant component of polyunsaturated lipids on the surface of the skin. It offers numerous benefits to the skin, acting as an emollient, antioxidant, moisturizer, photoprotective, and anti-tumor agent.
Amaranth seeds are a rich source of plant squalene, ranging from 2.4 to 8.0%, and it can be higher, up to 12%, depending on the species/genotype, origin, and growing location. The squalene content found in oils such as olive, wheat germ, and rice bran oils typically ranges from 0.1 to 0.7%, making amaranth a more significant and viable resource for squalene extraction.
The amaranth seed market is expected to likely be driven by the growing food industry and increasing use of organic ingredients in therapeutic cosmetics and phytopharmaceuticals. The versatility of amaranth, from popped amaranth snacks to its use in gluten-free baking, is further driving demand.
Amaranth seed production is steadily expanding in Europe, where it is recognized as a niche pseudo-grain (provides 6,000 tons of niche seed). Germany is considered the main market for seed consumption, while popularity continues to grow in other developed countries such as the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and France.
Amaranth in France has Good Prospects
There is no local production of this species in France. Therefore, to introduce its cultivation and reduce the ecological footprint caused by the importation of seeds from Latin America, a cultivation program was initiated in the country.
Researchers at the University of Toulouse and the University of Gabès studied the lipid composition and bioactivity of an organic seed extract of four Amaranthus genotypes (species A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus) grown in two locations in southwestern France. Changes in oil, squalene, and fatty acid content of the seeds were also evaluated together with analysis of antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.
The research work was carried out on four genotypes: Berry, Kharkiv, Lera, and Panam belonging to two amaranth species grown in two different locations (Auch and Riscla) in the southwest of France.
The results showed that the oil content varied significantly and ranged from 4.3 to 6.4%. The Lera variety grown at Riscla had the highest squalene yield, reaching 7.7%. Lera was followed by the variety Kharkovsky grown at both locations, belonging to the species A. hypochondriacus, while both genotypes of A. cruentus (Panam and Berry) showed the lowest squalene yield.
Linoleic acid and oleic acid were the most abundant fatty acids for the four genotypes at two locations, followed by palmitic acid. Triglycerides were the major glycerides in all samples grown at both locations. A total of 44 volatile compounds were identified in amaranth seed extracts.
In general, plants grown at Riscle showed yields about 40% higher. This could be attributed to differences in weather conditions, in particular the amount of rainfall. Indeed, rainfall during the experimental period was 50% higher in Riskla than in Osh. Moreover, during the plant development cycle (from June to October), temperatures were higher in Riskla than in Osh. These conditions were favorable for C4 plants such as amaranth, resulting in higher yields.
“Our results emphasize the possibility of successfully growing this species under different conditions in southwest France. Moreover, our findings clearly showed a difference between the genotypes studied, explained by climatic and genetic factors. *A. hypochondriacus* grown in Riscle showed itself to be the most stable in terms of oil and squalene content (6.4% and 7.7%, respectively)”, conclude the authors of the paper.