RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANTIPLATELET ACTIVITY, DRY MATTER CONTENT AND FLAVOR IN ONION CULTIVARS

SANCE M.; GONZÁLEZ R.; SOTO V.; GALMARINI C. R.

Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment-JFAE

WFLPublisher, Science and Technology

Lugar: Helsinki, Finland; Año: 2008 vol. 6 p. 41 - 46

1459-0255

A number of studies suggest that dietary intake of onion (Allium cepa) benefits cardiovascular health. The in vitro antiplatelet activity observed in Alliums is influenced by genotype and environmental factors. Few descriptions about Argentinean onion cultivars and their health benefits have been reported. To investigate the relationship between antiplatelet effect, pyruvic content, soluble solids content and total dry matter, eight Argentinean onion cultivars (Angaco INTA, Antartica INTA, Ancasti INTA, Refinta 20, Valcatorce INTA, Valuno INTA, Cobriza INTA and Navideña INTA) of different physiological requirements for bulbification and genetic background were grown during two years. Thirty days after harvest onion bulbs were sampled, and pungency, dry matter, soluble solids and in vitro antiplatelet activity were analized. Significant cultivar x year interactions were observed for all studied variables (P < 0.05). Refinta 20 and Antartica INTA showed 100 % inhibition of platelet aggregation, while Angaco INTA presented the lowest inhibiting effect. Significant positive correlations were found between in vitro antiplatelet activity and pyruvic acid content, soluble solids and dry matter content in both years. There seems to be interesting differences among cultivars according to their origins. Angaco INTA originated from Valencianita populations shows low pungency and also low in vitro antiplatelet activity, whereas cultivars selected from Valenciana type populations show intermediate pungency and antiplatelet activity. Refinta 20 selected from Southport White Globe populations has the highest antiaggregatory effect, pungency and solids. Another interesting relationship seems to be related to bulb color; white bulb cultivars (Ancasti INTA, Refinta 20, and Antartica INTA) have more soluble solids content and in vitro antiplatelet activity than colored bulb cultivars.