Endogenous increase of proline in leaves of quelite (Amaranthus hybridus l.) through sun drying

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the amount of proline in leaflets of quelite (Amaranthus hybridus L.) dried under sunlight.

Design/methodology/approach: Quelite plants were collected in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico, defoliated, and the leaves were exposed to two drying conditions: one group directly under the sun and another in the shade, for five days. The samples were ground, and 24 g of each were used to prepare aqueous extracts using a homemade percolator (T-fal® Heliora model). Proline content was determined in each extract.

Results: Statistically significant differences were found through ANOVA and Tukey’s test, showing that sun drying was a better treatment compared to shade drying.

Limitations of the study/implications: The quelite plants used were exclusively collected from uncultivated sites; it is recommended to conduct comparisons in other growth environments.

Findings/conclusions: Sun drying is an effective technique to achieve an endogenous increase of proline in quelite plants, enhancing their quality for use as a nutritional or nutraceutical product, either in flour or extract form.