Comparative Analysis of the Physicochemical Properties and Metabolites of Farinose and Crisp Lotus Roots ( Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) with Different Geographical Origins

• Published in: Foods Vol. 12; no. 13; p. 2493
• Main Authors: Liu, Jiao, Peng, Jiawen, Yang, Jie, Wang, Jing, Peng, Xitian, Yan, Wei, Zhao, Liuqing, Peng, Lijun, Zhou, Youxiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27-06-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Comparative analysis; Control equipment industry; Cultivars; Discriminant analysis; Flavonoids; Food science; Geographical distribution; Ionization; Ions; Liquid chromatography; lotus root; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Mechanical properties; Metabolites; Multivariate analysis; Nutrients; Origins; Physicochemical properties; Quadrupoles; Roots; Shear stress; texture; Viscosity; Zeno trap; Canada; China; Hubei China; lotus root; metabolites; multivariate analysis; texture; Zeno trap
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods12132493

Lotus roots are widely consumed vegetables because of their great taste and abundant nutrients, but their quality varies with the environments and cultivar. This study systematically compared farinose (Elian No. 5) and crisp (Elian No. 6) lotus root cultivars from three geographical origins. Pasting and texture characteristics verified that Elian No. 5 possessed lower hardness and lower ability to withstand shear stress and heating during cooking compared with Elian No. 6. Untargeted metabolite profiling was first performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a Zeno trap. In total, 188 metabolites were identified based on the matching chemistry database. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that lotus roots from different cultivars and origins could be adequately distinguished. Sixty-one differential metabolites were identified among three Elian No. 5 samples, and 28 were identified among three Elian No. 6 samples. Isoscopoletin, scopoletin, and paprazine were the most differential metabolites between Elian No. 5 and Elian No. 6. These results can inform future research on the discrimination and utilization of lotus roots.