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Published on: August 6, 2018
Rapid, simple and accessible phytonutritional assessment methods in agricultural research
Zipora Tietel1, Izabella Galilov1, Sarit Melamed1,2
1Food Science, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization- Volcani Institute, MP Negev, Israel.
Background:
Agricultural research with respect to studying the effects of genetic background and environmental conditions on plant and commercial parameters is ample. Nevertheless, data on the effects on nutritional value and phytonutritional composition are scarce, despite its significance to the consumer, as well as its importance in providing nutritional security. The present study aimed to simplify, unify and make accessible a set of spectrophotometric nutritional assessment assays, comprising a valuable tool in agricultural research. Efforts were made to provide simple, rapid, small-scale and cost-effective protocols, aiming to minimize resources and time, learning-curve and erring.
Results:
We included assays alongside literature-compliant values for antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP), polyphenols and flavonoids (free, conjugated, bound, total), lignans, anthocyanins, tocopherols, phytosterols, glucosinolates, carotenoids, betalains, saponins, phlorotannin, phycobilin, vitamin C, total oil and soluble protein content, in addition to antinutrients- oxalic acid and phytic acid. Calibration curves of recommended standards are included and workflows are demonstrated. Guidelines are also provided for protocol adjustments.
Conclusion:
This work thus compiles a broad arsenal of rigorous methods, rendering a good spectrum of nutritional assessment protocols, including nutriphytochemical composition alongside a basic bioactivity assessment (antioxidant measurements). These methods are recommended in evaluating the effects of agricultural management practices, such as water and mineral nutrition availability or postharvest storage, or as part of breeding programs, such as in research or commercial R&D laboratories that do not have expertise in nutritional analysis, and require an accessible high-throughput nutritional assessment tool. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
