Potatoes Rich in Phenolic Compounds

In an analysis of the skins and flesh of 100 wild and commercially grown potatoes, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists found a total of 60 different phytochemicals and vitamins, including vitamin C, folic acid, chlorogenic acid, phenolics, such as flavonoids, and kukoamines. Phenolic concentrations reached 100 to 675 milligrams per 100 grams of dry weight.

ARS plant geneticist Roy Navarre and colleagues at Washington State University, Pullman, and Oregon State University, Corvallis, were able to analyze potato samples in 12 minutes using high-throughput liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

When people think potato, they think of starch and carbohydrates, says Navarre. But potatoes can actually be packed with phenolic compounds, which have a wide range of health-promoting properties, including antioxidant activity.

Phytochemicals are thought to promote human health through a range of activity, such as neutralizing cancer-causing agents and cell-damaging molecules called free radicals. Flavonoids are of particular interest for their potential role in diminishing the risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and certain cancers, including prostate and lung types.

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