Factors affecting the concentration of avenanthramides in oats

The main objective of this study was to get insight on quality related components affecting the end-use properties of different oat cultivars. Combining the harvest data to chemical analyses such as beta-glucan, cadmium and avenanthramides recommendation of most preferable oat cultivars for food applications could be given. In this presentation the focus is on avenanthramides, phenolic compounds which are characteristic to oats. Avenanthramides are of great interest and importance because of their potential utilisation in food and non-food applications. Avenanthramides of oat varieties cultivated in four different locations were extracted with 80% methanol. Concentrated samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with diode array detector. Altogether 114 samples were analysed. The mean concentration of avenanthramides was 23 mg/kg in harvest year 2000 (min. 7 mg/kg, max. 41 mg/kg, n=26), 17 mg/kg in 2001 (min. 8 mg/kg, max. 39 mg/kg, n=33) and 18 mg/kg in 2002 (min. 2 mg/kg, max. 53 mg/kg, n=55). The concentration of avenanthramides was found to be cultivar related. In addition there were remarkable differences in the concentration of avenanthramides of oat cultivars between locations and harvest years. High concentration of avenanthramides can be a result of the attack of certain plant pathogens. Also unfavourable environmental conditions leading to sprouting prior harvest can increase the amount of avenanthramides.