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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Cultivar- and Growth-Stage-Dependent Variability of Saponins in Roots and Leaves of Beta vulgaris L. Characterized by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry
Anna Tekieli 1
,
 
Kamila Frącek 1
,
 
Giorgia Perelli 2
,
 
Szymon Janecki 1
,
 
Aneta Spórna-Kucab 1
 
 
 
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1
Department of Chemical Technology and Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
 
2
Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2025-11-24
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-03-02
 
 
Corresponding author
Aneta Spórna-Kucab   

Department of Chemical Technology and Environmental Analysis, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155, Kraków, Poland
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
oleanane-type aglycones
plant metabolomics
seasonal variation
secondary metabolites
triterpene glycosides
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Beta vulgaris L. is an important food crop and a rich source of bioactive triterpene saponins. This study evaluated cultivar- and growth-stage-dependent variability of saponins in leaves and roots of three beet cultivars (Round Dark Red, Cylindra, and Snow Ball) and in leaves of Swiss chard (Rhubarb Chard), harvested at seven harvest dates between June and September 2024. Saponins were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS). A total of 32 triterpene saponins representing oleanane-type, akebonoic acid-, hederagenin-, and gypsogenin-derived aglycones were detected. Pronounced organ-dependent differences were observed. Total saponin content ranged from 386 to 10,414 mg/kg fresh weight (FW) in leaves and from 1,170 to 23,298 mg/kg FW in roots. Two-way analysis of variance confirmed highly significant effects of cultivar, harvest time, and their interaction on total saponin levels in both leaves and roots (all p<0.0001). Roots exhibited a broader content range and a pronounced mid-season maximum, whereas leaf saponin levels generally peaked in the mid-to-late season in a genotype-dependent pattern. Major saponins (Act-UrA-akebonoic acid and betavulgarosides II, III, IV, and VII) predominated in the quantitative profile and exhibited coordinated seasonal variation. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) clearly separated samples according to plant organ and further resolved cultivar- and season-related patterns. Overall, saponin accumulation in B. vulgaris is strongly regulated by organ type, genotype, and growth stage, emphasizing the importance of cultivar selection and harvest timing for maximizing bioactive potential.
FUNDING
This research was funded in whole by National Science Centre, Poland for the years 2024–2027 (Project No. UMO-2023/49/N/NZ9/01706).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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