Popis: |
Asparagus is a vegetable which is liked by many consumers because of its delicious taste and nutritional value. Although it is a seasonal product, it is available in the market as fresh, frozen, or canned asparagus. The bioactive compounds found in Asparagus spears have beneficial effects on human health, including antitumoral and antioxidant activities. The compounds present in asparagus include phytochemicals such as phenols (flavonoids and hydroxycinnamates), saponins, ascorbic acid and fructooligosaccharides. The nutraceutical composition of asparagus may be affected in different ways by its processing prior to consumption. This chapter shows many other factors that influence the concentration of these active components. Among these, we highlight variety, sample origin, harvesting date, climate conditions, sterilization method, atmospheric conditions, and temperature during post-harvest storage. |