Purple corn ( Spanish: maíz morado) or purple maize is group of flint maize varieties ( Zea mays indurata) originating in South America, descended from a common ancestral variety termed "kʼculli" in Quechua. [1] It is most commonly grown in the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Common in Peru, purple corn is used in chicha morada, a drink made by boiling ground purple corn kernels with pineapple, cinnamon, clove, and sugar, and in mazamorra, a type of pudding". [2] In Bolivia, purple corn "Kuli" is used in Api, a smoothie served hot. [3]
The pigment giving purple corn its vivid color derives from an exceptional content of a class of polyphenols called anthocyanins. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, also called chrysanthemin, is the major anthocyanin in purple corn kernels, comprising about 73% of all anthocyanins present. [4] [5] [6] Other anthocyanins identified are pelargonidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside), pelargonidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside) and peonidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside). [4] [5] [6] Similar results for anthocyanin content were found from a variety of purple corn grown in China. [7]
Evaluating growing conditions for anthocyanin and total polyphenol content, one research group found that field location was an important determinant, whereas seedling density and soil potassium content were not. [8]
For ease of extractions, scientists have explored components of the purple corn plant for yield, such as kernels, cob and husk, possibly allowing use of a plentiful, non-edible residual biomass in cobs or husks. Husks of the purple corn plant contain about ten times higher content of anthocyanins than do kernels. [6]
Purple corn ( Spanish: maíz morado) or purple maize is group of flint maize varieties ( Zea mays indurata) originating in South America, descended from a common ancestral variety termed "kʼculli" in Quechua. [1] It is most commonly grown in the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Common in Peru, purple corn is used in chicha morada, a drink made by boiling ground purple corn kernels with pineapple, cinnamon, clove, and sugar, and in mazamorra, a type of pudding". [2] In Bolivia, purple corn "Kuli" is used in Api, a smoothie served hot. [3]
The pigment giving purple corn its vivid color derives from an exceptional content of a class of polyphenols called anthocyanins. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, also called chrysanthemin, is the major anthocyanin in purple corn kernels, comprising about 73% of all anthocyanins present. [4] [5] [6] Other anthocyanins identified are pelargonidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside), pelargonidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside) and peonidin 3-O-β-D-(6-malonyl-glucoside). [4] [5] [6] Similar results for anthocyanin content were found from a variety of purple corn grown in China. [7]
Evaluating growing conditions for anthocyanin and total polyphenol content, one research group found that field location was an important determinant, whereas seedling density and soil potassium content were not. [8]
For ease of extractions, scientists have explored components of the purple corn plant for yield, such as kernels, cob and husk, possibly allowing use of a plentiful, non-edible residual biomass in cobs or husks. Husks of the purple corn plant contain about ten times higher content of anthocyanins than do kernels. [6]