Characterization of Triterpene Saponin Composition of White, Yellow and Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.)

– group of – have spurred a growing due to their health-promoting properties. This study aimed to gain information on triterpene saponin profile of the peel and flesh of white, yellow and red beet of six cultivars – Snow Ball, Boldor, Ceryl, Chrobry, Forono and Tytus – harvested in Poland, in the same region. Twenty four saponins with oleanolic acid, hederagenin, akebonoic acid and gypsogenin as aglycons were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC--ESI-MS/MS). Among them, betavulgaroside I, II, III and IV were the major compounds, but the quantitative profile of saponins was found to be de- pendent on beet cultivar and root part, respectively. The highest content of saponins was found in the peel of yellow B. vulgaris Boldor (20812 mg/kg fresh weight, fw), while the lowest saponin content was determined in the flesh of white B. vulgaris Snow Ball (497 mg/kg fw). In addition, the total saponin content in peel and flesh in yellow beet (26054 mg/kg fw) was much higher than the total content in peel and flesh in red beet Tytus (8364 mg/kg fw) and white beet Snow Ball (1204 mg/kg fw). This is the first report on the profile of saponins in white and yellow beets.