Amaranth (Amaranthus L.): chemical composition and perspectives of introduction in the North

The results of the study of the chemical composition of the seeds of two species of amaranth: Amaranthus caudatus L. - amaranth caudate and A. paniculatus L.- a. paniculata, as well as three varieties - A. caudatus L. Nodoja, A. caudatus L. Karmin; A. paniculatus cv. "Pigmey" - a. paniculata "pygmy" and hybrid formA. paniculatus f. cruentus (Cherry jam) from the collection of the Botanical Gar- den of the Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch, RAS are shown. The estimation of possibilities of introduction of these plants in conditions of the North is given. The content of neutral lipids (NL) in the investi- gated amaranth seeds is in range of 3.3 - 7.1% of the dry weight. Triglycerides are the main component of NL of amaranth seeds. It is shown that the squalene content in NL of seeds ranges from 2.0 to 3.6%. Oleic acid (33 %) and linoleic acid (26.5 %) are dominant among the fatty acids in NL A. paniculatus. The to- tal content of unsaturated acids made 64.8 %. Arginine (25.1 %) is the basic amino acid by content in A. paniculatus seeds. The results of the study showed that the amaranth can be considered promising for cultivation in the Republic of Komi and be recommended both as a decorative plant for single and group plantings, and as a food and medicinal plant being of interest as a source of valuable biologically active substances such as squalene, higher fatty acids and essential amino acids and trace elements.