Spinach and quinoa as sources of active plant substances
What it found
Spinach and quinoa contain plant substances that may have adaptogenic and protective effects, but the evidence comes mainly from lab animal experiments.
The authors say these foods are promising sources of biologically active substances.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Spinach effects in animals
In lab animals, spinach and its extracts have shown adaptogenic and neuroprotective effects, including improved memory and learning. The possible preventive effect of spinach is being studied in animals with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Quinoa effects in animals
Eating quinoa may have a beneficial effect by normalizing carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, reducing body weight, and preventing excessive lipid peroxidation. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects are widely discussed.
Other findings
Substances in spinach
Spinach and its extracts contain phytoadaptogens, carotenoids, phenolic compounds such as quercetin and kempferol, phenolic acids, and lignans that are metabolized into phytoestrogens.
Substances in quinoa
Quinoa grains contain more than 20 phenolic compounds, plus tannins, saponins, sterols, phytic acid, and ecdysteroids in small amounts. They are also a source of high-grade protein.
What the authors conclude
“Spinach, quinoa and their extracts are promising food sources of biologically active substances, their pharmacological action is confirmed from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine by in vivo experimental studies.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that spinach, quinoa and their extracts are promising food sources of biologically active substances.
- They state that their pharmacological action is confirmed by in vivo experimental studies from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine.
- They advise expanding the use of these food plants in dietary supplements, functional food ingredients, and specialized food products.
How it was done
Phytoadaptogens are usually extracted from medicinal plants and are not considered food substances, which limits their use in preventive nutrition. Screening studies can find these substances in food plants, though in much smaller amounts.
The authors reviewed published studies on the minor biologically active substances in spinach and quinoa, including experiments on laboratory animals that tested their pharmacological activity.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The evidence comes mainly from experiments on laboratory animals, so it cannot show what happens in people.
- The review does not provide details on how many animals were studied or for how long.
- It cannot show whether eating spinach or quinoa has the same effects in humans as the extracts or substances tested in animals.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Russian Science Foundation (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no overt and potential conflict of interest related to the publication of this article.
- Authors work at
- Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Russian Federation
The paper
- Title
- [Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances]
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sidorova YS, Petrov NA, Shipelin VA, Mazo VK (2020). [Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances]. Voprosy pitaniia. doi:10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10020PubMed 32459909DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error