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Beta vulgaris L.

Summary
Beet is commonly known as Chukander and belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae. It has napiform red root-stock which is cultivated and eaten cooked or raw. Beets are rich in vitamin B9 (Folate) that helps cells growth and function and in controlling damage to blood vessels reducing the risk of any heart disease. Betalains present in beets are shown to reduce the protein levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β, the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels.

Mode of Consumption : Fresh, fried, boiled and raw as salad
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Beta vulgaris L.
Family: Amaranthaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Genus: Beta L.
Fruiting Season: April to May
Parts: Tender leaves & Root
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • North-Western Mountain Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Beet root
Assam : Beet
Bihar : Beet, Chukandar, Chukkndan, Mithe Cuqandara
Himachal Pradesh : Chukandar
Karnataka : Beet root
Tamil Nadu : Carkkaraivallikkilanku
Uttar Pradesh : Chukandar, Beet
West Bengal : Beet root

Root


Tuber
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
Phenolic amidesAnti-inflammatoryPhenolic amides showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner in macrophages with IC50 values of 18.7 µm. [1]
BetalainAnti-inflammatoryBetalain (100 mg/kg) inhibited superoxide anion and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) production, and increased antiinflammatory (IL-10) cytokine release.TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10[3]
BetalainAnticancerBetalains (mixture of Vitexin-2-O-xyloside + Betaxanthin + Betacyanin) reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and IL-8 mRNA expression after lipopolysaccharide induction in Caucasian colon adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2). COX-2 and IL-8[7]
Red beet juiceAnti-inflammatoryClinical trial showed that 24 hypertensive subjects who consumed 250 mL/day of red beet juice or 250 g/day of cooked beet for 2 weeks, the levels of proinflammatory markers, like IL-6 and TNF-α, were significantly decreased.IL-6 and TNF-α[9]
Ethanolic extractAnti-inflammatoryEthanolic extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) treatment along with Gentamicin (GM) significantly downregulates the renal nuclear protein expression of NF-κB and NF-κB-DNA binding activities as well as proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in dose dependent manner as compared to only GM treated rats.NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6[10]
BetalainAnti-inflammatoryBetalains present in beets are shown to reduce the protein levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β, the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels.TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β[12]
BetaninAnticancerOral ingestion of betanin in ICR mice inhibited tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- I3-acetate (TPA) induced promotion of mice skin tumors.TPA[5]
Beet root extractAntioxidant, Immunomodulatory Beet root extract attenuates the Caspase-3 immunoreactivity and reduces oxidative stress through their ROS-scavenging properties.Caspase-3 and ROS[11]
Beet root extractAntioxidant The levels of MDA was decreased whereas the levels of GSH and total Antioxidant capacity increases after the feeding of beet root extract.MDA and GSH[11]
Beet root extractAnti-inflammatoryIL-6 cytokine was significantely decreased in the Cisplatin (Cis) induced rats after feeding beet root extract.IL-6[11]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
AlkaloidIsobetanidin: 4.6 mg/100 g DM, Isobetanin: 71.3 mg/100g DM, Neobetanin: , N-transferuloyl 3-O-methyldopamine: , Prebetanin: [8]
BetalainBetacyanin: 40-210, Betanidin: 18.2 mg/100 g DM, Betanin: 312.5 mg/100 g DM, Vulgaxanthin-I: 104.1 mg/100 g DM, Vulgaxanthin-II: 57.4 mg/100 g DM[8]
Carboxylic AcidCaffeic acid: 3.7 mg/100 g (cv. Detroit Dark Red ), Chlorogenic acid: 1.8 mg/100g (cv. Detroit Dark Red ), Ferulic acid: 132.52 mg/100g DW, n-cis-Feruloyltyramine: , N-trans-feruloyl tyramine: , p-coumaric acid: var. cicla, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid: 1.13 mg/100g DW, Proline: var. cicla, Protocatechuic acid: 5.42 mg/100g DW, Syringic acid: , Vanillic acid: 5.12 mg/100g DW[8]
EtherDihydroisorhamnetin: [8]
Flavonoid Betagarin: , Betavulgarin: , Cochliophilin A: , Isovitexin: , Kaempferol: 9.2 mg/100g, Quercetin : 7.5 mg/100g, Rutin: 0.25 mg/100g DW, Vitexin: , Vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside: , Vitexin-2-O-xyloside: [7]
FlavonolCatechin: 37.96 mg/100g DW, Catechin hydrate: 4.7 mg/100g (cv. Detroit Dark Red )[8]
Heterocyclic CompoundEpicatechin: 3.2 mg/100g (cv. Detroit Dark Red )[8]
Phenol4-Hydroxybenzoic acid: 1.2 mg/100g (cv. Detroit Dark Red )[8]
PyridineBetaxanthin: 20-140[6]
Terpenoidβ- Carotene: [8]
TriterpenoidMonoterpene dehydrovomifoliol: var. cicla[8]
Effect Observation DOI
Animal model studiesIncrease in Lactobacillus and Enterococcus populationDOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2010.12.001
In vitro studies Increase in Bacteroidetes and FirmicutesDOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2011.01.013
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • The tender leaves are used as pot herb.
  • The beets are eaten boiled or salad; they are also pickled.
 CSIR(1950).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-II ,P.183-184, New Delhi, India
4.2, 04.2.1, 04.2.1.1, 04.2.1.3, 04.2.2.3, 04.2.2.5, 04.2.2.6, 04.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India