PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS AND HIERARCHICAL CLUSTER ANALYSIS APPLIED IN DETERMINING THE GENOTYPIC INFLUENCE OF ANDEAN LUPIN (LUPINUS MUTABILIS) SEEDS ON THEIR PHYSICOCHEMICAL, BIOACTIVE, AND LIPID COMPOSITION

The objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the physicochemical, bioactive, and lipid profiles of three different genotypes (Altagracia, Cholo Fuerte, and Común) of Lupinus mutabilis seeds grown in the Ancash region of Peru, and (2) to identify patterns in the dataset and present them in a way that highlights the similarities and differences between genotypes, using multivariate statistical analysis techniques (HCA) together with principal component analysis (PCA). The Andean lupin seeds were collected in the district of Coris in the department of Ancash in Peru. Physicochemical characterization was determined by gravimetric methods; alkaloids were analyzed using GC/MS; and fatty acids and phytosterols were analyzed using GC/FID. Antioxidants and phenols were analyzed using spectrophotometric methods. PCA and HCA were performed using RStudio software (version 4.2.3). The seeds of the three genotypes have a high protein content (~46 g/100 g dry basis (d.b.)), as well as high levels of lipids (~18 g/100 g d.b.), total alkaloids (28 mg/g d.b.), monounsaturated fatty acids (11,486 mg/100 g d.b.), polyunsaturated fatty acids (11,527.3 mg/100 g d.b.) and total phytosterols (748.66 mg/100 g d.b.). Each genotype studied has a different physicochemical profile. PCA identified two main components (PC1 and PC2), which accounted for 97.9% of the total variation in the data. The PCA allowed us to identify the physicochemical and bioactive characteristics most associated with certain genotypes. The Comun genotype has a predominance of proteins, lipids, linolenic acid (C18.3), and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The Altagracia genotype has a profile with a higher content of total alkaloids, behenic acid (C22.0), free phenols, antioxidant capacity by ABTS, and crude fiber. Meanwhile, the Cholo Fuerte genotype had a low content of proteins, fats, and linolenic acid, but a higher content of saturated fatty acids, arachidic acid, and carbohydrates. On the other hand, HCA revealed that certain variables, such as nutalin, total alkaloids, DPPH, crude fibre, carbohydrates, free phenols, lupanine and SFA, tend to covary in groups. Finally, we conclude that the Comun genotype can have greater industrial applicability for the production of functional foods due to its high content of proteins, antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids compared to saturated fatty acids (SFA), high phytosterol values, and a low level of alkaloids and carbohydrates.