Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health-promoting substances and heavy metal content in tomatoes grown with different farming techniques

  • ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
  • Published:
European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 06 May 2009

Abstract

Background

Organic farming is a production technique that imposes major restrictions on the use of fertilizers, pesticides, feed additives and veterinary drugs and for this reason consumers perceive organic foods to be healthier. The content of health-promoting molecules such as ascorbic acid, β-carotene, lycopene and salicylic acid are important aspects of the nutritional quality of organic foods.

Aim

To evaluate health promoting substances and the heavy metal content of tomato berries grown using conventional, integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming techniques.

Methods

Moisture was determined by drying, crude protein by the Kjeldhal method, and ashes by incineration at 550°C. Ergosterol, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, lycopene and salicylic acid were determined by HPLC. The levels of heavy metals were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Results

Compared to crops grown using conventional and IPM methods, organic tomatoes contained more salicylic acid but less vitamin C and lycopene. Organic tomatoes had higher Cd and Pb levels but a lower Cu content. Organic fruits had a slightly higher protein content than conventionally cultivated fruits, but the difference was minimal and consequently the nutritive significance was poor.

Conclusions

Farming techniques may have an impact on the quality of tomatoes. Their higher salicylate content supports the notion that organic foodstuffs are more wholesome. However, the lower lycopene and ascorbic acid levels of organic tomatoes are not to be regarded as positive. No residues of pesticides and ergosterol were detected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) (1991) Aliments des animaux: determination de la teneur en ergosterol, Paris, France, French Standard NF V 18-112

  2. AOAC International (1995) Official methods of analysis, 16th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC

  3. Asami DK, Hong YJ, Barrett DM, Mitchell AE (2003) Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry and corn grown using conventional, organic and sustainable agricultural practices. J Agric Food Chem 51:1237–1241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Auclair L, Zee JA, Karam A, Rochat E (1995) Valeur nutritive qualité organoleptique et productivité des tomatoes de serre en function de leur mode de production: biologique-conventionel-hydroponique. Sci Aliments 15:511–528

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Baxter GJ, Graham AB, Lawrence JR, Wiles D, Paterson JR (2001) Salicylic acid in soups prepared from organically and non-organically grown vegetables. Eur J Nutr 40:289–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Beigel R, Matetzky S, Fefer P, Dvir D, Hod H (2007) Aspirin-issues in daily practice: an update. Isr Med Assoc J 9:221–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brandt K, Mølgaard JP (2001) Organic agriculture: does it enhance or reduce the nutritional value of the plant foods? J Sci Food Agric 81:924–931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Caris-Veyrat C, Amiot MJ, Tyssandier V, Grasselly D, Buret M, Mikolajczak M, Guilland JC, Bouteloup-Demange C, Borel P (2004) Influence of organic versus conventional agricultural practice on the antioxidant microconstituent content of tomatoes and derived pureed; consequences on antioxidant plasma status in humans. J Agric Food Chem 52:6503–6509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Carnovale E (1999) La qualità nutrizionale dei prodotti dell’agricoltura biologica. Italus Hortus 6:41–44

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dempsey DMA, Shah J, Klessig DF (1999) Salicylic acid and disease resistance in plants. Crit Rev Plant Sci 18:547–575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Dixon RA, Palva NL (1995) Stress-induced phenylpropanoid metabolism. Plant Cell 7:1085–1097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dumas Y, Dadomo M, Di Lucca G, Grolier P (2003) Review: effects of environmental factors and agricultural techniques on antioxidant content of tomatoes. J Sci Food Agric 83:369–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fjelkner-Modig S, Bengtsson H, Stegmark R, Nyström S (2000) The influence of organic and integrated production on nutritional sensory and agricultural aspects of vegetable raw materials for food production. Acta Agric Scand Sect B Plant Soil Sci 50:102–113

    Google Scholar 

  14. Food Standard Agency (2006) Survey of metals and other elements in offal and offal products. Food Survey Information Sheet no. 14/06, London, p 11

  15. Fuhramn B, Elis A, Aviram M (1997) Hypocholesterolemic effect of lycopene and β-carotene is related to suppression of cholesterol synthesis and augmentation of LDL receptor activity in macrophage. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 233:658–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gundersen V, Mccall D, Bechmann IE (2001) Comparison of major and trace element concentrations in Danish greenhouse tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Aromata F1) cultivated in different substrates. J Agric Food Chem 49:3808–3815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hennekens CH (2002) Update on aspirin in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Am J Manag Care 8(suppl):S691–S700

    Google Scholar 

  18. Higgs GA, Salmon JA, Henderson B, Vane JR (1987) Pharmacokinetics of aspirin and salycilate in relation to inhibition of arachidonate cyclooxygenase and antiinflammatory activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:1417–1420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hocking PJ, Mclaughlin MJ (2000) Genotypic variation in cadmium accumulation by seed of linseed and comparison with seeds of some other crop species. Aust J Agric Res 51:427–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jorhem L, Slanina P (2000) Does organic farming reduce the content of Cd and certain other trace metals in plant foods? A pilot study. J Sci Food Agric 80:43–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kopp HJ, Paduch KD, Gierschner K (1989) Qualitätsuntersuchungen an Gemüse aus konventionellem und alternativem Anbau. In: Berichtsband XXIV. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualitätforschung, Vortragstagung, pp 102–125

  22. Kucuk O, Srkar FH, Djuric Z, Sakr W, Pollak MN, Khachik F, Banerjee M, Bertram JS, Wood DP Jr (2002) Effects of lycopene supplementation in patients with localized prostate cancer. Exp Biol Med 227:881–885

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lucarini M, Carbonaro M, Nicoli S, Aguzzi A, Cappelloni M, Ruggeri S, Di Lullo G, Gambelli L, Carnovale E (1999) Endogenous markers for organic versus conventional plant products. In: Hagg M, Ahnenainen R, Evers AM, Tiilikkala K (eds) Agrifood quality II: Quality managements of fruits and vegetables. Special publication no. 229, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, pp 306–310

    Google Scholar 

  24. Olsson ME, Andersson CS, Oredsson S, Berglund RH, Gustavsson KE (2006) Antioxidant levels and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in vitro by extracts from organically and conventionally cultivated strawberries. J Agric Food Chem 54:1248–1255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Schwadorf K, Mueller HM (1989) Determination of ergosterol in cereals, mixed feed components and mixed feeds by liquid chromatography. J AOAC 72:457–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Shuman LM (1998) Effect of organic waste amendments on cadmium and lead in soil fractions of two soils. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 29:2939–2952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Swain AR, Dutton SP, Truswell AS (1985) Salicylates in foods. J Am Diet Assoc 85:950–960

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Turrini A, Saba A, Perrone D, Cialfa E, D’Amicis A (2001) Food consumption patterns in Italy: the INN-CA study 1994-1996. Eur J Clin Nutr 55:571–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Venema DP, Hollman PCH, Janssen KPLTM, Katan MB (1996) Determination of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid in foods using HPLC with fluorescence detection. J Agric Food Chem 44:1762–1767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Woese K, Lange D, Boess C, Bogl KW (1997) A comparison of organically and conventionally grown foods—results of a review of the relevant literature. J Sci Food Agric 74:281–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Worthington V (1998) Effect of agricultural methods on nutritional quality: a comparison of organic with conventional crops. Altern Ther Health Med 4:58–69

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by Università Cattolica, Line D.1. Thanks are due to Prof. Salvatore Ciappellano for his helpful discussion of the results.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Scienze degli Alimenti e della, Nutrizione, Facoltà di Agraria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100, Piacenza, Italy

    Filippo Rossi, Terenzio Bertuzzi & Sergio Gatti

  2. PAREN srl, Noceto, Parma, Italy

    Francesco Godani & Sergio Gatti

  3. Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Facoltà di Agraria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy

    Marco Trevisan & Federico Ferrari

Authors
  1. Filippo Rossi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesco Godani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Terenzio Bertuzzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marco Trevisan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Federico Ferrari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sergio Gatti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filippo Rossi.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-009-0028-8.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rossi, F., Godani, F., Bertuzzi, T. et al. Health-promoting substances and heavy metal content in tomatoes grown with different farming techniques. Eur J Nutr 47, 266–272 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0721-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0721-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation