Medicinal importance
The use of quinoa for medicinal purposes has also been reported (Mujica, 1994). The plant is reportedly used in inflammation, as an analgesic and as a disinfectant of the urinary tract. It is also used in fractures and internal haemorrhaging and as an insect repellent (Mujica, 1994). The presence of glycine betaine, trigonelline and their derivatives has been reported in the plant (Jancurova et al., 2009). In humans, glycine betaine can be readily absorbed through dietary intake or endogenously synthesized in the liver through choline catabolism. The concentration of glycine betaine in human blood plasma is highly regulated. Its concentrations are lower in patients with renal disease, and its urinary excretion is elevated in patients