Characterization of the Effect of Elicitation on Bioactive Properties and Polyphenol Metabolism in Some Edible Sprouts

Abstract

The present study entitled, Characterization of the effect of elicitation on bioactive properties and polyphenol metabolism in some edible sprouts was undertaken to study the effect of different elicitors namely salicylic acid (SA), folic acid (FA), sucrose (S), ascorbic acid (AA) and precursor [L-phenylalanine(P) and L-tyrosine(T)] feeding on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and enzyme activity of wheat, lentils, pea and common bean sprouts. Treatment SA(2mM)+P was found to be the most effective treatment to enhance bioactive properties in wheat sprouts whereas, treatment S (200 mM )+P was effective in improving bioactive properties of lentil sprouts. Also in case of pea and common bean sprouts treatment P(0.1mM) and AA (1mM) +P respectively, was found to be the best among the tested treatments. Elicitation with SA(2mM)+P showed the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin content of 18.05±0.15 mg GAEs/g FW, 547.33±3.05 µg QEs /g FW and 361.33±3.33 µg CEs/g FW respectively in wheat sprouts, whereas in lentil sprouts, treatment S(200mM)+P showed highest total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin content of 28.23±0.08 mg GAEs/g FW, 1160.00±2.00 µg QEs /g FW and 1141.92±5.00 µg CEs/g FW respectively. Similarly, in pea sprouts treatment P (0.1mM), showed the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin content of 50.26±0.16 mg GAEs/g FW, 1553.33±1.04 µg QEs /g FW and 754.08±0.88 µg CEs/g FW respectively. Whereas, treatment AA(1mM)+P showed highest total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin content of 12.39±0.16mg GAEs/g FW, 1236.57±3.48 µg QEs /g FW and 564.49±4.00 µg CEs/g FW respectively in common bean sprouts. Elicitation resulted in a considerable increase in the antioxidant potential of sprouts, which was found to be positively correlated with total phenolic content. Furthermore, the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 59.24±0.56 mg FW/ml), reducing power (IC50 value of 85.22±1.84 mg FW/ml), FRAP (2562.00±21.00µM Fe2+eq./g FW) and met