Abstract
Considering the growing interest in functional foods, the identification of the individual species of elements is of great importance in understanding specific nutraceutical properties. The present study aims to compare the dynamic of the elemental content (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Se), total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity of Trifolium pratense L. and Medicago sativa L. sprouts in different germination stages. The elemental profile was established by atomic absorption spectroscopy after the microwave acid digestion of the samples, while total polyphenols and anti-radical activity were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. Phenolic compounds and anti-radical activity of both alfalfa and red clover sprouts varied with germination stages. Germination can significantly increase the anti-radical activity in the first 3 days of germination, followed by a decline in the following days. An increase in total polyphenols was noticed, starting from the second day of germination in both plant species. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences for Ca, Na, Fe, K, Zn, and Mg contents among the sprouts, depending on the germination stage and plant species. The calcium contents of alfalfa ranged between 200.74 µg/g DW (raw seeds) and 2765.31 µg/g DW (sprouted), while in red clover between 250.83 µg/g DW and 601.59 µg/g DW. Maximum selenium content in alfalfa sprouts, reached in the 3rd day of germination (11.42 µg/g DW), exceeded the maximum value measured in red clover (9.42 µg/g DW). The data were subject to statistical processing using analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA).
Highlights
Trifolium pratense and Medicago sativa are considered as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, which is demonstrated by various scientific studies [1,2,3,4]
We identified changes in mineral element and bioactive properties of the of Trifolium pratense L. and Medicago sativa L. sprouts during germination with an increased bioactivity and mineral content
The highest total polyphenols content was 23.34 mg gallic acid eq/g dry weight (DW) in red clover (RCV) sprouts recorded in the fourth day of germination, while in ALF the highest level of 18.51 mg gallic acid eq/g DW was reached in the third day
Summary
Trifolium pratense (red clover) and Medicago sativa (alfalfa) are considered as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, which is demonstrated by various scientific studies [1,2,3,4]. Major bioactive compounds in the aerial parts of both plant species are isoflavonoids with estrogenic activities, flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, sterols, and saponins in alfalfa [3,5]. The extract of alfalfa aerial parts showed a moderate anti-inflammatory effect [3,8], therapeutic potential in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia [9], and in relieving disorders of the central nervous system [10]. In vitro studies showed enhanced bioavailability of zinc, iron, and calcium during sprouting [16]
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