Nutritional composition, biologically active substances and antioxidant activity of young spelt grass extract

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTriticum spelta L. (family Poaceae) is an ancient grain, which had been used for nutrition in the past but was eventually substituted, together with other related grains, for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The main reasons for its substitution are higher yield and economic gain in favor of bread wheat. With the belief that the extract of young spelt grass contains a sufficient amount of key nutrients, which contribute to beneficial effects on human health, research was conducted on 27 samples of young spelt grass extracts. For each sample extracted from young spelt grass cultivated under different conditions (irrigation, lighting, harvest), its nutritional composition, the content of biologically active substances and antioxidant activities were determined, with a comparison of the obtained results.ResultsIn this two‐year study several nutrients, the content of major and trace minerals, antioxidant activity and pigment, and polyphenolic and flavonoid contents were analyzed and how the different growth factors influence them. Young spelt grass extract has a relatively high amount of functional ingredients, such as potassium, phosphorus, manganese, chromium, polyphenols and flavonoids. Chlorophyll a and b and pheophytin were the main pigments in the young spelt grass extract. All of these constituents exhibit antioxidant activity, which is important for a healthy lifestyle and protection against diseases.ConclusionThis extract is a rich source of some major (potassium and phosphorus) and trace (manganese and chromium) elements, pigments, polyphenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant potential of the young spelt grass extract was positively correlated with their phenolic and flavonoid content. Accordingly, this composition of biologically active substances offers various ways of using this extract in the field of nutrition‐like dietary supplements.