Abstract
Barley grass possesses high nutritional value and antioxidant properties. In this study, the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant enzyme activities in six cultivars of barley grass were explored at three developmental stages: tillering, jointing, and booting stages. Total chlorophyll (Chl t) and carotenoid (Car) content, chlorophyll a/b (Chl a/b) ratio, total nitrogen nutrition (TNN), and total soluble protein (TSP) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were assayed. The results indicated that the cultivar × development interaction was significant and that developmental stage was the main factor affecting the parameters studied. Cultivars had a negligible effect on these parameters, which varied with the developmental stages. In the tillering stage, Chl t and Car content, TNN, and POD activity achieved their highest value; in the jointing stage, SOD activity peaked; in the booting stage, Chl a/b ratio, TSP content, and PPO activity showed their highest values. TNN showed a negative correlation with TSP. Compared with those in the jointing, Chl t, Car, TSP, TNN content, Chl a/b ratio, and POD and PPO activities increased in the booting and the tillering stages, whereas SOD activity decreased. The differences in phytochemical constituents and antioxidant enzyme activities in barley grass were mainly correlated with the developmental stages. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the influence of developmental stages of barley grass on its phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities. Our results will help understand the mechanism of action of barley grass and provide theoretical support for the therapeutic application of barley grass.
Highlights
Known as barley, (Hordeum vulgare L.) belongs to the Poaceae family and is the one of the main cereals grown worldwide [1]
(1) we evaluated Chl t and Car content, chlorophyll a/b (Chl a/b) ratio, total nitrogen nutrition (TNN), total soluble protein (TSP) content, and antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO); (2) we performed correlation analysis of barley grass phytochemical constituents and antioxidant enzyme activities; and (3) we carried out principal component analysis (PCA) to analyze the effects of cultivar
Chl t and Car content in barley showed a consistent trend at different growth stages; their content decreased from the tillering to the jointing stages, and increased in the booting stage
Summary
Known as barley, (Hordeum vulgare L.) belongs to the Poaceae family and is the one of the main cereals grown worldwide [1]. Barley has been used as a cereal grain since ancient times, the nutritional value of barley grass has been overlooked. It is being increasingly considered to possess high nutritional value and antioxidant properties and draws increasing attention due to the health benefits associated with it [1]. Barley grass is currently considered a health product, as many studies have demonstrated its potential in treating human chronic diseases [2,3,4,5]. Barley grass has been shown to contain high concentrations of amino acids, pigments, antioxidants, and enzymes [4]. Proteins have a major role in the growth and maintenance of the human body, Agronomy 2020, 10, 37; doi:10.3390/agronomy10010037 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
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