Pu-erh Tea Extract Treatment Could Be an Efficient Way to Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Value of Soybean Sprout.

Jeong-Ho Kim,Yong-Han Yoon,Dong-Hyun Shin,Il-Doo Kim,Sanjeev Kumar Dhungana

doi:10.3390/molecules25173869

Abstract

Soybean sprouts are one of the most inexpensive and nutritious food items that can be easily grown year-round. Several studies have been conducted to increase their yield and nutritional values. This study was carried out to examine the effects of Pu-erh tea extracts on the production and nutrients content of soybean sprouts. Soybean seeds were soaked in 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/v) tea extracts, or tap water, before keeping for sprout cultivation; the sprout samples were named PE-1, PE-2, PE-3, and the control, respectively. The sprout yields were increased by up to 17% in PE-2 and PE-3 than in the control. The vitamin C, total free amino acid, total mineral, total isoflavone, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant potentials of the tea extract-treated sprouts were higher than those of the control. The results indicated that pre-soaking soybean seeds in 2% Pu-erh tea extracts could offer an easy, inexpensive, and efficient way to improve the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts.

Highlights

Soybeans are good sources of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and other phytochemicals that are essential for good health
Germination can lessen the negative effects of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) and improve the nutritional values of non-germinated seeds [2,3,4,5]
The nutrients such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), lysine, vitamin E, dietary fiber, niacin, magnesium, vitamin B1, and vitamin B6 are significantly increased after germination [6]

Summary

Introduction

Soybeans are good sources of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and other phytochemicals that are essential for good health. Soybean seeds contain several anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) that may induce malnutrition situations and affect the human population, in the developing world [1]. Germination can lessen the negative effects of ANFs and improve the nutritional values of non-germinated seeds [2,3,4,5]. Soybean sprouts are generally prepared in a week and can be grown using simple and inexpensive technologies, which are additional benefits in their production. Soybean sprouts can be produced for year-round use. The nutrients such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), lysine, vitamin E, dietary fiber, niacin, magnesium, vitamin B1, and vitamin B6 are significantly increased after germination [6]. The production of high-quality soybean sprouts with an increased yield is very important

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Discussion

Conclusion