Abstract
Peanut is a popular food due to its high nutrient content. The effects of ZnCl2 on peanut seed germination, fatty acid and sugar contents, vitamin biosynthesis, antioxidant content, and Zn assimilation were evaluated in this study. Treatment with ZnCl2 significantly improved the germination rate, enhanced reactive oxygen species production and reduced the content of total fatty acids in peanut seed and sprout. However, ZnCl2 treatment did not reduce total sugar or total protein relative to the control. Germination promoted the biosynthesis of phenolics and resveratrol and increased the antioxidant capacity, as evaluated by Fe3+ reducing power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability, especially under Zn stress conditions. The vitamin content decreased in the following order among treatments: germinated seeds with ZnCl2 treatment > germinated seeds without ZnCl2 treatment > dormant seeds. Interestingly, Zn content was approximately five times higher in the germinated ZnCl2-treated seeds compared to in the untreated germinated seeds and the dormant seeds. The results of this study provide a new method for producing healthy foods with enhanced vitamin content and antioxidant capacity.
Highlights
Peanut is a popular food due to its high nutrient content
Published data show that germination enhances the phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in many kinds of seeds[13]
The contents of fatty acids (FAs), sugars, and vitamins along with the antioxidant capacities were compared between the dormant seeds and germinated seeds and sprouts under favourable and Zn stress conditions with the goal of answering two main questions: (1) Can Zn addition affect the nutrient content and antioxidant capacity of germinated peanut seeds and sprouts? (2) Can germination significantly improve Zn assimilation in germinated peanut seeds and sprouts? The results of this study provide a better understanding of how seed germination affects seed nutrient quality from the perspective of human health
Summary
The effects of ZnCl2 on peanut seed germination, fatty acid and sugar contents, vitamin biosynthesis, antioxidant content, and Zn assimilation were evaluated in this study. Treatment with ZnCl2 significantly improved the germination rate, enhanced reactive oxygen species production and reduced the content of total fatty acids in peanut seed and sprout. Foods with low levels of fatty acids (FAs) and sugar are expected to reduce energy production and benefit the health of consumers[5,6]. While heavy metals in food can have negative effects on human health[17], certain heavy metals such as Zn, Fe and Cu are indispensable for human health at trace levels[18,19,20] Among these beneficial elements, Zn is vital for human beings and child development[21,22]. Many efforts have been made to supplement foods with these beneficial elements, the results remain unsatisfactory[19]
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