Paolo Benincasa1, Angelica Galieni2, Anna Chiara Manetta2, Roberta Pace3, Marcello Guiducci1, Michele Pisante2, Fabio Stagnari2. 1. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74-06121, Perugia, Italy. 2. Faculty of Bioscience and Technologies for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Via Carlo Lerici, 1, I-64023, Teramo, Italy. 3. CGS Seeds, 05021 Acquasparta, Terni, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of sprouts and young plantlets in human nutrition is increasing because they often contain phytochemicals and other high value nutrients. This is also the case for wheat, although there is no literature for hulled wheat species. Thus we determined total polyphenols, phenolic acids (PAs), fibre and minerals in grains, 5-day-old sprouts and 12-day-old wheatgrass of einkorn (cv. Monlis), emmer (cvs Augeo, Rosso Rubino, Zefiro), spelt (cvs Pietro, Giuseppe), durum wheat (cv. Creso) and soft wheat (cv. Orso). RESULTS: Grains of einkorn and emmer contained twice bound PAs as compared to soft and durum wheat and spelt, with p-coumaric acid accounting for about 50% of total bound PAs. In wheatgrass, differences between species for bound PAs decreased due to a decrease in einkorn and emmer and an increase in soft and durum wheat. In all species, total phenols and free PAs increased passing from grains to sprouts and wheatgrass. Neutral and acid detergent fibre content increased with sprouting only in einkorn and emmer. CONCLUSION: Our evidence suggests that the grains of einkorn and emmer and the sprouts and wheatgrass of all Triticum species might potentially be valuable for the development of functional foods.
BACKGROUND: The use of sprouts and young plantlets in human nutrition is increasing because they often contain phytochemicals and other high value nutrients. This is also the case for wheat, although there is no literature for hulled wheat species. Thus we determined total polyphenols, phenolic acids (PAs), fibre and minerals in grains, 5-day-old sprouts and 12-day-old wheatgrass of einkorn (cv. Monlis), emmer (cvs Augeo, Rosso Rubino, Zefiro), spelt (cvs Pietro, Giuseppe), durum wheat (cv. Creso) and soft wheat (cv. Orso). RESULTS: Grains of einkorn and emmer contained twice bound PAs as compared to soft and durum wheat and spelt, with p-coumaric acid accounting for about 50% of total bound PAs. In wheatgrass, differences between species for bound PAs decreased due to a decrease in einkorn and emmer and an increase in soft and durum wheat. In all species, total phenols and free PAs increased passing from grains to sprouts and wheatgrass. Neutral and acid detergent fibre content increased with sprouting only in einkorn and emmer. CONCLUSION: Our evidence suggests that the grains of einkorn and emmer and the sprouts and wheatgrass of all Triticum species might potentially be valuable for the development of functional foods.
Authors: Emilia Berndtsson; Roger Andersson; Eva Johansson; Marie E Olsson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 3.390