Impact of germination pre-treatments on buckwheat and Quinoa: Mitigation of anti-nutrient content and enhancement of antioxidant properties

Highlights

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  Color changes were less occurred in germinated grain after ultrasound treatment.

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  Total flavonoid contents were increased (up to 3 times) in germinated buckwheat.

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  Catechin and epicatechin significantly decreased with alkali treatment.

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  Ultrasound was the most effective pre-treatment to decrease phytic acid in quinoa.

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  The highest TPC and AOA were measured in germinated samples by ultrasound treatment.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of pre-germination treatments on the nutritional and anti-nutritional values of buckwheat and quinoa during germination. Pre-germination method was effective on the chemical composition and phenolic profile of buckwheat and quinoa samples (p < 0.05). During the germination, color changes were notable, particularly in the alkali-treated samples. The decrease in tannin content reached the highest rate in germinated buckwheat (83 %) and quinoa (20 %) by alkali treatment. The highest antioxidant and total phenolic content were measured in germinated pseudocereals treated by ultrasound. However, the lowest phytic acid content was determined after germination in the quinoa sample treated by ultrasound. Rutin was the major flavonoid in buckwheat while quercetin, galangin, ellagic, syringic, and p-coumaric acids were only synthesized after 72 h of germination. Catechin and epicatechin were decreased only in the alkali-treated buckwheat sample. Controlled germination processes can enhance the antioxidant activity and development of functional foods from whole grains.