Broccoli and kale microgreens pack a nutritional punch that varies with growing conditions

Date:
February 16, 2022
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Researchers now report that kale and broccoli microgreens grown
in either windowsills or under commercial growing conditions are
rich in phytonutrients, though the levels of some compounds varied
considerably between the two environments.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Although microgreens were initially gourmet ingredients for
upscale restaurants, they've become popular among gardeners and
home cooks. Despite their "superfood" label, the levels of healthful
compounds, such as phytonutrients, in most varieties of microgreens
are unknown. Researchers in ACS Food Science & Technology now report
that kale and broccoli microgreens grown in either windowsills or under commercial growing conditions are rich in phytonutrients, though the
levels of some compounds varied considerably between the two environments.


==========================================================================
As indoor gardening has taken off in recent years, microgreens
have added a pop of color to the windowsills of many homes. The most
commonly planted varieties of these small seedlings are from the Brassica family, which includes broccoli, kale, cabbage and mustard. The mature, fully-grown versions of these vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals
and phytochemicals, and environmental conditions can impact the plants' nutritional contents. But not much is known about the levels of these
compounds in young microgreens. In a previous study, Thomas Wang, Pei
Chen and colleagues observed that red cabbage microgreens had higher
amounts of phytonutrients that have been reported to have antioxidant
and anticancer properties, including polyphenols and glucosinolates,
than the full- grown vegetables. However, similar assessments haven't
been done on other Brassica seedlings. So, the researchers wanted to
measure the levels of polyphenols and glucosinolates in broccoli and
kale microgreens, and then compare data from those grown on windowsills
to those raised in commercial growth chambers.

The researchers placed trays of newly planted broccoli and kale seeds
either on a windowsill in natural sunlight or inside a temperature- and humidity- controlled refrigerator-like growth chamber with artificial
sunlight for 12 hours a day. Ten full days after seeding, the team
harvested the plants and assessed the phytonutrient content with a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry system. The broccoli
and kale microgreens were rich in polyphenols and glucosinolates,
no matter how they were grown. But there was considerable variability
in the amounts of individual compounds when comparing the two growth environments. For instance, three flavanol compounds that contribute to
the plant's dark color and bitter taste were higher in windowsill-grown microgreens. However, chamber-grown plants had higher levels of two glucosinolates, which are antioxidant- and anticancer-related compounds.

Overall, the growth environment for kale and broccoli microgreens affects
the abundance of individual phytonutrients, the researchers say, which
could affect their flavor and potential health benefits.

The authors acknowledge funding from U.S. appropriated funds to the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China and the State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Zhihao Liu, Jenna Shi, Jiawei Wan, Quynchi Pham, Zhi Zhang,
Jianghao Sun,
Liangli Yu, Yaguang Luo, Thomas T.Y. Wang, Pei Chen. Profiling
of Polyphenols and Glucosinolates in Kale and Broccoli
Microgreens Grown under Chamber and Windowsill Conditions by
Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass
Spectrometry. ACS Food Science & Technology, 2021; 2 (1): 101 DOI:
10.1021/acsfoodscitech.1c00355 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220216083014.htm

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