Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Potential Exerted by Millet Grain Varieties

Biotechnological approaches to reduce the phytic acid content in millets to improve nutritional quality

MAIN CONCLUSION

The review article summarizes the approaches and potential targets to address the challenges of anti-nutrient like phytic acid in millet grains for nutritional improvement. Millets are a diverse group of minor cereal grains that are agriculturally important, nutritionally rich, and the oldest cereals in the human diet. The grains are important for protein, vitamins, macro and micronutrients, fibre, and energy sources. Despite a high amount of nutrients, millet grains also contain anti-nutrients that limit the proper utilization of nutrients and finally affect their dietary quality. Our study aims to outline the genomic information to identify the target areas of research for the exploration of candidate genes for nutritional importance and show the possibilities to address the presence of anti-nutrient (phytic acid) in millets. So, the physicochemical accessibility of micronutrients increases and the agronomic traits can do better. Several strategies have been adopted to minimize the phytic acid, a predominant anti-nutrient in cereal grains. In the present review, we highlight the potential of biotechnological tools and genome editing approaches to address phytic acid in millets. It also highlights the biosynthetic pathway of phytic acid and potential targets for knockout or silencing to achieve low phytic acid content in millets.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.): from staple to superfood-a comprehensive review on nutritional, bioactive, industrial, and climate resilience potential

MAIN CONCLUSION

This review discusses the Finger millet's rich nutritional profile, bioactive potential, and industrial applications, combined with its climate resilience, which make it a promising crop for enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. This review also highlights its significant potential to address malnutrition and mitigate climate change impacts. The emergence of Finger millet from "poor man's staple food" to "a nutrient rich cereal" has encouraged the need to explore this crop at a wider scale. It is a highly significant crop due to its rich nutritional and bioactive profile, diverse biological activities, and promising industrial applications, along with the high climate resilience. This comprehensive review evaluates its nutritional composition by comparing favorably with other cereals and millets and emphasizing its potential to address malnutrition and enhance food security. Furthermore, it explores the phytochemical/bioactive potential and strategies to enhance their bioavailability followed biological activities of Finger millet by highlighting its various health-promoting properties. The review also discusses industrial potential of finger millet including its role in nutraceutical and functional food production, as well as bioenergy generation. In addition, role of Finger millet as a climate-resilient crop; specifically, the available genetic resources and identification of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with major stress tolerance traits have also been discussed. By providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge, this study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders engaged in efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance food and nutrition security, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Impact of milling on the nutrients and anti-nutrients in browntop millet (Urochloa ramosa) and its milled fractions: evaluation of their flour functionality

BACKGROUND

Browntop millet has gained popularity in recent years owing to its nutritional superiority and health benefits. However, the usage of browntop millet flours as ingredients in composite flours and functional foods is constrained due to a lack of information regarding the grain composition and its flour functionality. Therefore, the distribution of nutrients, anti-nutrients in browntop millet milled fractions and their flour functionality was evaluated in comparison to whole grain flour.

RESULTS

Bran fraction comprised the highest protein (13.7%) and fat contents (27%) among other fractions. Pearling of dehulled grains considerably reduced phytic acid, saponins and flatulence-causing oligosaccharides in pearled grain flours. Besides, this led to the enrichment of soluble fibre, minerals, phenolics and trypsin inhibitors in bran fraction. Milling also impacted flour functionality. Despite its lower water holding ability, dehulled grain flour exhibited significantly higher oil absorption capacity than whole grain flour due to the removal of fibre-rich hull fraction. Although emulsion (45.2%) and foaming capacities (12.5%) were superior in bran flour, foam stability was greater in pearled grain flours.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest the potential utilisation of browntop millet milled flours as ingredients in the development of distinct food formulations and as partial substitutes to wheat flour in confectionary and bakery products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of partial mutton meat substitution with Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) flour on physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation, and sensory acceptability of low-fat patties

Health concerns regarding fat consumption, as well as shifts in customer preference, have prompted substantial studies into low-fat products. This study examined the nutritional, color, functional, and antioxidant properties of Bambara groundnut (BGN) flour varieties (cream, brown, and red-coated) grains as well as their influence on the physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation, and sensory acceptability of low-fat mutton patties. The patties were formulated with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of BGN flour for each variety, and 100% mutton patties were used as a control. The BGN flours showed significant (p < .05) differences in their nutritional composition (except for ash content), color, functional (excluding emulsion stability), and antioxidant properties. The increase in the percentage of substitution of BGN flours significantly increased the fiber (0.00% to 0.79%), ash (1.16% to 1.99%), and carbohydrates (2.14% to 1.99%) contents of the formulated mutton patties. However, moisture and protein contents decreased. The cooking yield of the formulated patties significantly increased with the increase in the percentage substitution of BGN flours (2.5%-10%), with values ranging from 76.39% to 86.80%, but the diameter reduction was limited. The increase in the inclusion of BGN flours significantly increased the lightness, hue angle, color difference, and whiteness of patties. Nevertheless, the redness, yellowness, chroma, and yellowness index of the patties decreased. The hardness and resilience of formulated patties significantly increased, with values varying from 16.41 to 17.66 N, and from 0.35 to 0.48 J/J, respectively, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness decreased. The lipid oxidation of formulated mutton patties significantly increased from Days 7 to 21, but was still less than that of the control sample within storage days. The sensory properties of formulated patties were not significantly different from the control sample and were above the acceptable score of five. All BGN varieties had positive effects on the mutton patties, more especially red, followed by brown, and cream, respectively. The inclusion of a 10% red BGN flour variety is highly recommended due to its significant impact on mutton patties. Nevertheless, different types of BGN varieties can each be used as additives in mutton patties without having detrimental effects on the quality parameters of the patties.

Identification and characterization of silver nanoparticles from Erythrina indica and its antioxidant and Uropathogenic antimicrobial properties

The plant Erythrina indica comes under Fabaceae family, mainly used for used in traditional medicine as nervine sedative, antiepileptic, antiasthmatic, collyrium in opthalmia, antiseptic. Current study focused synthesize of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by E. indica leaf ethanol extract. The green-synthesized AgNPs underwent characterization using multiple analytical techniques, including UV-visible, FTIR, DLS, SEM, TEM, XRD, and EDX, and estimation of their antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical analysis identified alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenols as secondary metabolites. The Total Phenol Content (TPC) was determined to be 237.35 ± 2.02 mg GAE-1, indicating a substantial presence of phenolic compounds. The presence of AgNPs was verified through UV-Visible analysis at 420 nm, and FT-IR revealed characteristic phenolic functional groups. DLS analysis indicated a narrow size distribution (polydispersity index - PDI: 3.47%), with SEM revealing spherical AgNPs of approximately 20 nm. TEM showed homogeneous, highly polycrystalline AgNPs with lattice spacing at 0.297. XRD analysis demonstrated crystallinity and purity, with distinct reflection peaks corresponding to miller indices of JCPDS card no. 01 087 1473. In vitro, AgNPs exhibited robust antioxidant activity like; DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2, surpassing E. indica-assisted synthesis. ABTS assay indicated higher antioxidant activity (81.94 ± 0.05%) for AgNPs at 734 nm, while E. indica extraction showed 39.67 ± 0.07%. At 532 nm, both E. indica extraction (57.71 ± 0.11%) and AgNPs (37.41 ± 0.17%) exhibited H2O2 scavenging. Furthermore, AgNPs displayed significant antimicrobial properties, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus (15.7 ± 0.12 mm) and Candida albicans (10.7 ± 0.17 mm) byfor the concentration of 80 μg/mL. Through the characterizations underscore of the potential of Erythrina indica-synthesized AgNPs, rich in polyphenolic compounds, for pharmacological, medical, biological applications and antipyretic properties.

Oxidative stress signaling in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy and the potential therapeutic role of antioxidant naringenin

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders that poses a global threat to human health. It can lead to complications in multiple organs and tissues, owing to its wide-ranging impact on the human body. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a specific cardiac manifestation of DM, which is characterized by heart failure in the absence of coronary heart disease, hypertension and valvular heart disease. Given that oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of DCM, intervening to mitigate oxidative stress may serve as a therapeutic strategy for managing DCM. Naringenin is a natural product with anti-oxidative stress properties that can suppress oxidative damage by regulating various oxidative stress signaling pathways. In this review, we address the relationship between oxidative stress and its primary signaling pathways implicated in DCM, and explores the therapeutic potential of naringenin in DCM.

Exploration of nutritional, pharmacological, and the processing trends for valorization of finger millet (Eleusine coracana): A review

High nutrient variability and food security are the needs of the hour. Millets may be as effective as other cereal crops for dealing with severe malnutrition and increasing global population problems. Due to their physiologically active components, millets have attracted more research interest. Finger millet (FM), one of the climate-resilient and minor cereal crop species, is well known for several health benefits, primarily attributed to its nutritional value and polyphenolic content. FM seed coat phenolics exhibit excellent anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-osteoporosis, wound healing, anti-lithiatic, inhibiting collagen glycation, cross-linking, and enzyme properties, which may serve well for the pharmacological purposes. Furthermore, the processing of FM is an important factor in its commercial use. It is necessary to invent some novel technologies to increase the productivity of FM by lowering the cost of processing and its effective utilization in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The literature presented will further explore the potential prospects of processing as well as value-added utilization and its nutritional and pharmacological aspects in view of initiating further research in the food industry to formulate ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products, thereby acting as future crops for sustainability.

Nutritional advantages of barnyard millet and opportunities for its processing as value-added foods

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa species) has received appreciable attention for its susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, multiple harvests in a year and rich in micronutrients, fibers and phytochemicals. It is believed that the consumption of barnyard millet can possess various health benefits against diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, skin problems, cancer and celiac disease. The flour of barnyard millet is gluten-free and can be incorporated into the diet of celiac and diabetic patients. Considering the nutritional value of millet, various millet-based food products like bread, snack, baby foods, millet wine, porridge, fast foods and millet nutrition powder can be prepared. Future research and developments on barnyard millet and its products may help cope with various diseases known to humans. This paper discusses barnyard millet's nutritional and health benefits as whole grain and its value-added products. The paper also provides insights into the processing of barnyard millet and its effect on the functional properties and, future uses of barnyard millet in the field food industry as ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products as well as in industrial uses, acting as a potential future crop contributing to food and nutritional security.

Validating the Nutraceutical Significance of Minor Millets by Employing Nutritional-Antinutritional Profiling

Millets are group of underutilized cereal crops with higher nutritional values. The present investigation used different classes of minor millets, including barnyard (sava), little (kutki), finger (ragi), kodo and foxtail millets, for evaluation of their nutritional parameters, i.e., the content of proteins, total amino acids, total sugars, insoluble fibers, soluble fibers, total dietary fibers, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), along with antinutritional and antioxidant parameters, viz., tannic acid, phytic acid, phenol, flavonoid, proline and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase activity were also thought to elevate millets as a viable staple meal. Foxtail millet showed the maximum inhibition, with an IC50 value of 20.46 ± 1.80 µg mL-1 with respect to α-amylase. The coefficient of correlation between nutritional and antinutritional compositions showed that the starch content was significantly and positively correlated with insoluble fiber (r = 0.465) and dietary fiber (r = 0.487). Moreover, sugar was positively correlated with the phytic acid (r = 0.707), Fe and Zn (r = 0.681) contents. To determine the peptides responsible for anticancer activity, the foxtail protein was subjected to ultrafiltration; it was found that the 3 kDa fraction retained the greatest anticancer activity. Selected millet germplasm line(s) that have the best nutraceutical properties could be used in millet improvement programs.

Managing Diabetes Mellitus With Millets: A New Solution

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and the disease's prevalence is increasing with each passing day. DM can be prevented and controlled with modifications to the diet, especially by incorporating millet in the diet. Throughout history, eating habits have been recognized for their significant contribution to promoting health and wellness by eating foods rich in nutrients. Millet is an underutilized food crop with many benefits for health, with the most beneficial being low glycemic index, high fiber content, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), non-acid-forming potential, and gluten-free. In addition to staple food crops, such as wheat, rice, and foxtail millet, millets are still highly nutritious and beneficial and have great potential to help the world combat the food insecurity many countries face today. Millets are in the top positions of recommended dietary charts with their numerous health benefits and antioxidant properties.

Multigrain porridge possesses superior nutritional quality, its consumption alleviates hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress in obese-diabetic wistar rats

There is an increased utilization of wholegrain cereals in food formulations considering their richness in essential nutritional and biological properties. In this study, each component (amaranth, acha and pearl millet) of the multigrain blend was individually pre-fermented. Thereafter, the pre-fermented grain flours were optimized to obtain two unique blends (90:5:5 and 47.98: 26.68:25.34) containing high protein content (~23% and 17%) and low glycemic index (~43). The optimum blends were processed into instant porridges (PR1, PR2) and analyzed for its nutritional composition, blood glucose lowering ability, antioxidant enzyme and tissue/serum biochemical makers modulatory ability in obese-diabetic animals. The porridge showed significant nutritional profile, consumption of formulated multigrain porridge reduced blood glucose level (by 62% and 66%), upregulated the antioxidant defense system to near normal levels likewise, significantly reduced serum biochemical parameters. Thus, suggests that the multigrain blends/porridge is nutrient-dense possessing beneficial effect to maintain antioxidant levels in the diabetic condition with potential to attenuate oxidative damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Prolonged feeding with high-fat diet induces hypercholesterolemia in experimental animals. Further interperitoneal injection of streptozotocin induces experimental diabetes with a cascade of oxidative stress related complications in serum and tissue parameters. Porridge is a traditional meal while multigrain porridge is a nutrient dense meal which may exert curative effect. In this work, it was shown that dietary intervention with multigrain porridge product promoted positive weight control, portrayed hepatoprotective effect as shown by the elevated levels of biomarker (ALT, AST, ALP) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx) as well as modulation of serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol). Thus, the multigrain porridge may be a functional food product to combat hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia especially PR1 which appeared to be more efficient than PR2 in modulating oxidative stress, conferring hypoglycemic effect and lowering lipid levels in obese-diabetic rats model studied.

Variation in Phenolic, Mineral, Dietary Fiber, and Antioxidant Activity across Southern Tunisian Pearl Millet Germplasm

Pearl millet crop, reputed as one of the most important food sources cultivated in arid and semiarid parts of Africa and Asia, is known to be a source of many bioactive molecules with potential health-promoting properties. In Tunisia, this crop presented historically rich and diversified germplasm, which is being threatened by genetic erosion. The preservation programs of these species have been held for more than 20 years via participatory breeding schemes. A prospection was undertaken to collect pearl millet cultivars preserved in the last two decades from south-eastern Tunisian farmers to estimate their variability and performances. The aim of this study was to assess the profiles of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities, mineral composition, and dietary fiber contents of ten pearl millet cultivars in south-eastern Tunisia. The total phenolics and flavonoids in the free fraction ranged from 506.33 to 1287.71 µg.g−1 DM ferulic acid equivalent (FAE) and 4.17 to 12.53 µg.g−1 DM catechin equivalent (CE), respectively. The highest polyphenolic content from all genotypes was 1134.96 µg·g−1 DM (genotype Med.AG1.3). LC-MS analysis of individual phenol compounds allowed the identification of eight phenolic acids in millet grains. The quinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid were predominant phenolic acids, and six flavonoid compounds with cirsiliol and silymarin were the predominant flavonoids. The ranges of mineral contents variation were 693.10 to 1075.40 and 80.75 to 175.40 μg·g−1 for Ca and Mg, respectively, and 9.55 to 32.80, 0.75 to 8.60, 1.84 to 12.21, and 3.63 to 11.40 μg·g−1 for Na, Zn, Cu, and Fe, respectively. The content of NDF, ADF, and ADL per dry weight varied from 20 to 31%, 1 to 4.2%, and 0.4 to 2.3%, respectively. Overall, considering the variability among the assessed attributes, heatmap analysis showed the association between each of the traits as related to the clustered genotypes.

Effect of Different Processing Methods on the Millet Polyphenols and Their Anti-diabetic Potential

Interest in polyphenols has grown due to their beneficial effect on diabetes attenuation. Millets are ancient crops that are rich in polyphenols and used for both food and feed. They are grown worldwide and are adapted to production under dry, hot conditions. The polyphenols found in millets have anti-diabetic properties. However, millet is usually consumed after being processed by heating, germination, fermentation, and other processing methods, which may alter polyphenol content and thus affect their anti-diabetic potential. This mini-review profiles the effects of different processing methods on millet polyphenols and how changes in millet polyphenols affect the hypoglycemic effect of millet. Future studies are needed to compare the anti-diabetes potential of millet polyphenols before and after processing and to explore ways to minimize polyphenol losses and thus maintain their hypoglycemic effect in final products.

Genetics and Genomics Interventions for Promoting Millets as Functional Foods

Several crops, including millets with immense nutritional and therapeutic values, were once a part of our regular diet. However, due to domestication and selection pressures, many of them have become marginally cultivated crops confined to a particular region, race, or locality. Millets are a perfect example of neglected species that have the potential to address both food and nutritional insecurities prevalent among the ever-growing global population. Starvation and malnutrition contribute to a large number of health-related issues, being the main reason behind the occurrence of most of the severe diseases worldwide. These constraints are repeatedly disturbing both the social and economic health of global society. Naturally, millets are rich in minerals, nutrients, and bioactive compounds, and these crops are less dependent on synthetic fertilizers, systemic irrigation, and pest/weed control. Given this, the review emphasizes the nutritional values, health benefits, processing techniques, and genomic advancements of millets. In addition, it proposes a roadmap for enhancing the utility and commercialization of millets.

Effect of Germination on Alfalfa and Buckwheat: Phytochemical Profiling by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, Bioactive Compounds, and In-Vitro Studies of Their Diabetes and Obesity-Related Functions

Germination can be used to enhance nutritional value and health functions of edible seeds. Sprouts are considered healthier than raw seeds because they are richer in the basic nutritional components (carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals) and also contain more bioactive components responsible for various biological activities. The effect of sprouting on the antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiobesity activities, and metabolite profiles of alfalfa and buckwheat seeds was investigated in this study. DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest in buckwheat sprouts followed by alfalfa sprout, buckwheat seed, and alfalfa seed, respectively. ABTS radical scavenging potential showed a similar trend as DPPH with buckwheat sprouts exerting the best scavenging capacity. Alfalfa sprout and buckwheat seed exhibited the highest percentage inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase (96.6 and 96.5%, respectively). Alfalfa sprouts demonstrated the strongest inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase (57.12%) while alfalfa seed showed the highest advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation inhibitory potential (28.7%). Moreover, thirty-three (33) metabolites were characterized in the seed and sprout samples. Sprouts demonstrated a higher level of metabolites compared to raw seeds. Hence, depending on the type of seed and the target activity, sprouting is a good technique to alter the secondary metabolites and functional properties of edible seeds.

Nutritional Significance and Antioxidant-Mediated Antiaging Effects of Finger Millet: Molecular Insights and Prospects

Aging is a multifaceted process that is associated with progressive, lethal, and unalterable changes like damage to different molecules (DNA, proteins, and lipids), cells, tissues, and organs. It is an inevitable process but can be delayed by both genetic and dietary interventions. Besides aging, premature death and age-associated diseases can be dealt with diet regulation and the use of compounds that inhibit the stress responsiveness or promote the damage repair signaling pathways. Natural compounds offer a repertoire of highly diverse structural scaffolds that can offer hopeful candidate chemical entities with antiaging potential. One such source of natural compounds is millets, which are minor cereals with an abundance of high fiber, methionine, calcium, iron, polyphenols, and secondary metabolites, responsible for numerous potential health benefits. The present review article elucidates the nature and significance of different phytochemicals derived from millets with a major focus on finger millet and highlights all the important studies supporting their health benefits with special emphasis on the antiaging effect of these compounds. The present article also proposes the possible mechanisms through which millets can play a significant role in the suppression of aging processes and aging-related diseases by influencing genetic repair, protein glycation, and stress-responsive pathways. We further discuss well-established natural compounds for their use as antiaging drugs and recommend raising awareness for designing novel formulations/combinations from them so that their maximum antiaging potential can be harnessed for the benefit of mankind.

Large-Scale Non-Targeted Metabolomics Reveals Antioxidant, Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Potentials of Sorghum

Sorghum is one of the most important food and feed cereal crops and has been gaining industrial importance in recent years for its biofuel, nutraceutical and antioxidant values. A genetic profile variation study was undertaken for the accumulation of phytochemicals in 61 diverse sorghum accessions differing in their growth habitat and grain color through non-targeted Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. Mass Spectrometry–Data Independent AnaLysis (MS-DIAL) and MetaboAnalyst identified 221 metabolites belonging to 27 different phytochemicals. Tropical and temperate sorghums were distinct in their metabolic profiles with minimum overlaps, and 51 different metabolites were crucial in differentiating the two groups. Temperate sorghums had the ability to accumulate more of phenolic acids, phytosterols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and tropical sorghums for stress-related amino acids, sugars and fatty acids. Grain-color-based Partial Least Square–Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) analysis identified 94 Variable Importance in Projections (VIP) metabolites containing majority of flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and phytosterols. This study identified two sorghum lines (IS 7748 and IS 14861) with rich amounts of antioxidants (catechins and epicatechins) belonging to the group of condensed tannins that otherwise do not accumulate commonly in sorghum. Out of 13 metabolic pathways identified, flavonoid biosynthesis showed the highest expression. This study provided new opportunities for developing biofortified sorghum with enhanced nutraceutical and therapeutics through molecular breeding and metabolic engineering.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities (α-Glucosidase, Xanthine Oxidase, and Acetylcholinesterase) of Musella lasiocarpa

In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical components and biological activities of Musella lasiocarpa, a special flower that is edible and has functional properties. The crude methanol extract and its four fractions (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) were tested for their total antioxidant capacity, followed by their α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. Among the samples, the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were found in the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction (224.99 mg GAE/g DE) and crude methanol extract (187.81 mg QE/g DE), respectively. The EtOAc fraction of Musella lasiocarpa exhibited the strongest DPPH· scavenging ability, ABTS·⁺ scavenging ability, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ values of 22.17, 12.10, and 125.66 μg/mL, respectively. The EtOAc fraction also showed the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power (1513.89 mg FeSO₄/g DE) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity ability (524.11 mg Trolox/g DE), which were higher than those of the control BHT. In contrast, the aqueous fraction demonstrated the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 10.11 μg/mL), and the best xanthine oxidase inhibitory ability (IC₅₀ = 5.23 μg/mL) was observed from the crude methanol extract as compared with allopurinol (24.85 μg/mL). The HPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses further revealed an impressive arsenal of compounds, including phenolic acids, fatty acids, esters, terpenoids, and flavonoids, in the most biologically active EtOAc fraction. Taken together, this is the first report indicating the potential of Musella lasiocarpa as an excellent natural source of antioxidants with possible therapeutic, nutraceutical, and functional food applications.

Anything New under the Sun? An Update on Modulation of Bioactive Compounds by Different Wavelengths in Agricultural Plants

Plants continuously rely on light as an energy source and as the driver of many processes in their lifetimes. The ability to perceive different light radiations involves several photoreceptors, which in turn activate complex signalling cascades that ultimately lead to a rearrangement in plant metabolism as an adaptation strategy towards specific light conditions. This review, after a brief summary of the structure and mode of action of the different photoreceptors, introduces the main classes of secondary metabolites and specifically focuses on the influence played by the different wavelengths on the content of these compounds in agricultural plants, because of their recognised roles as nutraceuticals.

Antiamylase, Antiglucosidase, and Antiglycation Properties of Millets and Sorghum from Sri Lanka

The present study evaluated a range of biological activities of selected millet types and sorghum varieties in Sri Lanka in relation to diabetes and its complications management. Five millet types, namely, proso millet, white finger millet, kodo millet, foxtail millet, and finger millet (Oshadha and Rawana), and two sorghum varieties, namely, sweet sorghum and sorghum ICSV 112, were used in this study. Methanolic extracts of whole grains were studied for antiamylase, antiglucosidase, and early- and middle-stage antiglycation and glycation reversing activities in vitro. Tested millets and sorghum showed significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent antiamylase (IC₅₀: 33.34 ± 1.11-1446.70 ± 54.10 μg/ml), early-stage antiglycation (IC₅₀: 15.42 ± 0.50-270.03 ± 16.29 μg/ml), middle-stage antiglycation (135.08 ± 12.95-614.54 ± 6.99 μg/ml), early-stage glycation reversing (EC₅₀: 91.82 ± 6.56-783.20 ± 61.70 μg/ml), and middle-stage glycation reversing (393.24 ± 8.68-1374.60 ± 129.30 μg/ml) activities. However, none of the studied millet and sorghum showed antiglucosidase activity. Out of the samples studied, pigmented samples, namely, sweet sorghum, Oshadha, and Rawana, exhibited significantly high (p < 0.05) antiamylase and early- and middle-stage antiglycation and glycation reversing activities compared to other millet and sorghum samples. Interestingly, sweet sorghum exhibited nearly four times potent antiamylase activity compared to the standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀ 111.98 ± 2.68 μg/ml) and sweet sorghum, kodo millet, Oshadha, and Rawana showed comparable early-stage antiglycation activities in comparison to the reference standard Rutin (IC₅₀ 21.88 ± 0.16 μg/ml). Therefore, consumption of whole grains of pigmented millet and sorghum in Sri Lanka may play an important role in the prevention and management of diabetes and its complications. Interestingly, this is the 1^st study to report all the tested biological activities for millet and sorghum in Sri Lanka and the 1^st study to report both early- and middle-stage glycation reversing activities of millet and sorghum worldwide.

UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Metabolite Profiling of the Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Red Cabbage and Broccoli Seeds and Sprouts

The antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and metabolite profiling of ethanol extracts of red cabbage (RC) and broccoli (BR) seeds and sprouts were investigated in this study. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and saponin contents were in the ranges of 385.4-480.4 mg FAE/100 g, 206.9-215.6 mg CE/100 g, and 17.8-27.0 mg soysaponin BE/100 g, respectively. BR seed had the highest total phenolic (480.4 mg FAE/100 g) and flavonoid (216.9 mg CE/100 g) contents, whereas BR sprout had the highest saponin content (27.0 soysaponin BE/100g). RC sprout demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity levels of 71.5% and 88.5%, respectively. Furthermore, BR and RC sprouts showed the most potent inhibition against α-glucosidase (91.32% and 93.11%, respectively) and pancreatic lipase (60.19% and 61.66%, respectively). BR seed (60.37%) demonstrated the lowest AGE inhibition. A total of 24 metabolites, predominantly amino acids and phenolic compounds, were characterized using UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Germination not only improved the levels of metabolites but also resulted in the synthesis of new compounds. Therefore, these findings show that germination effectively enhanced the functional properties and metabolite profiles of broccoli and red cabbage seeds, making their sprouts more applicable as functional ingredients.

Untargeted Metabolomics of Korean Fermented Brown Rice Using UHPLC Q-TOF MS/MS Reveal an Abundance of Potential Dietary Antioxidative and Stress-Reducing Compounds

Free radical-induced oxidative stress is the root cause of many diseases, such as diabetes, stress and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this research was to screen GABA levels, antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds in brown rice. In this study, we first fermented brown rice with different lactic acid bacteria (LABs), and the best LAB was selected based on the levels of GABA in the fermentate. Lactobacillus reuterii generated the highest levels of GABA after fermentation. To ascertain whether germination can improve the GABA levels of brown rice, we compared the levels of GABA in raw brown rice (Raw), germinated brown rice (Germ), fermented brown rice (Ferm) and fermented-germinated brown rice (G+F) to identify the best approach. Then, antioxidant activities were investigated for Raw BR, Germ BR, Ferm BR and G+F BR. Antioxidant activity was calculated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazile radical assay, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylene benzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. In Ferm BR, DPPH (114.40 ± 0.66), ABTS (130.52 ± 0.97) and FRAP (111.16 ± 1.83) mg Trolox equivalent 100 g, dry weight (DW), were observed as the highest among all samples. Total phenolic content (97.13 ± 0.59) and total flavonoids contents (79.62 ± 1.33) mg GAE/100 g and catechin equivalent/100 g, DW, were also found to be highest in fermented BR. Furthermore, an untargeted metabolomics approach using ultra-high-performance liquid tandem chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry revealed the abundance of bioactive compounds in fermented BR, such as GABA, tryptophan, coumaric acid, L-ascorbic acid, linoleic acid, β-carotenol, eugenol, 6-gingerol, etc., as well as bioactive peptides which could contribute to the health-promoting properties of L. reuterii fermented brown rice.

The nutritional use of millet grain for food and feed: a review

Worldwide, millets are regarded as a significant grain, however, they are the least exploited. Millet grain is abundant in nutrients and health-beneficial phenolic compounds, making it suitable as food and feed. The diverse content of nutrients and phenolic compounds present in finger and pearl millet are good indicators that the variety of millet available is important when selecting it for use as food or feed. The phenolic properties found in millets compromise phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, which are beneficial to human health. Moreover, finger millet has an exceptionally unique, more abundant, and diverse phenolic profile compared to pearl millet. Research has shown that millet phenolic properties have high antioxidant activity. The presence of phytochemicals in millet grains has positive effect on human health by lowering the cholesterol and phytates in the body. The frantic demands on maize and its uses in multiple industries have merited the search for alternative grains, to ease the pressure. Substitution of maize with pearl and finger millets in the diets of different animals resulted in positive impact on the performance. Including these grains in the diet may improve health and decrease the risks of diseases. Pearl millet of 50% or more can be used in broiler diets without adversely affecting broiler performance or egg production. Of late, millet grain has been incorporated in other foods and used to make traditional beverages. Thus, the core aim of this review is to provide insight and comprehension about the nutritional and phenolic status of millets and their impact on human and livestock.

Carbon nitride nanoparticles as ultrasensitive fluorescent probes for the detection of α-glucosidase activity and inhibitor screening

In recent years, α-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) have played a significant role in the treatment of type II diabetes (T2D), so it is necessary to develop a reliable and sensitive method to find new AGIs. Herein, we establish a novel method based on fluorescent carbon nitride nanoparticles (CNNPs) for the sensitive detection of the activity of α-glucosidase (α-glu) and the screening of its inhibitors. A CNNP-based fluorescent probe is synthesized from green raw materials, urea and lysine, by a one-pot method. In the presence of α-glu, the substrate 4-nitrophenyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) is hydrolyzed to generate 4-nitrophenol (pNP), leading to the fluorescence (FL) quenching of CNNPs due to the inner filter effect (IFE). On the other hand, the activity of α-glu is inhibited after the addition of AGIs, which turns on the FL of CNNPs. In this way, the detection of α-glu activity and the screening of AGIs are achieved. The linear range is 1.25-10.00 U L^-1 with a limit of detection as low as 0.17 U L^-1 and the IC₅₀ values of two typical inhibitors (gallic acid and acarbose) are 813 μM and 465 μM, respectively. The CNNP probe is further applied for the determination of α-glu activity in human serum samples with satisfactory results.

Biotechnological approaches to dissect climate-resilient traits in millets and their application in crop improvement

'Small millets' is a generic term that includes all the millets except pearl millet and sorghum. These small or minor millets constitute eleven species that are marginally cultivated and consumed worldwide. These small millets possess excellent agronomic-, climate-resilient, and nutritional traits, although they lack popularity. Small millets withstand a broad spectrum of environmental stresses and possess better water-use and nitrogen-use efficiencies. Of note, small millets are five- to seven-fold nutritionally rich in terms of protein, bioactive compounds, micro- and macro-nutrients as compared to major cereals. Irrespective of these merits, small millets have received little research attention compared to major millets and cereals. However, the knowledge generated from such studies is significant for the improvement of millets per se and for translating the information to improve major cereals through breeding and transgene-based approaches. Given this, the review enumerates the efforts invested in dissecting the climate-resilient traits in small millets and provides a roadmap for deploying the information in crop improvement of millets as well as cereals in the scenario of climate change.

Identifying Anti-Oxidant Biosynthesis Genes in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Using Genome-Wide Association Analysis

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R Br.] is an important staple food crop in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. It is a cereal grain that has the prospect to be used as a substitute for wheat flour for celiac patients. It is an important antioxidant food resource present with a wide range of phenolic compounds that are good sources of natural antioxidants. The present study aimed to identify the total antioxidant content of pearl millet flour and apply it to evaluate the antioxidant activity of its 222 genotypes drawn randomly from the pearl millet inbred germplasm association panel (PMiGAP), a world diversity panel of this crop. The total phenolic content (TPC) significantly correlated with DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (% inhibition), which ranged from 2.32 to 112.45% and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity ranging from 21.68 to 179.66 (mg ascorbic acid eq./100 g). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using 222 diverse accessions and 67 K SNPs distributed across all the seven pearl millet chromosomes. Approximately, 218 SNPs were found to be strongly associated with DPPH and FRAP activity at high confidence [-log (p) > 3.0-7.4]. Furthermore, flanking regions of significantly associated SNPs were explored for candidate gene harvesting. This identified 18 candidate genes related to antioxidant pathway genes (flavanone 7-O-beta-glycosyltransferase, GDSL esterase/lipase, glutathione S-transferase) residing within or near the association signal that can be selected for further functional characterization. Patterns of genetic variability and the associated genes reported in this study are useful findings, which would need further validation before their utilization in molecular breeding for high antioxidant-containing pearl millet cultivars.

UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS characterization, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of sorghum grains

The phenolic compounds composition, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of eight brown sorghum genotypes were investigated. DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest in SOR 03, followed by SOR 11, SOR 08 and SOR 33. SOR 33, SOR 03, SOR 08, SOR 11 showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, SOR 11, SOR 17 and SOR 33 exhibited significantly higher percentage inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase and α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 14.71, 32.98, 24.93 µg/ml and 27.6, 23.84, 45.01 µg/ml, respectively) compared to acarbose (IC₅₀ = 59.34 and 27.73 µg/ml, respectively). Similarly, SOR 17, SOR 11 and SOR 33 showed significantly potent inhibition of AGEs formation with IC₅₀ values of 14.19, 18.23 and 26.31 µg/ml, respectively, compared to aminoguanidine (AG) (52.30 µg/ml). Flavones, isoflavones and dihydroflavonols were the predominant flavonoids identified in SOR 11, SOR 17 and SOR 33 genotypes. Therefore, these sorghum grains are potential candidates for the development of functional foods.

Flavonoids in Decorticated Sorghum Grains Exert Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Antiobesity Activities

Eight new genotypes of brown sorghum grain were decorticated and assessed for their antioxidant, antidiabetic and antiobesity activities in vitro. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays of the soluble fractions were evaluated, followed by digestive enzymes and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation inhibition assays. DSOR 33 and DSOR 11 exhibited the highest DPPH (IC50 = 236.0 ± 1.98 µg/mL and 292.05 ± 2.19 µg/mL, respectively) and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 302.50 ± 1.84 µg/mL and 317.05 ± 1.06 µg/mL, respectively). DSOR 17, DSOR 11 and DSOR 33 showed significantly higher inhibitory activity of both α-glucosidase and α-amylase (IC50 = 31.86, 35.10 and 49.40 µg/mL; and 15.87, 22.79 and 37.66 µg/mL, respectively) compared to acarbose (IC50 = 59.34 and 27.73 µg/mL, respectively). Similarly, DSOR 33, DSOR 11 and DSOR 17 showed potent inhibition of both AGEs and lipase with IC50 values of 18.25, 19.03 and 38.70 µg/mL; and 5.01, 5.09 and 4.94 µg/mL, respectively, compared to aminoguanidine (52.30 µg/mL) and orlistat (5.82 µg/mL). Flavonoids were the predominant compounds identified, with flavones being the major subclass in these three extracts. Our findings suggest that decorticated sorghum grains contain substantial amounts of flavonoids and could be promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity.