Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water Treatment Enhances the Main Bioactive Phytochemicals Content in Broccoli Sprouts via Changing Metabolism

Changes in the content of bioactive phytochemicals in the broccoli sprouts subjected to different slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatments were investigated in the present study. The highest sulforaphane amount in broccoli sprouts treated with SAEW with an available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 50 mg/L was 11.49 mg/g in dry weight (DW), which increased by 61.2% compared to the control. SAEW treatment enhanced the sulforaphane content mainly by increasing the glucoraphanin (GRA) concentration due to the promotion of methionine metabolism and increased myrosinase activities. In addition, the relative anthocyanin contents of light-germinated broccoli under SAEW 50 treatment were 2.03 times that of broccoli sprouts with tap water treatment, and these contents were associated with an increase in phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities and phenylalanine participation in biosynthesis. In summary, SAEW promotes metabolism to induce the accumulation of bioactive compounds in broccoli sprouts.