The Effect of Light on Antioxidant Properties and Metabolic Profile of Chia Microgreens

Featured Application Exposition of dark-grown chia microgreens to lower light intensity increases the production of bioactive compounds and enhances their antioxidative activity. Therefore, illuminated chia microgreens have the potential to be included in human diet as well as raw seeds. Chia (Salvia hispanicaL.) is a one-year plant known as a source of nutrients that can be consumed in the diet in the form of seeds or sprouts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of illumination for 24 and 48 h on dark-grown chia microgreens. Total antioxidant capacity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, along with the total phenolics, ascorbic acid and cellulose content, and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the biochemical composition and elucidate the changes in compound structures between dark-grown and illuminated chia microgreens. Analysis of the results showed that illumination significantly increased the content of all measured bioactive compounds as well as antioxidative capacity, especially 48 h after exposure to light. FTIR analyses supported structural and molecular changes in chia microgreens grown under different light regimes. Our results suggest that illumination has a positive effect on the antioxidant potential of chia microgreens, which may present a valuable addition to the human diet.