Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of a food produced from irradiated (UV-A LED) sorghum sprouts subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal simulation

Overweight and obesity are global health problems that have been addressed through various methods, such as diet, exercise, and the consumption of functional foods. Among these foods, the use of sorghum grain has been limited. Therefore, to promote the consumption of this cereal, a cookie formulation with potentially functional ingredients was developed using irradiated sorghum sprouts with UV-A LED light. Then, the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the cookies were evaluated before and after a gastrointestinal simulation process. The anti-inflammatory potential was also determined by measuring the production of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells. Compared to the cookies prepared with sorghum flour, the cookies prepared with irradiated sorghum sprout flour (ISSF) exhibited higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the bioaccessibility of phenolic compound was greater and the antioxidant recovery was higher in the ISSF cookies due to the high content of phenolic acids. Finally, the ISSF cookies exhibited better anti-inflammatory potential by reducing nitric oxide production by RAW 264.7 cells at lower concentrations than those of other cookies. Taken together, these results suggest that ISSF cookies are a promising food that could help address overweight, obesity and other related diseases.

Automated summary

This study developed cookies using irradiated sorghum sprouts with UV-A LED light as potential functional ingredients. The cookies showed higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to those prepared with sorghum flour. They also exhibited better anti-inflammatory potential by reducing nitric oxide production in cells. These findings suggest that these cookies could be a promising food for addressing overweight, obesity, and related diseases.