Improvement in sprouted wheat flour functionality: effect of time, temperature and elicitation

This study was aimed at optimising conditions of wheat germination (temperature, time of sprouting and elicitation) to improve its phenolics content, antioxidative capacity and nutritional quality. Total phenolics and antioxidant potential were improved most effectively after 4days of sprouting at 20 degrees C. The highest reducing ability and the ability to quench free radicals (1.24mg Trolox equivalent (TE)g(-1) d.m. and 0.38mg TEg (-1) d.m., respectively) were determined for 4-day-old control and willow+yeast elicited sprouts germinated at 20 degrees C. The kinetics of starch and protein mobilisation were affected by sprouting conditions. The highest protein digestibility was found for 2-day-old sprouts germinated at 20 degrees C, whereas the lowest for 4-day-old sprouts germinated at 25 degrees C. Starch was more effectively mobilised during germination at 25 degrees C. Sprouting conditions were found to effectively modify the quality of sprouts. A key role was ascribed to time and temperature of sprouting, whereas the effect of elicitation was marginal.