Functional Compounds and Physiological Activities of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) and Finger Millet (Eleusine coracona)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological activities and the functional components of foxtail millet (FM, Setaria italica) and finger millet (FGM, Elusine coracana). Nine cultivars of FM (namely Keongkwan 1ho (KK1), Keongkwan 2ho (KK2), Dahwangme (DHM), Daname (DAM), Samdamae (SDM), Samdachal (SDC), Chohwangme (CHM), Hwanggeum (HG), Hwangmeechal (HMC)) and one cultivar of FGM (namely Finger1ho (FG1)) were cultivated and compared with respect to their physicochemical characteristics. The calcium content of FG1 was 11.6 times higher than the average calcium content of the FM cultivars, while the potassium and phosphorus content of the FG1 was the lowest among all cultivars at 2,582 and 2,511 ppm, respectively. The cultivar with the highest total polyphenol content was FG1 at 30.64 mg/g. The cultivars with the highest phytic acid and γ-oryzanol content were DAM (1.13 g/100 g) and HG (2.05 mg/100 g), respectively. FG1 showed the best antioxidant activities with the highest level of DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging capacities, and FRAP at 23.98 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g sample, 17.14 mg TE/g sample, and 216.82 mM, respectively. FG1 also showed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition activity at 89.64%. The cultivars showing higher tyrosinase inhibition activities were DHM and CHM at 67.21% and 62.82%, respectively. From these results, it could be concluded that FG1 would be highly useful as a functional agent and a good source for nutrients such as calcium and total polyphenols.