The Comparison of the Chemical Composition, Sensory, Phenolic and Antioxidant Properties of Juices from Different Wheatgrass and Turfgrass Species

Abstract

Wheatgrass juice is mainly derived from the common wheat Triticum aestivum L. The present study focused on the analysis of the potential of different perennial turfgrass species in grass juice production by determining certain compositional characteristics. The effects of fertilisers on the plants and the cutting time on some chemical constituents and antioxidant potential of grass juices were addressed. The juices from the different species of grasses, such as T. durum, T. aestivum, Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb. were obtained by pressing. DPPH (1, 1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, elemental composition, total chlorophylls, total carotenes, tocopherols, vitamin C, total phenols, viscosity and the colour profiles of the grass juice samples were analysed. Water-soluble dry matter, protein, total phenols, flavonoids and vitamin E (especially Durum cultivar) content were found to be higher in the juices of Triticum species as compared to the other grasses. Turfgrass species demonstrated higher concentrations of oil (in grass), vitamin C (unfertilised samples), chlorophyll (except L. perenne local) and major elements. The pressing of turfgrass was an easy process. Such perennial grass varieties have advantages over the Triticum species in terms of having higher concentrations of vitamin C (unfertilised samples) and major elements. The results of sensory analysis suggested that L. perenne (cultivar) is the most promising cultivar in terms of obtaining pressed grass juice.

Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity Profiles of Different Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Cultivars at Different Developmental Stages

“…The content of pigments is the highest during cell biosynthesis and energy consumption [2]. In the present study, the Chl t and Car content in barley grass was the lowest in the jointing stage after peaking in the tillering stage, which possibly suggests the rapid production of phenolics and other antioxidants in barley microgreens [8,17]. With an increase in the content of allelopathic phenolics, the biosynthesis of Chl t is reduced or even inhibited [18].…”

“…Pigments are reportedly associated with health-promoting effects, such as antioxidant potential [2]. Significant positive correlations between total Chl t and Car content and total phenolics, and between total phenolics and antioxidant potential have also been reported [2,[6][7][8]. Recently, synthetic antioxidants have started to be widely used in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and processed food industries.…”

“…The phytochemical and biochemical profiles of barley grass vary significantly, depending on the cultivar, season, location, and environmental conditions including, pH, light intensity and spectral quality, and temperatures [8,9]. Exploring the changes in phytochemical profiles and antioxidant enzyme activities among different cultivars at different growth stages is of great importance for the study of the mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effects of barley grass on human health.…”

Elemental and macromolecular modifications in Triticum aestivum L. plantlets under different cultivation conditions

“…Differences in chlorophyll contents may be attributed to different cultivation substrates and systems, considering that nutrients such as N and P concentrations are known to influence wheatgrass chlorophyll content, while hydroponic cultivation influences the accumulation of Ca, Cu, Mg and Mn [ 28 ]. Similarly, wheatgrass mineral composition and antioxidant activity may be modified by different types of water used for irrigation [ 12 , 27 ]. Several chlorophyll derivatives occur in plants, either without a metal atom (chlorins, pheophytins, and pyropheophytins) or with one in the center (Mg-chlorophylls, Zn-pheophytins, Zn-pyropheophytins, Cu-pheophytin, Cu-chlorophyllins), the latter with higher antioxidant activity than the former [ 28 ].…”

“…Considering that wheatgrass reflects actually plants at the onset of their development, their chemical composition can be influenced by various factors, among which water availability and composition, fertilization regimes [ 10 ] or light quality [ 11 ]. Supplementation with N, P, K in the growth medium leads to increased carbohydrate, carotenoid and protein contents in wheatgrass but it may also reduce the contents of phenolic compounds or several minerals [ 12 ]. Soil presence in the cultivation substrate, as compared to hydroponic cultivation, may increase the levels of some mineral elements, such as K or Mn in wheatgrass [ 13 ].…”