Vol. 10, Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
Chandan Thappa and Sanjay Guleria

Abstract:
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different elicitors namely methyl salicylate (MeSA), salicylic acid (SA) and neem leaf extract alone and also in combination with precursor (L-phenylalanine) on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and enzyme activity of chickpea sprouts. The most effective treatment was found to be the combination of 1% MeSA and precursor treatment which increased the concentration of phenols, flavonoids and tannins in the treated sprouts by 2.3 folds, 3.4 folds and 2.8 folds respectively as compared to control. Also there was an increase in the antioxidant activity of the elicited sprouts as revealed by an increase of 93.54% and 75.96% in the ferric reducing antioxidant power and percent metal ion chelation activity respectively. Elicitation also enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power, IC₅₀ value was decreased in elicited sprouted by (IC₅₀ 23.98 mg/g FW) DPPH assay and (IC₅₀ 92.24 mg/g FW) reducing power assay. Elicitation with optimized concentration of elicitor and precursor also exerted profound effect on phenylpropanoid pathway as revealed by the increase in the activities of the enzymes namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) and peroxidase (POD) by 2.8 folds, 4.9 folds and 2.4 folds respectively. From the above study it may be concluded that, elicitation can be a promising strategy to improve the nutraceutical potential of chickpea sprouts.