Effect of calcium chloride and sucrose on the composition of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities in buckwheat sprouts.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of sucrose and CaCl ₂ on the growth profile, nutritional quality, and antioxidant capacity of sprouted buckwheat. Buckwheat seeds were germinated at 25 °C for 8 days and sprayed with four different solutions: distilled water, 3% sucrose, 7.5 mM CaCl ₂ , and 3% sucrose plus 7.5 mM CaCl ₂ . Our results showed that CaCl ₂ effectively improved sucrose-elicitation induced growth reduction in buckwheat sprouts. Elicitation with both sucrose and CaCl ₂ in buckwheat sprouts markedly enhanced the accumulation of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, γ-aminobutyric acid, vitamin C, and E, without negatively affecting sprout growth. Elicitation with both sucrose and CaCl ₂ not only significantly enhanced the antioxidant activities but also exerted cytoprotective effects against oxidative damage in HepG2 cells and fibroblasts. These findings suggested that simultaneous elicitation with 3% sucrose and 7.5 mM CaCl ₂ can potentially improve the nutritional value and potential health benefits of buckwheat sprouts.
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