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Research article2008Peer reviewed

Avenanthramide content and related enzyme activities in oats as affected by steeping and germination

Skoglund, Maria; Peterson, David M.; Andersson, Roger; Nilsson, Janicka; Dimberg, Lena H.

Abstract

Samples from three different oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars, Vista, Gem and Dane were steeped and germinated in a pilot plant malting system. The content of avenanthramides, antioxidant compounds unique to oats, and some unknown compounds as well as the activities of the avenanthramide-synthesising enzyme hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA: hydroxyanthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HHT) and the avenanthramide-oxidizing enzyme phenoloxidase (PO) were measured. An increase in avenanthramide content of germinated seeds, as compared to raw grains, was observed for Dane (125%, p < 0.001) and for Vista (29%, p = 0.007). The HHT activity increased 62% (p = 0.014) in Dane, whereas no change was detected in Vista and Gem. The PO activity decreased slightly during the germination process for Gem (p < 0.001) and Vista (p = 0.005). Many of the unknown compounds increased significantly during germination in all three cultivars, and one of them was identified to be the avenanthramide N-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxy-(E)-cinnamoyl)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxyanthranilicacid. This study indicates that a highly controlled steeping and germination process can be a valuable method to increase the content of endogenous avenanthramides in oats. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

avenanthramides; germination; hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA; hydroxyanthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HHT); oats; phenoloxidase

Published in

Journal of Cereal Science
2008, Volume: 48, number: 2, pages: 294-303
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD