Enhancement the Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents by Optimizing the Germination Conditions of Desi Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Seeds

Legumes have high nutritional value and play an important role in traditional diets throughout the world. Consumption of legumes has been linked to reduced risk of diabetes and obesity, coronary heart disease, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal disorders. Some biotechnological processes such as germination are considered both simple and economical to improve the nutritive and functional value of legumes due to the increase in the bioactive compounds and related antioxidant acitivity. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important grain-legume crops in the world. Chickpeas contain high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, unsaturated fatty as well as bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to optimize the germination conditions of desi chickpea seeds that would maximize the antioxidant activity (AoxA), total phenolic (TPC), and flavonoid (TFC) contents. To optimize the germination bioprocess, response surface methodology was applied over three response ...