Cold atmospheric plasma treatment improves the γ-aminobutyric acid content of buckwheat seeds providing a new anti-hypertensive functional ingredient

Chen Guiyun; Wang Yushan; Zhang Mingyue; Meng Wanxing; Xie Xixian; Chen Ye

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133064

Cold atmospheric plasma treatment improves the γ-aminobutyric acid content of buckwheat seeds providing a new anti-hypertensive functional ingredient

Food Chem. 2022 Sep 15:388:133064. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133064. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Authors

Chen Guiyun¹, Wang Yushan², Zhang Mingyue², Meng Wanxing², Xie Xixian³, Chen Ye⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
³ National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China. Electronic address: chenye@tust.edu.cn.

PMID: 35486991
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133064

Abstract

Buckwheat (BW) is rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has great potential as a functional anti-hypertensive food ingredient. This study utilized cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to promote GABA accumulation in BW during germination. The effect of this approach on GABA enrichment and anti-hypertensive activity of BW along with its processing properties were investigated. The results indicated that CAP stress treatment (50 W for 40 s) of BW seeds followed by germination at 30 °C for 60 h resulted in a GABA content of 2.22 ± 0.06 mg/g, which was a 2.64-fold greater than that of pristine BW. Cracking of the seed coat, faster germination, and the activation of glutamate decarboxylase might be responsible for the GABA enrichment. Compared with pristine BW, the GABA-enriched BW powder showed a greater inhibitory effect on the angiotensin-converting enzyme, an increased degree of pre-gelatinization and elasticity when it was formed into a dough.

Keywords: Blood pressure-lowering; Buckwheat; Cold atmospheric plasma stress; GABA enrichment; Processing.

MeSH terms

Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology
Fagopyrum*
Germination
Plasma Gases* / pharmacology
Seeds
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

Antihypertensive Agents
Plasma Gases
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid