Improvement of germination, sprout weight and nutraceutical potential of mung bean (Vigna radiata) sprouts by melatonin, as an elicitor

Using elicitors is one of the innovative techniques being currently applied for improving phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and bioactive compounds in ready-to-eat sprouts. Therefore, this experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of melatonin (MT), as an elicitor, on mung bean germination and its sprout’s yield and nutraceutical quality for a 5-day period during seed germination. Results showed that the processes involved on the 5 th day of germination led to an increase in total soluble protein (TSP), free amino acids (FAA), vitamin C, and antioxidant activity in the treated mung bean sprouts. In contrast, as time goes by, the rate of titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid compounds, and reducing power decreased. Moreover, MT increased the percentage of seed germination (18.84%) and sprout weight (25%), as compared to the controls. Eliciting the seed of mung bean with MT resulted in enhancing total soluble solids (TSS), TSP, FAA, and reducing power. In the sprouts of mung beans, similarly, it increased the TPC, flavonoid compounds, vitamin C, and antioxidant potential. In conclusion, using MT could change the phytochemical profiles of ready-to-eat sprouts and improve the health-promoting potential of produced sprouts during germination.