Elicitors enhance bioactive compound production in sprouts and improve health benefits

Elicitors, which may be biotic or abiotic, contribute significantly in influencing the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites during sprouting. These elicitors induce stress responses in sprouting seeds, activating metabolic pathways that lead to the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Secondary metabolites, a broad array of compounds produced by plants, are important for plant defense and have attracted attention for their considerable health benefits in humans. These metabolites offer antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. Consuming sprouts enriched with secondary metabolites provides various health benefits, such as preventing and managing chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. This review emphasizes the significance of secondary metabolites, explores the types and functions of elicitors in enhancing their production during sprouting, and discusses the health benefits of these enriched sprouts. Gaining insight into these processes can help refine food processing methods and promote the creation of functional foods aimed at improving public health outcomes.