Metabolomics-guided identification of potential antioxidant components in germinated foxtail millet porridge

• Antioxidant activities were increased in germinated foxtail millet porridge. • A metabolomic method was employed to identify differential components. • 29 biomarkers were identified in both un-germinated and germinated millet porridge. • Three compounds were confirmed as antioxidants from germinated millet porridge To elucidate the mechanism behind the nutritional enhancement of germinated foxtail millet porridge, this study investigated the antioxidant activities and metabolic profiles of the porridge extracts. The results demonstrated that germination significantly boosted the antioxidant capacity, with the scavenging activities of DPPH·, ABTS + ·, and OH· increased by 29%, 132%, and 28.33-fold, respectively, compared to un-germinated millet porridge. A non-targeted metabolomics approach utilizing UPLC-Q-Orbitrap/MS identified 29 differential components between the two groups, including significantly elevated levels of amino acids, lipids, and phenolics. Crucially, multivariate analysis revealed that trans-ferulic acid, vitexin, and isovitexin were key potential contributors to the enhanced antioxidant properties. These findings provide a clear chemical basis for the health benefits of germinated foxtail millet porridge, suggesting its strong potential as a functional food ingredient with defined bioactive compounds for dietary intervention.