EFFECT OF GROWTH DAYS ON BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF WHEATGRASS POWDER (Triticum aestivum) AND SENSORY PARAMETERS

Abstract

Bioactive compounds of wheatgrass powder (Triticum aestivum) was determined at different stages of growth. Wheatgrass was grown by planting germinated wheat seeds and harvesting on 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th days manually. Wheatgrass was then subjected to cabinet drying (50°C, 5hr) and powdered separately. The crude extracts of samples were prepared using 80% of methanol using maceration technique for analysis of bioactive compounds. Sensory analysis of samples was carried out by group of semi-trained panelists. Experimental data was analyzed using software Genstat 12th Edition. Growth of wheatgrass had significant impact on bioactive compounds and sensory characteristics. Total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity of wheatgrass was found to increase with growth from 318.07±0.65 mgGAE/g, 105.7±33.29 mgQE/g, 80.48±1.27% on 6th day to 454.7±2.84 mgGAE/g, 429.4±66.06 mgQE/g, 93.09±0.63% on 10th day respectively. Tannin content of wheatgrass decreased significantly with growth from 10.24±1.04 mgGAE/g on 6th day to 2.077±0.01 mgGAE/g on 10th day. Chlorophyll content first increased with growth from 10.86±0.09 mg/g on 6th day to 14.27±0.06 mg/g on 8th day and decreased as 9.39±0.10 mg/g and 7.12±0.07 mg/g on 9th and 10th day respectively. Analysis of bioactive compounds and sensory attributes concluded wheatgrass of 10th day as superior sample among other samples.