Effect of the addition of leachate and sulfur in the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content in germinated corn sprouts

Abstract

Germinated maize sprouts were fertilized with vermicompost leachate and sulfur to analyze the effect of these compounds over the phytochemical quality in regard to total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content (FNL), flavonoid (FVL) and antioxidant capacity (AOX) of sprouts were determined by comparing three treatments (leachate, sulfur, leachate-sulfur) as source of nutrients and a control (water). The results showed an increase in the concentration of the variables evaluated in the three treatments studied. The leachate-sulfur combination presented the highest values for FNL, FVL and AOX, with average values of 9123 mg g-1 PS, 6.63 mg g-1 PS, 6088 μmol TE/100 g‑1 PS, (70, 64, and 61% higher than control), respectively. These findings show that the nutritional value and functional properties of germinated maize sprouts can increase by the addition of sulfur and vermicompost leachate.