The Synthesis Dynamics of Carotenoids and Antioxidant Activity in Different Parts of Maize Kernel during Germination
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Abstract:
Yellow maize kernels were used as the raw materials in this study. The synthesis dynamics of total carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin as well as the antioxidant activity in embryos, germs and radicles were investigated during germination. The results showed that the germination rate of corn kernels increased with the germination time, and the germination time of corn kernels was between the 12th and 36th h. During germination, the fresh weight of embryo, radicle and germ showed an upward trend, following the decreasing order of the embryo, followed by embryo>germ>radicle. With the increase of germination time, the total carotenoids accumulated in the embryo and radicle increased, whilst the total carotenoid accumulation in the germ increased significantly at 36 th~48 th h and 60 th~72 th h. The main carotenoid in the embryo, radicle and germ was lutein, and the total carotenoid content in the germ was significantly higher than those in the radicle and embryo. The total carotenoid content of corn kernels after germination for 72 h was 6.19 times that before germination. At the same time, the antioxidant activity in germ and embryo increased with the germination time, with the highest reaching 8.01 μmol TEAC/g and 8.51 μmol TEAC/g, respectively. However, an opposite trend was for the radicle. Therefore, germination can significantly increase the carotenoid content in different parts of the maize kernels and the antioxidant activity of the germ.
