Salicylic acid promotes phenolic acid biosynthesis for the production of phenol acid‐rich barley sprouts

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2024-07, Vol.104 (9), p.5350-5359
• Main Authors: Yin, Yongqi, Hu, Meixia, Yang, Zhengfei, Zhu, Jiangyu, Fang, Weiming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: accumulation; acid treatment; Acids; agriculture; ascorbate peroxidase; Ascorbic acid; Barley; barley sprouts; Biosynthesis; caffeate O-methyltransferase; Caffeic acid; Catalase; Catalase - genetics; Catalase - metabolism; Cinnamic acid; Coenzyme A; Coumaric acid; Enzymes; fluorescence; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects; Germination; Germination - drug effects; Hordeum - drug effects; Hordeum - genetics; Hordeum - growth & development; Hordeum - metabolism; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Hydroxybenzoates - metabolism; Hydroxylase; L-Ascorbate peroxidase; malondialdehyde; Methyltransferase; Peroxidase; phenol; phenolic acid; Phenolic acids; Phenols; Phenylalanine; Physiology; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Raw materials; Reactive oxygen species; Salicylic acid; Salicylic Acid - metabolism; Salicylic Acid - pharmacology; Seedlings - drug effects; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - metabolism; Seeds - chemistry; Seeds - drug effects; Seeds - growth & development; Seeds - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13365

BACKGROUND Phenolic acid exhibits a variety of well‐known physiological functions. In this study, optimal germination conditions to ensure total phenolic acid enrichment in barley sprouts induced by salicylic acid treatment and its effects on sprout physiology and activity, as well as the gene expression of key enzymes for phenolic acid biosynthesis, were investigated. RESULTS When sprouts were treated with 1 mmol L−1 salicylic acid during germination and germinated at 25 °C for 4 days, the phenolic acid content was 1.82 times that of the control, reaching 1221.54 μg g−1 fresh weight. Salicylic acid significantly increased the activity of phenylalanine aminolase and cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase and the gene expression of phenylalanine aminolase, cinnamic acid‐3‐hydroxylase, cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase, 4‐coumaric acid‐coenzyme A, caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase, and ferulate‐5‐hydroxylase in barley sprouts. However, salicylic acid treatment significantly increased malondialdehyde and H2O2 content, H2O2 and O2− fluorescence intensity, as well as significantly decreasing sprout length and fresh weight. Salicylic acid treatment markedly increased the activity of peroxidase and catalase and the gene expression of peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in barley sprouts. CONCLUSION Salicylic acid treatment during barley germination significantly promoted the enrichment of total phenolic acid by increasing the activities and gene expression levels of enzymes involved in the phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway. Salicylic acid induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, inhibited sprout growth, and activated the antioxidant system. This study provides a basis for the future development of functional foods using phenol acid‐rich plants as raw materials. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.