Powdered barley sprouts: composition, functionality and polyphenol digestibility

This study was performed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, antihyperglycaemic and anti‐inflammatory activities, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion of 7‐day‐old freeze‐dried barley sprouts ( BS ), one hybrid and one nonhybrid variety: ‘ NS 565’ ( BSNS ) and ‘Golozrni’ ( BSG ), respectively. BSNS expressed significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.05) content of total phenols, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Phenolic compounds were the most dominant bioactives in both BSNS and BSG (713.25 and 479.02 mg GAE 100 g −1 DW , respectively). BSNS possessed significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.05) antioxidant capacity, evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays, and reducing power ( = 0.54 mg mL −1 ; IC 50 ABTS = 0.79 mg mL −1 ; RP 0.5 = 9.35 mg mL −1 ). Antihyperglycaemic and anti‐inflammatory activities of BSNS ( = 1.43 mg mL −1 ; = 1.86 mg mL −1 ) were also significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.05) than BSG ( = 1.97 mg mL −1 ; = 4.40 mg mL −1 ). In vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion showed higher release of phenolic compounds in intestinal fluid than in gastric fluid.