Acta Pharm. 63 (2013) 553-560

 

full paper

Short communication

 

The content of fagopyrin and polyphenols in common and tartary buckwheat sprouts

SAMO KREFT, DAMJAN JANEŠ and IVAN KREFT

damjan.janes@ffa.uni-lj.si

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

2 Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Accepted July 1, 2013

 

Dried buckwheat herb is used in medicinal products whereas the fresh green plant parts, especially sprouts, are consumed as a vegetable. The herb contains fagopyrins, which cause sensitivity to light after the ingestion. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different growing conditions and the development phase on the content of fagopyrin and phenolic compounds in buckwheat sprouts. Total flavonoid and total phenol contents, fagopyrin content and antioxidant activity were determined spectrophotometrically. Fagopyrin and flavonoids were located almost exclusively in cotyledons. Based on a comparison to hypericin toxicity, the recommendable intake of buckwheat sprouts was estimated to be less than 40 g per day.

 

Keywords: buckwheat, Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae), fagopyrin, polyphenols, sprouts, phototoxicity