Characterisation of germinated fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed fractions

Germinated fenugreek seeds were separated into endosperm, seed coat and sprouts with an overall yield of 78%. Germinated endosperm, sprouts and ungerminated endosperm contained 39.25%, 36.12% and 48.20% protein, respectively. Germinated seed coat had 55.80% insoluble and 86.96% total dietary fibre, whereas ungerminted seed coat had 31.90% and 77.10% respectively. Sprouts were rich in polyphenols (97.55 mg per 100 g). At 200 ppm concentration, the antioxidant activity of the extracts of seed coat, sprouts and endosperm from germinated fenugreek seeds was 79.87%, 49.05%, and 13.42% where as the seed coat and endosperm of ungerminated fenugreek exhibited 90.94% and 10.13% antioxidant activity respectively. The GC analysis of the ester derivatives of the fixed oils of above fractions showed discernable changes in fatty acid profile. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis of the above fractions showed overall differences in their mineral content particularly calcium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, manganese and magnesium.