Effect of microwave radiation on antioxidant capacities of Tartary buckwheat sprouts

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different microwave radiation power and treatment time on the antioxidant enzyme activities and radical scavenging potency in Tartary buckwheat sprouts. The results indicated that the optimal microwave irradiation conditions for superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidise and ascorbate peroxidise antioxidant enzymes was the power 300 W for 75 s, and their activities were all higher than those of the control and the ungerminated seeds. In addition, under the above microwave conditions, the total reducing power and the ability to scavenge DPPH, ABTS, O2– and •OH were also optimal. These results indicated that suitable microwave treatment could effectively improve the antioxidant enzyme activity in Tartary buckwheat sprouts and enhance the antioxidant capacity of sprouts.