Mineral Element and Total Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Seeds and Aerial Plant Parts of Perennial Legumes

ABSTRACT

Naturally derived bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and mineral component have a positive effect on human health. Consequently, legumes, including perennial species, have been used as healthy food or medicinal plants. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) have been researched more thoroughly for food components and supplements than zigzag clover (T. medium), black medick (M. lupulina), liquorice milkvetch (Astragalus glycyphyllos), cicer milkvetch (A. cicer), and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia). However, information is scarce about the distribution of mineral elements and phenolics in plants of these species as well as the antioxidant capacity of their extracts. In this study, we determined the mineral composition and total phenolic concentration in seeds and whole aerial plant parts and morphological fractions of these perennial legumes, as well as the antioxidant activity of extracts of the above-mentioned plant parts. The legume accessions chosen for this study were rich in potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), especially at branching growth stage, and thus could be used for mineral fortification of staple foods. Astragalus species, particularly seeds of A. glycyphyllos, were the richest source of Fe. Trifolium pratense, T. medium, O. viciifolia, and A. cicer were valuable source of total phenolics and antioxidants. The flower and leaf extracts of red clover exhibited very strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. In general, the tested perennial legumes and their plant parts have rich mineral composition and bioactive properties, and they can be used as functional ingredients to accommodate the need for a particular mineral element or a bioactive property.