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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Nutritional properties of selected superfood extracts and their potential health benefits
PeerJ, Vol.9, pp.1-20
2021
PMID: 34900436
Abstract
Background: The term 'superfoods' is used to market foods considered to have significant health benefits. 'Superfoods' are claimed to prevent diseases as well as improving overall health, though the lack of explicit criteria means that any food can be labelled 'super' without support from scientific research. Typically, these 'superfoods' are rich in a particular nutrient for example antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional properties of a selection of superfood seeds: flax, chia, hulled sunflower and two types of processed hemp seeds and determine whether they may have potential health benefits.
Methods: We developed a simple aqueous extraction method for ground seeds and analysed their composition by mineral, protein and monosaccharide analyses. Cell viability assays were performed on Caco-2 and IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells using increasing doses of the prepared extracts.
Results: Increased cell viability was observed in both cell lines with increasing concentrations of the flax seed, chia seed or hulled sunflower extracts (P < 0.05). Compositional analyses revealed the presence of polysaccharides, proteins and essential minerals in the aqueous extracts and in vitro assays showed sunflower had the highest antioxidant activity. However, differences in extract composition and antioxidant properties could not be directly related to the observed increase in cell viability suggesting that other components in the extracts may be responsible. Future studies will further characterize these extracts and investigate whether they are beneficial for gastrointestinal health.
Details
- Title
- Nutritional properties of selected superfood extracts and their potential health benefits
- Authors
- Jacqueline P. Barsby (Author) - The University of AdelaideJames M. Cowley (Author) - The University of AdelaideShalem Y. Leemaqz (Author) - The University of AdelaideJessica A. Grieger (Author) - The University of AdelaideDaniel R. McKeating (Author) - Griffith UniversityAnthony Perkins (Author) - Griffith UniversitySusan E. P. Bastian (Author) - The University of AdelaideRachel A. Burton (Author) - The University of AdelaideTina Bianco-Miotto (Corresponding Author) - The University of Adelaide
- Publication details
- PeerJ, Vol.9, pp.1-20
- Publisher
- PeerJ, Ltd.
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.7717/peerj.12525
- ISSN
- 2167-8359
- PMID
- 34900436
- Copyright note
- © 2021 Barsby et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Grant note
- University of Adelaide Women's Research Excellence Award (TBM)
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99685195902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Food Science & Technology
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