Involvement of Calcium ion in Enhancement of Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Fenugreek Sprouts

Abstract

Introduction: Calcium ion (Ca²⁺) is considered as a key signal transducer in plants which is involved in various physiological processes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of Ca²⁺ in enhancement of antioxidant as well as anti-diabetic activity of the fenugreek seedlings during developmental phase. Methods: The fenugreek seeds primed with Calcium chloride (CaCl₂), Calcium chelator EGTA [Ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N´, N, tetra acetic acid] and calcium channel blocker LaCl₃ (lanthanum chloride) and germinated for 3 days. The sprout extracts were investigated for their antioxidant potential by DPPH, ABTS⁺, metal chelating, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging capacity and anti-lipid peroxidation as well beta-carotene bleaching assays along with in vitro antidiabetic activity by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. Along with this, phytochemicals such as phenol, flavonol and carotene were also estimated. Results: The results demonstrated that the seeds treated with calcium chloride showed enhanced antioxidant as well as antidiabetic potential over control; on the other hand the action was reversed by EGTA and LaCl_3. Similar trend was observed in the phytochemical contents of the sprouts. Conclusion: Our data suggested that the improvement in nutraceutical value of fenugreek sprouts by calcium chloride could be due to the involvement of Ca²⁺ in signaling pathways associated with related phenolic compounds.