Effect of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) germination under minerals stress on the content of isoflavones and functional properties

Germination of chickpeas was carried out in the light using a closed germination chamber at 25 ± 2°C and 80% R.H. Calcium, zinc and selenium were sprayed throughout the germination period in concentrations of 25, 50, 75, and 100mg/L. HPLC-UV was used at 260nm to analyze the contents of isoflavones from the samples collected on 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th and 9^th day of germination. Profound increase in the content of biochanin A and fermonenetin was found on 7^th day of germination in WM sample with 3.08 and 5.50 mg/g, respectively. Whereas, biochanin glucoside and genistein were acquired in maximum content of 4.34 and 2.41 mg/g in 5D25 and 9D25. The results proved the use of minerals at 25 and 50mg/L during germination to be ideal for increased isoflavone as well as for increased mineral contents. Significant increase of 0.98 g/mL, 1.27 g/g and 2.29 mL/g was observed for bulk density (BD), oil holding capacity (OHC) and water holding capacity (WHC), in a samples germinated for 5 days. The results of emulsifying activity (EA), foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) significantly decreased from 44.22-36.48%, 27.82-12.63% and 16.34-8.00%, respectively. Current results of isoflavones, minerals and functional properties encourage the utilization of germinated chickpeas at industrial level for as a functional and nutritional ingredient for the germination period of 5 days at mineral supplementation of 25-50mg/L.