Content of lunasin in grain of different cereal species
R. Muceniece1, I.Kirhnere3, I.Nakurte2, A.Kronberga3, A.Kokare3, V.Strazdina4,
Z.Vicupe4, M.Bleidere4, L.Legzdina3
1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia
2 Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia
3State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute, Latvia
4State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute, Latvia
Introduction
Results
Lunasin is a novel, cancer-preventive, anti-inflammatory and
cholesterol-reducing 43-amino-acid peptide that was originally
isolated from soy and is also found in barley, rye and wheat.
Obtained bioavailability and thermostability of lunasin after oral
administration indicate the reasons for recommending the
inclusion of lunasin-containing products in the human diet.
Purpose of this study was to compare content of lunasin in
different cereal species as well as to evaluate lunasin level in
barley grown in organic and conventional farming systems.
Additionally, we searched for new lunasin-containing cereals.
• Triticale was the most lunasin-rich cereal, displaying the
lunasin content from 0.42 to 6.46 mg g-1 of grain (breeding
lines 0006-31 and 0002-26, respectively).
• The highest lunasin content found in rye was 1.51 mg g-1 in
variety ‘Dankovske Diament‘, and in winter wheat - 0.23 mg g1 (variety ‘Fredis‘).
• Oat variety ‘Ivory’ contained the highest lunasin level of
tested oat genotypes (0.197 mg g-1).
• Measuring the lunasin content in organically and
conventionally grown spring barley, we observed the average
level 0.039 and range 0.004 – 0.169 mg g-1. The highest
lunasin content was found in variety ‘Rubiola’ under organic
growing conditions (0.169 mg g-1), but the highest average
level under both growing systems was in breeding line PR4121 (0.14 mg g-1). The effect of genotype and growing
environment was significant (p<0.01).
Material and Methods
•Lunasin was detected using liquid chromatography-mass
spectrometry and mass spectrometry tandem analysis.
Sample preparations involved extraction of the lunasin with a
protease inhibitors, liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase
extraction procedure
•Grain yield harvested in 2010 was used for analysis
•Oat (Avena sativa L): hulled oat varieties ‘Laima’, ‘Arta’,
‘Stendes Liva’ (bred in Latvia), ‘Ivory’ (Germany) and naked
breeding line ‘S-156’ (Latvia)
•Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): Latvian varieties
(Rubiola, Abava, Idumeja, Rasa, Irbe), foreign varieties (Anni,
Dziugiai, Primus, Annabell, Vienna) and breeding lines
•Winter rye (Secale cereale): Polish varieties ‘Gradan’ F1,
‘Walet’, ‘Amilo’, ‘Dankowki Diament’ and ‘Kaupo’ (Latvia)
•Winter triticale (X Triticosecale Witt.): Polish variety ‘Dinaro’,
line SGU 10/94 (Czech Republic), and four breeding lines
selected in State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute (Latvia)
.
Table. Material used for testing
Species
Oat
Barley
Wheat
Rye
Triticale
Number of
Environment
samples
5
Conventional
45 (23
Organic,
genotypes) conventional
5
5
6
Conventional
Conventional
Conventional
Location
Stende
Priekuli
Stende
Priekuli
Priekuli
Figure. Min, max and average values of lunasin content in cereal grain.
Conclusion
• We report first data of lunasin content in cereal genotypes grown in
Northern Europe; previously published data on lunasin in cereals were
obtained in genotypes grown in Korea
•We report the first discovery of lunasin in triticale and oats
•The detection of lunasin complements a list of bioactive compounds present
in the cereals and strengthens recommendations to use their products as
functional foods.
Acknowledgements
This study was performed with financial support of European Social Fund
co-financed project 2009/0218/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/099.