Standardization of germination conditions for nutritional enhancement of underutilized basil seeds

Abstract

The current study aimed at determining the ideal conditions for the germination of clove basil and sweet basil seeds to enhance their nutritional and sensorial quality. Prechilling of seeds at 4oC for 2 days followed by germination at 35C in continuous light for 60 h for clove basil seeds and for 48 h for sweet basil seeds were found to be ideal. Under these conditions, clove basil and sweet basil seeds exhibited desirable α-amylase activity (9.27 U, 10.95 U), vitamin C content (14.66 mg/100 g, 19.52 mg/100 g) and overall sensorial acceptability (8.14, 8.24) along with germination percentage of 20.67%, 84.33%, respectively. Further, germination significantly improved dietary fibre (56.45 to 61.26 g/100 g, 48.46 to 52.83 g/100 g), calcium (603.60 to 646.80 mg/100 g, 568.40 to 598.80 mg/100 g), magnesium (270.72 to 291.36 mg/100 g, 261.36 to 276.24 mg/100 g), phosphorus (69.25 to 85.29 mg/100 g, 106.68 to 122.73 mg/100 g), zinc (4.17 to 4.77 mg/100 g, 6.95 to 7.05 mg/100 g), copper (2.13 to 2.21 mg/100 g, 1.87 to 1.95 mg/100 g) and manganese (4.34 to 4.42 mg/100 g, 1.88 to 2.08 mg/100 g) contents of clove basil and sweet basil seeds.