Effect of ultraviolet radiation on molecular structure and photochemical compounds of Salvia hispanica medical seeds

Abstract

Some seeds are a major source of vitamins and minerals and contain primary and natural antioxidants, making them useful as medical resources to treat infectious diseases in poor and developing countries. This research aimed to study and analyze the effects of ultraviolet A radiation on the molecular structure, chemical composition and photochemical compounds of Salvia hispanica L. seeds (chia seeds). The results show that ultraviolet A radiation significantly affected the arrangement, size, interconnection and orientation of the Salvia hispanica seed molecules. Also, significant changes in the carbohydrate, protein and fat contents were observed, with little variation in the total fibers comprising the Salvia hispanica L. (chia seeds), after exposure to ultraviolet A radiation for different times at dissimilar distances. The phenolic content and flavonoid content in the Salvia hispanica L. seeds varied after exposure to ultraviolet A radiation for 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours at 5-cm and 20-cm distances from the ultraviolet source.