Unveiling the novel potential of tellurium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as an elicitor for improving the content of bioactive compounds in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) microgreens and sprouts

The present study was designed to evaluate the role of tellurium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as potential elicitors for augmenting the levels of bioactive compounds in buckwheat microgreens and sprouts. The maximum content of total phenolics (7.14 ± 0.10 mg GAE g⁻¹ FW in microgreens, 9.23 ± 0.08 mg GAE g⁻¹ FW in sprouts), total flavonoids (13.40 ± 0.23 mg RE g⁻¹ FW in microgreens, 9.94 ± 0.22 mg RE g⁻¹ FW in sprouts), total tannins (18.59 ± 0.14 mg GAE g⁻¹ FW in microgreens, 19.09 ± 0.12 mg GAE g⁻¹ FW in sprouts), DPPH radical scavenging (268.74 ± 0.60% in microgreens, 297.37 ± 0.91% in sprouts) and FRAP activity (187.44 ± 1.90 mg Fe (II) g⁻¹ FW in microgreens, 203.14 ± 0.94 mg Fe (II) g⁻¹ FW in sprouts) were obtained when nanoparticles were sprayed at 50 and 10 mg/l concentrations respectively. Furthermore, the highest content of rutin, ferulic acid and vanillic acid in microgreens and sprouts was attained at nanoparticle concentrations of 150 and 10 mg/l, respectively. Thus, the acquired results suggest that the application of tellurium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles could be a promising method for promoting the accumulation of bioactive compounds in buckwheat microgreens and sprouts.