Moringa oleifera L. Microgreens and their Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

This research aims to study the growth and antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifa L. microgreens. The microgreen phase occurred at 7 d after germination with a height of 36.72 cm ± 4.20 cm, fresh weight of 7.30 g ± 0.92 g 10 plants-1, and the proportion of leaf to shoot is 16.01 % ± 1.31 %. M. oleifera microgreen leaves have a chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid concentration respectively of 1 180.7 μg g-1 ± 329.0 μg g-1 of fresh weight, 631.7 μg g-1 ± 35.1 μg g-1 of fresh weight and 458.3 μg g-1 ± 52.0 1 μg g-1 of fresh weight. Examination of the antioxidant activity (DPPH) showed the antioxidant activity of the leaves is greater than that of the stem, with the IC50 of the leaves at 4.7 g L -1 and the IC50 of the stem at 10.1 g L -1. Generally, M. oleifera microgreens can be harvested 7 d after germination with over twice the antioxidant activity in the leaves compared to the stems.