Germinated seeds possessing increased water-soluble polyphenols and method of manufacturing
A method and apparatus for increased yields of water-soluble polyphenols from plant seeds is provided. The method includes inducing seed germination within a selected range of temperatures. The method also includes inducing germination in an atmosphere having elevated carbon oxygen concentration and/or a reduced concentration of oxygen. The method further includes exposing the seeds to light and extracting water-soluble polyphenols with an aqueous solution without adding an organic solvent such as alcohol.
1 . A method for germinating plant seeds with water-soluble polyphenols comprising:
maintaining the seeds in an atmosphere comprising a carbon dioxide concentration of about 2000 ppm or greater, or an oxygen concentration of about 18 volume percent or lower, in single or in combination; and
maintaining temperature of the plant seeds within a germinable range.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising hydrating the plant seeds.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the hydrating comprises spraying water.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising hydrating before inducing germination.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the plant seeds before inducing germination.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising irradiating the plant seeds with light.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the irradiating comprises irradiation at 5000 lux or greater for at least 2 hours per day.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plant seeds are maintained in an atmosphere comprising a carbon dioxide level in the range of about 2000 parts per million to 50,000 parts per million during at least 60 percent of a time period for inducing germination.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plant seeds are maintained in an atmosphere comprising an oxygen concentration in the range of about 4 volume percent to 18 volume percent during at least 60 percent of a time period for inducing germination.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of 20° C. to 45° C.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining temperature in a range of 5° C. to 30° C. above the midpoint of the optimal germination temperature range of the plant seeds.
12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising layering the plant seeds and adjusting the temperature by means comprising heat release from germination and temperature reduction by a water spray.
13 . A food product comprising water-soluble polyphenols or antioxidants, in single or in combination, of plant seeds plant germinated in an atmosphere comprising a carbon dioxide concentration of about 2000 ppm or greater, or an oxygen concentration of about 18 volume percent or lower, in single or in combination, at a temperature maintained in the range of 20° C. to 45° C.
14 . The food product of claim 12 wherein the seeds are hydrated or irradiated with light during germination, in single or in combination.
15 . The food product of claim 14 wherein the irradiating comprises irradiation at 5000 lux or greater for at least 2 hours per day.
16 . The food product of claim 14 wherein the temperature is maintained in a range of 5° C. to 30° C. above the midpoint of the optimal germination temperature range of the plant seeds.
17 . The food product of claim 12 , comprising a water-soluble extract of the plant seeds, with the polyphenols.
18 . The food product of claim 13 wherein the food product comprises the plant seeds.
19 . The food product of claim 18 wherein the plant seeds comprise at least one milligram of the water-soluble polyphenol mixture per gram of the plant seeds.
20 . The food product of claim 18 wherein the plant seeds comprise at least two milligrams of water-soluble polyphenols per gram of the plant seeds.
21 . The food product of claim 18 wherein the plant seeds comprise antioxidants in an amount of at least 40 μmol DPPH equivalents per gram of the plant seeds.
22 . The food product of claim 18 wherein the plant seeds comprise at least 8 times the water-soluble polyphenol content of the same ungerminated seeds.
23 . The food product of claim 12 or claim 18 , wherein the plant seeds consist essentially of seeds from plants of the Vitaceae family.
24 . An apparatus for germinating plant seeds with increased levels of water-soluble polyphenols, the apparatus comprising:
means for maintaining the seeds in an atmosphere comprising a carbon dioxide concentration of about 2000 ppm or greater, or an oxygen concentration of about 18 volume percent or lower, in single or in combination;
means for maintaining temperature of the plant seeds within a germinable range; and
means for hydrating the plant seeds.
25 . The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a light source for irradiating the plant seeds with 5000 lux or greater for at least 2 hours per day