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Iodine-Biofortified Microgreens as High Nutraceutical Value Component of Space Mission Crew Diets and Candidate for Extraterrestrial Cultivation
The success of Space missions and the efficacy of colonizing extraterrestrial environments depends on ensuring adequate nutrition for astronauts and autono
Maria Giordano, Michele Ciriello, Luigi Formisano, Christophe El‐Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Giulia Graziani, Alberto Ritieni, Marios C. Kyriacou, Youssef Rouphael, Stefania De Pascale
Plants · 2023 · https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142628
Abstract
The success of Space missions and the efficacy of colonizing extraterrestrial environments depends on ensuring adequate nutrition for astronauts and autonomy from terrestrial resources. A balanced diet incorporating premium quality fresh foods, such as microgreens, is essential to the mental and physical well-being of mission crews. To improve the nutritional intake of astronaut meals, two levels of potassium iodide (KI; 4 µM and 8 µM) and an untreated control were assessed for iodine (I) biofortification, and overall nutraceutical profile of four microgreens: tatsoi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. narinosa), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), green basil, and purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). A dose-dependent increase in I was observed at 8 µM for all species, reaching concentrations of 200.73, 118.17, 93.97, and 82.70 mg kg−1 of dry weight, in tatsoi, coriander, purple basil, and green basil, respectively. Across species, I biofortification slightly reduced fresh yield (–7.98%) while increasing the antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH). LC–MS/MS Q extractive orbitrap analysis detected 10 phenolic acids and 23 flavonoids among microgreen species. The total concentration of phenolic acids increased (+28.5%) in purple basil at 8 µM KI, while total flavonoids in coriander increased by 23.22% and 34.46% in response to 4 and 8 µM KI, respectively. Both doses of KI increased the concentration of total polyphenols in all species by an average of 17.45%, compared to the control.
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Maria Giordano; Michele Ciriello; Luigi Formisano; Christophe El‐Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Alberto Ritieni; Marios C. Kyriacou; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale (2023). Iodine-Biofortified Microgreens as High Nutraceutical Value Component of Space Mission Crew Diets and Candidate for Extraterrestrial Cultivation. Plants. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142628 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Hosted by EVEC Athens (microgreens.org.gr). No changes were made to this article. Provided as-is, without warranties. EVEC Athens is not affiliated with, and this copy is not endorsed by, the authors or the publisher.
Explore this on our site
- How to grow it: Basil microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Coriander microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Exotic microgreens — growing guide
- Related reading: Microgreens and their anti inflammatory antioxidant and preventive potential
- Related reading: The antioxidant capacity of radish microgreens
- Related reading: Microgreens as the space food
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