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Effect of Germination and UV-C Radiation on the Accumulation of Flavonoids and Saponins in Black Bean Seed Coats

¹Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, School of Biotechnology and Food, Tecnológico de Monterrey–Campus Monterrey, E. Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849, Monterrey, N.L., México. ²Corresponding author. Phone: +52 818 328 42 33. Fax: +52 818 328 42 62. E-mail: sserna@itesm.mx ³Corresponding author. Phone: +52 818 358 20 00, ext. 4820. Fax: +52 818 328 4136. E-mail: djacobov@itesm.mx

In the present study, we evaluated UV-C radiation and germination treatments as an approach to increase the concentration of bioactive molecules in black bean seed coats. Black beans were germinated for 20 h under UV-C radiation. Germination rate was higher in seeds radiated with UV-C light compared with the control (nonirradiated seeds). Flavonoid content was increased twofold in seed coats of beans germinated for 10 h under UV-C compared with the control. Quercetin-3O-glucoside was the major flavonoid identified in stressed seed coats. Furthermore, the application of UV-C radiation during germination increased the content of soyasaponin Af, Ba, and αg, and it induced the de novo biosynthesis of soyasaponins (phaseoside I, soyasaponin deacetyl Af, and soyasaponin deactyl Ah) not present in the control. Germination of black beans under UV-C radiation was an effective and simple approach to increase the concentration of bioactive molecules in black bean seed coats.