Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects

Malting, a traditional grain processing technique, was applied to three Italian legume varieties: Gradoli Purgatory beans, Solco Dritto chickpeas, and Onano lentils. NMR-based metabolomics was employed to investigate the malting-induced biochemical changes. A significant reduction in antinutritional...

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Main Authors: Mattia Spano, Lorenzo Morgante, Enrica Bianchi, Alessio Cimini, Lorenzo Maria Donini, Luisa Mannina, Mauro Moresi, Anna Maria Giusti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225003506
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author Mattia Spano
Lorenzo Morgante
Enrica Bianchi
Alessio Cimini
Lorenzo Maria Donini
Luisa Mannina
Mauro Moresi
Anna Maria Giusti
author_facet Mattia Spano
Lorenzo Morgante
Enrica Bianchi
Alessio Cimini
Lorenzo Maria Donini
Luisa Mannina
Mauro Moresi
Anna Maria Giusti
author_sort Mattia Spano
collection DOAJ
description Malting, a traditional grain processing technique, was applied to three Italian legume varieties: Gradoli Purgatory beans, Solco Dritto chickpeas, and Onano lentils. NMR-based metabolomics was employed to investigate the malting-induced biochemical changes. A significant reduction in antinutritional raffinose family oligosaccharides was observed, coupled with increased levels of simple sugars (sucrose and glucose) and free amino acids. Malted pulses also exhibited increased levels of acetate, formate, and nucleotides, suggesting specific enzymatic activation during malting. Additionally, malting led to elevated levels of saturated fatty acids and a decrease in certain phospholipid head groups, such as glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine. These metabolic transformations highlight the potential of malting to enhance the nutritional value and digestibility of legumes.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Applied Food Research
spelling doaj-art-8c0d9e65783b4df4a3d670d5b7c3df682025-08-20T02:07:02ZengElsevierApplied Food Research2772-50222025-06-015110104210.1016/j.afres.2025.101042Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effectsMattia Spano0Lorenzo Morgante1Enrica Bianchi2Alessio Cimini3Lorenzo Maria Donini4Luisa Mannina5Mauro Moresi6Anna Maria Giusti7Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; NMR-based Metabolomics Laboratory (NMLab), Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Corresponding author.Department for Innovation in the Biological, Agrofood and Forestry Systems, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; NMR-based Metabolomics Laboratory (NMLab), Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Innovation in the Biological, Agrofood and Forestry Systems, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; NMR-based Metabolomics Laboratory (NMLab), Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Innovation in the Biological, Agrofood and Forestry Systems, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyMalting, a traditional grain processing technique, was applied to three Italian legume varieties: Gradoli Purgatory beans, Solco Dritto chickpeas, and Onano lentils. NMR-based metabolomics was employed to investigate the malting-induced biochemical changes. A significant reduction in antinutritional raffinose family oligosaccharides was observed, coupled with increased levels of simple sugars (sucrose and glucose) and free amino acids. Malted pulses also exhibited increased levels of acetate, formate, and nucleotides, suggesting specific enzymatic activation during malting. Additionally, malting led to elevated levels of saturated fatty acids and a decrease in certain phospholipid head groups, such as glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine. These metabolic transformations highlight the potential of malting to enhance the nutritional value and digestibility of legumes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225003506Legume pulsesMalting processNMR metabolomics
spellingShingle Mattia Spano
Lorenzo Morgante
Enrica Bianchi
Alessio Cimini
Lorenzo Maria Donini
Luisa Mannina
Mauro Moresi
Anna Maria Giusti
Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
Applied Food Research
Legume pulses
Malting process
NMR metabolomics
title Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
title_full Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
title_fullStr Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
title_short Enhancing nutritional value of Italian legumes: An NMR metabolomics study of malting process effects
title_sort enhancing nutritional value of italian legumes an nmr metabolomics study of malting process effects
topic Legume pulses
Malting process
NMR metabolomics
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225003506
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