Table 2.
Major micronutrients, antioxidants and health benefits of the ancient grains.
| Ancient Grains | Vitamins | Minerals | Main Antioxidants | Health Benefits | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spelt | Vit. B1: 0.14–0.17 mg/100 g | Zn: 47 mg/kg Fe: 50 mg/kg P: 4.7 g/kg |
Ferulic acids: 223–502 µg/g | Modulating postprandial glycemia and insulin level | [10] |
| Emmer | Vit. B1: 0.42 mg/100 g | Zn: 54 mg/kg Fe: 49 mg/kg P: 5.1 g/kg |
Ferulic acids: 323–711 µg/g | Reducing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and blood glucose | [24] |
| Einkorn | Vit. B2: 0.45 mg/100 g | Zn: 36–84 mg/kg Fe: 32–85 mg/ kg Mn: 26–92 g/kg P: 5.2 g/kg Cu: 4.1–10 mg/kg |
Ferulic acids: 207–442 µg/g | Enhancing blood carotenoid level, antioxidant activities that reduce cardiovascular disease and hypoallergenic effects | [6,25] |
| Barley | Vit. B1: 0.35 mg/100 g; Vit. B2: 0.091 mg/100 g Vit. E: 0.85–3.15 mg/100 g |
Zn: 6–245 mg/kg Fe: 26–334 mg/kg P: 3320–5020 mg/kg |
Ferulic acid: 4.5–102 mg/100 g | Reducing blood cholesterol levels and increasing insulin response in diabetics, lowering blood glucose levels, weight control, gut regulation, preventing colon cancer | [26] |
| Oats | Vit. B1: 50 mg/kg; Vit. B2: 1.4 mg/kg | Zn: 39 mg/kg Fe: 38 mg/kg P: 3.7 g/kg |
Ferulic acids: 24–40.8 µg/100 g | Reducing the serum cholesterol, excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, improving gut health and reducing risks of cardiovascular diseases | [27] |
| Millet | Vit. C: 0.04 mg/100 g Vit. A: 0.015 mg/100 g Vit. B1: 0.15–0.52 mg/100 g Vit. B2: 0.09–0.28 mg/100 g Vit. B3: 1.1–4.5 mg/100 g |
Ca: 23–350 mg/100 g Fe: 1.18–53.39 mg/100 g P: 255–509 mg/100 g Zn: 0.73–4.2 mg/100 g Mg: 78–201 mg/100 g |
TPC: 36–445 mg/100 g TFC: 51–202 mg/100 g Ferulic acid: 3.3–36.6 mg/100 g |
Antioxidative and antiproliferative activities; therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes; alleviation of cardiovascular diseases, liver injury and cancer; lowering blood pressure. | [28] |
| Wild rice | Vit. B1: 0.30–0.63 mg/100 g Vit. B2: 0.07–0.2 mg/100 g Vit. E: 0.2–4.8 mg/100 g |
Ca: 21–24 mg/100 g Fe: 1.60–3.17 mg/100 g Mg: 106–120 mg/100 g Mn: 0.93–1.45 mg/100 g P: 236–384 mg/100 g K: 145–244 mg/100 g Na: 1.34–5.86 mg/100 g Zn: 1.25–2.83 mg/100 g |
TPC: 16.98–58.8 mg/100 g Ferulic acid: 24.1–35.5 mg/100 g Sinapic acid: 5.5–9.6 mg/100 g p-coumaric acid: 1.1–4.3 mg/100 g |
Alleviation of insulin resistance and lipotoxicity; atherosclerosis prevention; anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and immunomodulatory effects; antiobesity; antianaphylactic actions; prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease; cholesterol-lowering and anti-atherogenic effects | [29,14] |
| Green wheat | Vit. B: 1.80 mg/100 g Vit. B2: 0.19 mg/100 g Vit. B3: 1.30 mg/100 g Vit. C: 4.5 mg/100 g Vit. E: 0.2–0.6 mg/100 g |
Na: 4–12.5 mg/100 g Ca: 32–63 mg/100 g K: 369–451 mg/100 g Mg: 160–202 mg/100 g P:412 mg/100 g Cu: 0.49 mg/100 g |
Ferulic acid: 1444 mg/100 g | Preventive and treatment effects on chronic degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress; reducing the risk factors for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer; antianemia effects |
[14,29,30] |
| Sorghum | Vit E: 1.95 mg/100 g α-tochopherol: 0.122–0.525 mg/100 g Vit A (β-carotene): 0.054–0.134 mg/100 g Thiamine: 0.08 mg/100 g Riboflavin: 0.21 mg/100 g Pyridoxine: 0.17 mg/100 g |
Ca: 665.6 mg/100 g Fe: 168.8 mg/100 g K: 26,940 mg/100 g Mn: 141.2 mg/100 g Na: 292.5 mg/100 g P: 32,727 mg/100 g Zn: 432.8 mg/100 g Mg: 12,010 mg/100 g |
TPC: 109–1040 mg/100 g TFC: 11–61 mg/100 g Ferulic acid: 2.40–86.8 mg/100 g caffeic acid: 1.43–8.17 mg/100 g p-coumaric acid: 0.68–8.17 mg/100 g |
Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and coeliac disease; antiallergic properties |
[16,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40] |
| Amaranth | Vit. B3: 64.4 mg/100 g Vit. E: 1.54 mg/100 g Vit. C: 64.4 mg/100 g |
Fe: 7.61 mg/100 g Zn: 287 mg/100 g Mg: 248 mg/100 g Mn: 3.3 mg/100 g P: 508 mg/100 g Cal: 159 mg/100 g |
Protocatechuic p-Hydroxybenzoic p-coumaric Ferulic acid |
Anti-radical Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Anti-diabetic Anti-cancer Improving gut health |
[23,41] |
| Quinoa | Vit. B3: 0.01–8 mg/100 g Vit. E: 24.7 mg/100 g Vit. C: 4–49.3 mg/100 g Folate: 0.2 mg/100 g |
Fe: 5.5 mg/100 g Zn: 1.8 mg/100 g Mg: 206 mg/100 g Cal: 32.9 mg/100 g |
Gallic acid Caffeic acid Ferulic acid p-coumaric p-Hydroxybenzoic acid Vanillic acid |
Antioxidant activity Anti-obesity Antimicrobial Skin protection Anti-inflammatory Anti-diabetic Preventing cardiovascular disease and childhood malnutrition Improving gut health |
[23,41] |
| Teff | Vit. B1: 0.3 mg/100 g Vit. B3: 3.3 mg/100 g Vit. E: 0.08 mg/100 g Vit. C: 88 mg/100 g |
Fe: 7.63 mg/100 g Zn: 3.63 mg/100 g Mg: 184 mg/100 g P: 427 mg/100 g K: 427 mg/100 g Cal: 180 mg/100 g |
Catechin Ferulic acid Rosmarinic acid p-coumaric acid |
Anti-radical Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory |
[42] |
| Chia | Vit. B2: 0.17 mg/100 g Vit. B3: 8.83 mg/100 g Vit. B1: 0.62 mg/100 g Vit. E: 8.1 mg/100 g Vit. C: 1.6 mg/100 g |
Ca: 455 mg/100 g P: 585 mg/100 g K: 585 mg/100 g MG: 340 mg/100 g Fe: 8.54 mg/100 g Zn: 3.7 mg/100 g |
Caffeic acid Chlorogenic acid Quercetin Kaempferol |
Anti-hypertensive Antioxidant activity Anticholesterolemic Anthropometrics Hypoglycemic |
[43,22] |
| Buckwheat | Vit. B3: 2.1–18 mg/100 g Vit. E: 9.5–16.4 mg/100 g |
Fe: 4.7 mg/100 g Zn: 1.0 mg/100 g Mg: 203 mg/100 g Ca: 60.9 mg/100 g |
Rutin Ferulic acid caffeic acid gallic acid p-Coumaric |
Anti-inflammatory Anti-hypertensive Antioxidant activity Anti-obesity Antidiabetic activity Anti-cancer Improving gut health |
[41,44] |