Green biomass of perennial crops as valuable source of protein and phytonutrients

Domokos-Szabolcsy, Éva and Kovács, Zoltán and Kaszás, László and Koroknai, Judit and Fári, Miklós (2020) Green biomass of perennial crops as valuable source of protein and phytonutrients. In: XVII. Nemzetközi Tudományos Napok : online konferencia. (In Press)

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Abstract

Long-term predictable and reliable protein supply for food and feed production is one of the great challenges of today's agriculture both in Hungary and other EU countries. Considering economical, ethical, environmental and ecological aspects of food/feed proteins it is urgent to find alternative sources with technologies besides soy. Among alternative plantbased protein the green biomass has gained an intensive attention. Hungary is self-sufficient in alfalfa and grasses as dedicated green protein source. At the same time green biomass of alfalfa is more than only protein source, it is a rich repository of essential fatty acids and phytonutrients. The quality and quantity of phytochemicals partially depending on the processing of green biomass. After wet fractionation leaf protein concentrate (LPC) as potenital final product can be obtained from the green juice fraction using any coagulation method. The theoretical basis of this process is included in the concept of green biorefinery. In our work the phytochemical composition of fractionated alfalfa green biomass was evaluated, with special regard to LPC fraction as directly exploitable, protein-rich (40 – 45 m/m% N) feed/food source. UHPLC-ESI-MS was applied to identify different phytonutrients. The phenolic compounds were significant part of the identified compounds. Among flavonoids 2 flavones were dominant mostly in the forms of glucosides. Just few flavone aglycones could be identified such as apigenin and luteolin. Hydroxylated methoxyflavone could be isolated from green juice and fiber fractions. Three isoflavones were found such as ononin; alfalone and formonetin. Nine saponins could be identified and seven unknown saponin aglcyons.

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