Studio delle proprietà nutrizionali e nutraceutiche dei microgreens ottenuti con coltivazione aeroponica

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In particular, good food habits are considered a cornerstone for improving health. In the wake of these new food trends, superfoods have become a keyword for commercial food producers. Microgreens, young forms of many staple crops allowed to grow 5 to 10 days, are one of such super foods. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the possibility of using microgreens as fortification ingredients or integrators. Additionally, microgreens will be grown using the innovative aeroponic approach. Aeroponics is part of the so-called soil-less growing techniques. Specifically, plants grown in aeroponic systems have free hanging roots that are regularly misted with nutritive solution. This method of growing plants is characterized by highly efficient use of water and nutrients, eliminates the need for pesticide treatments and is free of any contamination from soil. Furthermore, every aspect of the plant growth can be customized: light exposure and photoperiod, water transpiration control, pH and conductivity of the nutritive solution and its nutrient makeup. Combining the fast growing cycles of microgreens and the excellent customizability of aeroponic growing, it was possible to produce four different preliminary products with high nutritional value. One betalain extract from Amaranthus caudatus or Atriplex hortensis, which has the potential of affording good red dyeing properties in a wide pH range. One extract from Tuscan black cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala f. palmifolia) rich in glucoraphanin, the precursor to sulforaphane, which has been linked to important anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Two dried plant powders, one made with Avena sativa and one with Atriplex hortensis, rich in iron and potassium, respectively. These four products show great potential as ingredients in integrator formulations or for foritification of foods and showcase the great synergy between microgreens and aeroponic growing.