Work

Innovative Production of Bioactive White Clover Sprouts Under Microgravity: Towards Functional Foods Supporting Prostate Health

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Currently, new cultivation methods are increasingly sought to create functional foods that could reduce the risk of certain diseases. Benign prostatic hyperplasia represents significant health challenges worldwide and because of that, we investigated the effect of microgravity and total darkness on the anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-androgenic activity of white clover sprouts. The use of clover sprouts, a widely studied plant from the Fabaceae family, can be promising due to their rich phytochemical profile, including isoflavones, known for estrogenic properties. Anti-proliferation activity was determined using a crystal violet assay. Analysis of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and 5-α-reductase level was performed using ELISA kits, similarly to anti-inflammatory activity. White clover sprouts exerted anti-proliferative activity against PNT2 prostate cells stimulated by testosterone, and total darkness increased this activity. In addition, anti-androgenic activity of white clover sprouts was demonstrated, through the inhibition of PSA and 5-α-reductase activity, which was most visible in 7-days-old sprouts growing in conditions of microgravity and standard light. In turn, the anti-inflammatory activity of the tested sprouts was rather moderate, but most observed in the inhibition of pro-inflammatory interleukin 6 (IL-6). White clover sprouts cultivated in microgravity and darkness may represent a candidate for novel functional food with anti-androgenic activity.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app152111668

Authors: Marta Markiewicz, Agnieszka Galanty, Ewelina Prochownik, Agata Kołodziejczyk, Paweł Paśko

Institutions: Jagiellonian University, AGH University of Krakow

Language: English

Topic: Phytoestrogen effects and research

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896