Up to 92 % increase of cancer-preventing lunasin in organic spring barley

Abstract

Lunasin is a plant peptide that has health benefits such as cancer-preventing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, there is actually no information on the influence of cropping on the lunasin content of cereals. Therefore, we studied lunasin in 22 spring barley genotypes grown both organically and conventionally during two seasons. We found that lunasin content of barley grain averaged 44.8 μg/g, ranging from 5.0 to 189.0 μg/g. Organic farming increased average lunasin content by 47-92 %. Ten out of 22 genotypes produced significantly more lunasin under organic farming in both years. Our findings evidence positive effects of organic farming on lunasin content in barley.

Organic and Conventional Agriculture: A Useful Framing?

“…There are several mechanisms whereby organic management might impact the nutritional quality of food crops ( 43), but effects of other factors may obscure the impact of management ( 181). An overriding effect of cultivar has been demonstrated for several crops and compounds (182)(183)(184); however, for spring barley, organic management produced higher levels of lunasin, a peptide with cancer-prevention health benefits across genotypes (185). Of the articles Reeve et al (43) review, seven concluded that organically grown food has a greater content of minerals and vitamins, but these differences are generally minor; five concluded there was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions; and two meta-analyses concluded there were no differences in nutritional content between organic and conventional produce (43).…”

Updating the research on the chemopreventive and therapeutic role of the peptide lunasin

“…Legzdina et al found that average amount of lunasin in barley was significantly higher in organically grown plants; however, it is worth noting that some barley genotypes displayed the opposite effect. 21 These results provide the idea that it is possible to select genotypes that are appropriate for organic farming and lunasin accumulation such as barley variety Rubiola. Lunasin has also been detected in other plant sources, such as the black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) 22 and the pseudocereal amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) 23 In amaranth, the lunasin peptide is encrypted in a 22 kDa precursor protein, and the primary structure of the native precursor protein differs from that of soybean lunasin.…”

“…Legzdina et al . found that average amount of lunasin in barley was significantly higher in organically grown plants; however, it is worth noting that some barley genotypes displayed the opposite effect . These results provide the idea that it is possible to select genotypes that are appropriate for organic farming and lunasin accumulation such as barley variety Rubiola.…”

“…20 The content was reported to be mainly influenced by the genotype. 21 These authors found that the broad-sense heritability for the lunasin content in this cereal was 70.4%. Lunasin production is also dependent on the interaction of genotype and organic farming systems.…”

“…In cereals, this content ranged from 13 to 99 μg g −1 seed in barley, 200–300 μg g −1 seed in wheat, 45–150 μg g −1 seed in rye, 429–6458 μg g −1 grain in triticale, and 34–197 μg g −1 grain in oat . The content was reported to be mainly influenced by the genotype . These authors found that the broad‐sense heritability for the lunasin content in this cereal was 70.4%.…”