Comparison of the composition and functional properties of red and purple intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) varieties

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium) is a promising perennial crop with potential nutritional and functional benefits. Physical (thousand kernel weight, color), chemical (protein content, mineral composition) and functional (phenolic contents, antioxidant capacity, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene contents) grain characteristics of two IWG varieties, namely, Sova and Filin, were investigated. Protein contents of Sova (red) and Filin (purple) grains were 20.2 and 21.3%, respectively. The Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn contents of Sova were 1575, 1259, 53.3, 51.5, 4.9, and 27.7 mg·kg^–1, respectively, and those of Filin were 1560, 1542, 55.7, 59.3, 5.9, and 33.1 mg·kg^–1, respectively. Zn:Cu ratios (5.65 for Sova and 5.61 for Filin) were balanced, minimizing risk of Cu deficiency. In both IWG varieties, phenolic contents in the bound fraction and their antioxidant activities (ABTS and CUPRAC) were higher than those in free fraction. Ferulic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid found in the bound fraction of IWG. These findings highlight the nutritional and functional potential of these two IWG varieties, reinforcing their value as promising ingredients for developing health-oriented, sustainable grain-based food products.