Assessment of inhibitory factors on bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) cultivars.

The variations in iron and zinc bioaccessibility
as influenced by inhibitory factors in 13 pearl millet cultivars
were evaluated. The results indicated that iron and
zinc contents ranged between 5.59–13.41 and
2.11–5.19 mg/100 g. Polyphenols, flavonoids and phytic
acid were highest in GHB744 (781 mg/100 g), HHB223
(116 mg/100 g) and HHB226 (1.080 g/100 g) respectively.
Insoluble fiber content range from 9.36 to 12.89 g/100 g.
Iron and zinc bioaccessibility was the highest in local
Anantapur (17.95%) and GHB744 (15.19%) cultivar with
low phytic acid. HHB226 exhibited high b-carotene and
phytase activity. In this study, the cultivars with high iron
and zinc content also possessed high inhibitory factors
which affected bioaccessibility. However, the bioaccessibility
of iron did not seem to depend on the phytic acid:
iron ratio alone. Further, a trend was observed in cultivars
with low iron: zinc ratio had increased iron bioaccessibility.
On the contrary, phytic acid: zinc ratio appears to play
a significant role in zinc bioaccessibility. Certain cultivars
with high iron content also had high phytase activity and bcarotene
content which could be exploited for further
technological treatments to enhance the bioaccessibility of
iron and zinc.