Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activities, and HPLC Analysis of Nine Edible Sprouts in Cambodia

**Background:** Sprouts are increasingly consumed as healthy foods due to their high content of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. However, the non-nutritional health benefits of sprouts, particularly those grown in Cambodia, are not well characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of nine edible sprouts commonly available in Cambodia: sunflower, mustard, black sesame, Taiwanese morning glory, mung bean, soybean, white radish, colored radish, and green pea.

**Methods:** Sprouts were cultivated for 4–7 days, harvested, and extracted with methanol. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total chlorophyll content (TCC), total alkaloid content (TALC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC) were measured spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activities were assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify and quantify six phenolic/flavonoid compounds: gallic acid, syringic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, and rutin. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis were performed to relate bioactive compounds to antioxidant capacity.

**Key Results:** Extraction yields ranged from 2.68% (black sesame) to 7.64% (soybean). HPLC identified six compounds across the sprouts; caffeic acid was the most abundant, highest in sunflower sprouts (14.91 ± 0.08 mg/g extract). Gallic acid was highest in soybean (4.06 ± 0.01 mg/g), vanillin in white radish (2.03 ± 0.01 mg/g), chlorogenic acid in mustard (2.39 ± 0.01 mg/g), syringic acid in black sesame (0.46 ± 0.003 mg/g), and rutin in black sesame (5.29 ± 0.02 mg/g). Sunflower sprouts had the highest TCC (0.031 ± 0.00045 mg/g), soybean had the highest TFC (98.9 ± 4.8 mg QE/g), Taiwanese morning glory had the highest TPC (65.0 ± 2.60 mg GAE/g), mustard had the highest TALC (0.33 ± 0.00 mg AE/g), and black sesame had the highest TAC (3.5 ± 0.38 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g). For antioxidant activities, Taiwanese morning glory showed the strongest DPPH scavenging (IC50 = 283.6 ± 25.87 µg/mL) and ABTS scavenging (lowest IC50). Black sesame and colored radish had the highest ABTS inhibition at 1000 µg/mL (74.4 ± 3.1% and 73.4 ± 3.0%, respectively). White radish and colored radish had the highest FRAP values (0.064 ± 0.004 and 0.059 ± 0.002 mM FeSO4/g extract, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed that TPC and vanillin were significantly positively correlated with DPPH scavenging (r = -0.617 and -0.507, p < 0.01) and ABTS inhibition (r = 0.730 and 0.711, p < 0.01), while gallic acid was negatively correlated with ABTS and FRAP activities.

**Clinical Implications:** This study provides preliminary evidence that these nine sprouts contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential, which may help mitigate oxidative stress-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. The high antioxidant activity of Taiwanese morning glory, black sesame, and radish sprouts suggests they could be developed as functional foods or dietary supplements. However, the authors note that further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety. The short cultivation time (4–7 days) and low cost make sprouts a practical alternative for improving dietary antioxidant intake.