Cited by 14Probiotics and Fermented FoodsFood and Agricultural SciencesProtein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides

Fermented Pulses for the Future: Microbial Strategies Enhancing Nutritional Quality, Functionality, and Health Potential

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Van de Velde, Franco, Cian, Raúl E., Garzón, Antonela G., Albarracín, Micaela, Drago, Silvina R.·2025·Fermentation

Abstract

Pulses are recognized as sustainable foods due to their high nutritional density, low environmental footprint, and versatility as plant-based ingredients. Fermentation has emerged as a powerful bioprocessing tool to further enhance nutritional, sensory, techno-functional, and health-promoting properties of pulses. This review summarizes recent advances in the fermentation of commonly consumed pulses using lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, molds, and co-fermentation microorganism consortia, focusing on the biochemical mechanisms underlying changes in their nutritional and bioactive potential. Microbial metabolism (i.e., α-galactosidase and phytase activity) reduces antinutritional factors, such as raffinose family oligosaccharides and phytic acid, while promoting the release of bound nutrients and bioactive compounds as phenolics, increasing their bioaccessibility and bioactivity. Microbial amylases change the carbohydrate profile by decreasing simple sugars, modifying starch digestibility, and favoring resistant starch production. Microbial lipases remodel lipids, improving the fatty-acid distribution and nutritional value. Protein hydrolysis by microbial proteases enhances digestibility and generates bioactive peptides with antioxidant and antihypertensive properties, among others. Co-fermentation systems offer additional opportunities to tailor metabolic outcomes, facilitating positive symbiotic interactions between microorganisms. Overall, fermentation represents a key technology to unlock the full potential of pulses as next-generation ingredients, supporting the development of nutritious, functional, and sustainable foods for future food systems.

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Crossref · 10.3390/fermentation12010018

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  • Germination activates endogenous enzymes including phytases, proteases, and α-galactosidases, which degrade phytic acid, protease inhibitors, and raffinose-family oligosaccharides, thereby enhancing mineral bioavailability and protein digestibility.

    “Germination activates endogenous enzymes, including phytases, proteases, and α-galactosidases, which degrade phytic acid, protease inhibitors, and raffinose-family oligosaccharides, thereby enhancing mineral bioavailability and protein digestibility [34,35].”

    From Valorization of Microalgae as Multifunctional Protein Sources in Plant-Based Systems: Structural, Functional, and Processing Challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [35]

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Vijaya, P.S.; Singh, R. Pulses: Nutritional or Anti-Nutritional? A Review on Bioactive Components and Digestibility. J. Food Sci. Technol. 2023, 20, 28-51. [CrossRef] · DOI
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Authors
Van de Velde, F., Cian, R. E., Garzón, A. G., Albarracín, M., & Drago, S. R.
Affiliations
  • Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
Venue
Fermentation
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-12-29
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
18
ISSN
2311-5637 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W7117670836
Cited by
14
References
158
Citations by year
2026: 14
FWCI
6.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Fermentation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • CAI+D-2024- Tipo II (85520240100119LI)
  • PICT-2020-SERIE (A-03116)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food and Agricultural Sciences
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
Keywords
lactic acid bacteria, yeast, molds, microbial consortia, co-fermentation, antinutritional factors, raffinose family oligosaccharides, phytic acid, alpha-galactosidase, phytase, resistant starch, microbial lipases, proteolysis, bioactive peptides, phenolic compounds, bioaccessibility, functional foods, sustainable food

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