Potassium humate supplementation improves photosynthesis and agronomic and yield traits of foxtail millet.

Foxtail millet is a highly nutritious crop, which is widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas worldwide. Humic acid (HA), as a common plant growth regulator, is used as an organic fertilizer and feed additive in agricultural production. However, the impact of potassium humate KH on the photosynthetic rate and yield of foxtail millet has not yet been studied. We explored the effects of KH application on the morphology, photosynthetic ability, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and yield of foxtail millet. A field experiment was performed using six concentrations of KH (0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha-1) supplied foliarly at the booting stage in Zhangza 10 cultivar (a widely grown high-yield variety). The results showed that KH treatment increased growth, chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (Gs). In addition, soluble protein content, sugar content, and nitrate reductase activity increased in KH-treated plants. With increased KH concentration, the effects became more evident and the peak values of each factor were achieved at 80 kg ha-1. Photosynthetic rate showed significant correlation with SPAD, Tr, Gs, and soluble protein content, but was negatively correlated with intercellular CO2 concentration. Compared to that of the control, the yield of foxtail millet under the T2, T3, T4, and T5 (40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha-1 of KH) treatments significantly increased by 6.0%, 12.7%, 10.5%, and 8.6%, respectively. Yield exhibited a significant positive correlation with Tr, Pn, and Gs. Overall, KH enhances photosynthetic rate and yield of foxtail millet, therefore it may be conducive to stable millet production. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for the green and efficient production of millet fields.

Preparation and nutritional characterisation of protein concentrate prepared from foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

Plant-based protein sources as a sustainable alternative to animal sources are highly relevant for food and dietary supplements industries. Plant proteins are becoming popular as an eco-friendly source for meeting global protein requirements due to their importance in nutrition, management of metabolic diseases, biological activities, functionality in processed food products and their low carbon footprints. We applied biochemical protein extraction protocol and prepared protein concentrate from an underutilised cereal, foxtail millet, with plausible applications in foods and supplements. Herein efforts were utilised to obtain foxtail millet protein (FMP) concentrate by means of standardisation of processes of extraction cum isolation. The conditions including flour to solvent ratio, extraction-precipitation pH, dissolution time, etc. were optimised to significantly improve protein yield and recovery. The FMP concentrate prepared was also analysed for nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, amino acid content and digestion properties in comparison to packaged brown rice protein concentrate. The protein concentrate prepared was found to have high digestibility, rich in essential amino acids with good phenolic and flavonoid content, thereby making it a potential sensory and antioxidant additive for food/pharmaceutical applications.

Overexpression of the autophagy-related gene SiATG8a from foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) in transgenic wheat confers tolerance to phosphorus starvation.

In plants, autophagy plays an important role in regulating intracellular degradation and amino acid recycling in response to nutrient starvation, senescence, and other environmental stresses. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) shows strong resistance to various abiotic stresses; however, current understanding of the regulation network of abiotic stress resistance in foxtail millet remains limited. In this study, we aimed to determine the autophagy-related gene SiATG8a in foxtail millet. We found that SiATG8a was mainly expressed in the stem and was induced by low-phosphorus (LP) stress. Overexpression of SiATG8a in wheat (Triticum aestivum) significantly increased the grain yield and spike number per m2 under LP treatment compared to those in the WT varieties S366 and S4056. There was no significant difference in the grain P content between SiATG8a-overexpressing wheat and WT wheat under normal phosphorus (NP) and LP treatments. However, the phosphorus (P) content in the roots, stems, and leaves of transgenic plants was significantly higher than that in WT plants under NP and LP conditions. Furthermore, the expression of P transporter genes, such as TaPHR1, TaPHR3, TaIPS1, and TaPT9, in SiATG8a-transgenic wheat was higher than that in WT under LP. Collectively, overexpression of SiATG8a increases the P content of roots, stems, and leaves of transgenic wheat under LP conditions by modulating the expression of P-related transporter gene, which may result in increased grain yield; thus, SiATG8a is a candidate gene for generating transgenic wheat with improved tolerance to LP stress in the field.

Food Fortification of Instant Pulse Porridge Powder with Improved Iron and Zinc Bioaccessibility Using Roselle Calyx.

Undernutrition and mineral deficiencies negatively impact both the health and academic performance of school children, while diets high in phytic acid and some phenolics inhibit the absorption of minerals such as iron and zinc. This study developed instant porridge powders rich in iron and zinc using pregelatinized chickpea flour (PCPF) and pregelatinized foxtail millet flour (PFMF) and assessed the potential of utilizing roselle calyx powder (RCP) as a source of organic acids to enhance its iron and zinc bioaccessibility. Physical properties, nutrients, mineral inhibitors and in vitro iron and zinc bioaccessibility of different proportions of PCPF, PFMF and RCP in instant porridge powders were evaluated. Three instant porridge powder formulations including instant chickpea powder (ICP) using PCPF, instant composite flour (ICF) using PCPF and PFMF and instant pulse porridge powder (IPP) using PCPF, PFMF and RCP were developed. Results show that all instant porridge powders were accepted by sensory evaluation, while different ingredients impacted color, consistency and the viscosity index. Addition of RCP improved the bioaccessibility of iron (1.3-1.6-fold) and zinc (1.3-1.9-fold). A 70 g serving of these instant porridge powders substantially contributed to daily protein, iron and zinc requirement for children aged 7-9 years. These porridge powders hold potential to serve as school meals for young children in low-to-middle income countries.

Co-assembly of foxtail millet prolamin-lecithin/alginate sodium in citric acid-potassium phosphate buffer for delivery of quercetin.

Foxtail millet nanoparticles with smaller mean size at ∼130 nm and narrower polydispersity index at ∼0.05 were prepared in citric acid-potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). Through lecithin (Lec)/sodium alginate (Alg) coating, a hydrophobic FP core, a Lec monolayer, and a hydrophilic Alg shell were formed spontaneously. Dissociation experiment revealed that electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding were main driving forces for the formation and maintenance of stable FP-Lec/Alg NPs. In addition, Lec/Alg coated NPs exerted an important role in sustaining the controlled release of the encapsulated quercetin under simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions. Cellular uptake test exhibited that FP-Lec-Alg NPs cold enter epithelial cells in a time-dependent manner, showing the maximum uptake efficiency were 22% and 24%, respectively, after 2 h of incubation. About 220 nm NPs can be recovered by adding 10% (w/v) sucrose. FP-Lec-Alg NPs were found to be promising delivery materials to deliver quercetin and improve its bioavailability.

Effect of foliar application of the selenium-rich nutrient solution on the selenium accumulation in grains of Foxtail millet (Zhangzagu 10).

The foliar application of selenium (Se) is an effective method for biofortification of Se in crop grains in order to provide sufficient Se for human health. As a staple food in China, the foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.), which had been Se biofortification, would be helpful to overcome Se deficiency in the diet. The Se fertilizer and its application technology are vital for reducing environmental risk while enriching selenium. Hence, the Se-rich nutrient solution developed by ourselves was used, and the effect of its amount and growth stage applied on the accumulation of Se in grains of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) was studied in the present study. The results were as follows: (1) the Se concentration in grains increased with the Se application rate increasing, and the highest Se concentration in grains was 1.83 mg kg-1 at the sprayed concentration of 61.5 gSe hm-2; (2) the accumulation of Se sprayed in the grain-filling stage was 1.3-1.6 times higher than that in the joint stage; and (3) the organ damage could be found under low Se/S ratio, which happened in the rice leaves when the Se rate was higher than 76.875 gSe m-2 with the low sulfate application compared with the formulation. This Se-rich nutrient solution could be used to produce the Se-rich millet grains and foliar application in the reproductive stage to produce qualified Se-rich millet.

Foxtail Millet Improves Blood Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Rats through PI3K/AKT and NF-κB Signaling Pathways Mediated by Gut Microbiota.

Foxtail millet (FM) is receiving ongoing increased attention due to its beneficial health effects, including the hypoglycemic effect. However, the underlying mechanisms of the hypoglycemic effect have been underexplored. In the present study, the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation was confirmed again in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with significantly decreased fasting glucose (FG), glycated serum protein, and areas under the glucose tolerance test (p < 0.05). We employed 16S rRNA and liver RNA sequencing technologies to identify the target gut microbes and signaling pathways involved in the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation. The results showed that FM supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus_2, which were significantly negatively correlated with FG and 2-h glucose. FM supplementation significantly reversed the trends of gene expression in diabetic rats. Specifically, FM supplementation inhibited gluconeogenesis, stimulated glycolysis, and restored fatty acid synthesis through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. FM also reduced inflammation through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Spearman's correlation analysis indicated a complicated set of interdependencies among the gut microbiota, signaling pathways, and metabolic parameters. Collectively, the above results suggest that the hypoglycemic effect of FM was at least partially mediated by the increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus, activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Prolamin from Cooked Foxtail Millet (Setaria italic) on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice.

Millet proteins have been demonstrated to possess glucose-lowering and lipid metabolic disorder modulation functions against diabetes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of prolamin from cooked foxtail millet (PCFM) on type 2 diabetic mice, and explore the gut microbiota and serum metabolic profile changes that are associated with diabetes attenuation by PCFM. Our diabetes model was established using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin before PCFM or saline was daily administrated by gavage for 5 weeks. The results showed that PCFM ameliorated glucose metabolism disorders associated with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the effects of PCFM administration on gut microbiota and serum metabolome were investigated. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that PCFM alleviated diabetes-related gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice. Additionally, the serum metabolomics analysis revealed that the metabolite levels disturbed by diabetes were partly altered by PCFM. Notably, the decreased D-Glucose level caused by PCFM suggested that its anti-diabetic potential can be associated with the activation of glycolysis and the inhibition of gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism and galactose metabolism. In addition, the increased serotonin level caused by PCFM may stimulate insulin secretion by pancreatic ß-cells, which contributed to its hypoglycemic effect. Taken together, our research demonstrated that the modulation of gut microbiota composition and the serum metabolomics profile was associated with the anti-diabetic effect of PCFM.

Effect of Extremely Low Power Time-Varying Electromagnetic Field on Germination and Other Characteristics in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) Seeds.

The ability of extremely low, time-varying electromagnetic field (EMF) to improve germination efficacy was studied in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) seeds using response surface methodology. An optimal factorial central composite design was chosen to optimize the EMF with three critical factors, viz. frequency, intensity, and duration. The adequacy of the model and fitness was evaluated by analysis of variance and regression coefficients. This model suggested that the factors, frequency, and intensity had a significant impact on germination. Optimal conditions for germination were observed to be 10 Hz frequency, 30,007 nT intensity, and 30-min duration with an observed germination percentage of 93.0, and a predicted germination percentage of 92.92. Magneto-priming was found to increase the germination efficacy (15.66%), shoot length (27.78%), total seedling length (20.30%), seedling dry mass (26.49%), and water uptake (34.48% at 80 min) showing significant output when compared with the control and positive controls. Remarkable improvements were observed in germination parameters such as vigor index-1 (39.14%), vigor index-2 (46.28%), speed of germination (27.52%), and emergence index (12.50%). Magneto-priming was found to reduce the levels of germination-specific enzymes, viz. α-amylase, protease, and dehydrogenase, while it enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, viz. catalase (114.63%) and superoxide dismutase (19.62%), triggering fast germination and early vigor of seedlings. This study clearly showed that EMF priming significantly improved the germination effect and other characteristics of Foxtail millet seeds. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Dietary Supplementation of Foxtail Millet Ameliorates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via Activation of Gut Receptors and Suppression of the STAT3 Pathway.

Coarse cereal intake has been reported to be associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer. However, evidence from intervention studies is absent and the molecular basis of this phenomenon remains largely unexplored. This study sought to investigate the effects of foxtail millet and rice, two common staple grains in Asia, on the progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and define the mechanism involved. In total, 40 BALB/c mice were randomized into four groups. The Normal and azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) groups were supplied with an AIN-93G diet, while the millet- and rice-treated groups were supplied with a modified AIN-93G diet. Compared to the AOM/DSS-induced CAC mice supplemented with rice, an increased survival rate, suppressed tumor burden, and reduced disease activity index were observed in the millet-treated group. The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were decreased in the millet-treated group compared to both the AOM/DSS and AOM/DSS + rice groups. Millet treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the related signaling proteins involved in cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. These beneficial effects were mediated by the activation of gut receptors AHR and GPCRs via the microbial metabolites (indole derivates and short-chain fatty acids) of foxtail millet. Moreover, millet-treatment increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroidales_S24-7 compared to the rice-treated mice. This study could help researchers to develop better dietary patterns that work against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and for CAC patients.

The gastroprotective effect of the foxtail millet and adlay processing product against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) and adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf.) seeds have substantial benefits possesses remarkable edible and nutritive values, and ease of processing and food manufacturing. They have nutraceutical properties in the form of antioxidants which prevent deterioration of human health and have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for many diseases. The present study is designed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of foxtail millet and adlay processing product (APP) diet on water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) induced ulceration in rats. We examined the effects of intake of AIN-93G diet containing either foxtail millet (10, 20 and 40%, 4 weeks) or APP (15 and 30%, 5 weeks) on macroscopic ulcer index (UI), plasma calcium level, lipid peroxidation products (estimated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBARS), non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH), digestive enzyme activities, and histopathology were determined. The results showed that pretreatment with millet and adlay diets significantly prevented the gastric mucosal lesion development. In addition, ulcerated rats showed depletion of NPSH levels whereas treatment with millet and adlay reverted this decline in stress-induced rats. Histological studies confirmed the results. The finding suggests that millet and adlay diets promote ulcer protection by the decrease in ulcer index, TBARS values and increase NPSH concentrations. Millet and adlay diets retain the advantage of being a natural product which may protect the gastric mucosa against ulceration.

Oleochemical Properties for Different Fractions of Foxtail Millet Bran.

Foxtail millet (FM) is one of the oldest cultivated grain crops with a variety of nutritions, and foxtail millet bran (FMB), a by-product of FM milling process, is also rich in variety of nutrient substance. There are four classifications of FMB, namely coarse bran (FMCB), skin bran (FMSB), polished bran (FMPB) and mixed bran (FMMB). Because these nutrients are distributed within the different fractions of FMB, we compared some chemical composition and its oleochemical properties of four FMB samples. Results showed that the oil extracted from FMB is high value-added plant oil. It contains abundant unsaturated fatty acid (UFA), with the main UFAs were linoleic acid (65%~69%) and oleic acid (12~17%), which accounted for more than 80% of the lipids. The main triacylglycerols were trilinolein (LLL) and oleodilinolein (OLL). There were no evident difference on fatty acid, triacylglycerol and sterols profiles for FMSB, FMPB and FMMB, but the contents of amino acids, tocols, squalene and oryzanol were different.

Hydroxycinnamic acid amide (HCAA) derivatives, flavonoid C-glycosides, phenolic acids and antioxidant properties of foxtail millet.

The profiles of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of dehulled foxtail millets were studied. Twenty-one phenolics were detected in the free fraction, including a series of nine hydroxycinnamic acid spermidines reported for the first time and three flavonoid C-glycosides of kaempferol and apigenin. Twenty-three phenolic acid derivatives were detected in the bound fraction with ferulic acid being the predominant phenolic acid, as well as four ferulic acid dimers (DFAs) reported for the first time in foxtail millet. Total phenolic contents (TPC) of free and bound fractions varied from 161.86 to 224.47 mg ferulic acid equivalent (FAE)/kg DW, 170.69 to 294.75 mg FAE/kg DW, respectively. Antioxidant activities, based on the DPPH, ABTS+ and ORAC assays, were determined for all extracts related to TPC. Dehulled foxtail millet contains a diverse profile of phenolic compounds potentially suitable for development of functional foods with unique antioxidant properties.

Structural, antioxidant and adsorption properties of dietary fiber from foxtail millet (Setaria italica) bran.

BACKGROUND: Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) bran is a by-product of millet processing, rich in dietary fiber (DF) and has great application value. A comparative study was conducted to explore the differences in structural and functional properties among millet bran DF, soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the content of monosaccharides between SDF and IDF, in which xylose, arabinose and glucose were the main compositions. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that DF and IDF had different forms of network structure, and SDF presented a sign of mutual adhesion. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 0.54 and 0.08 g kg-1 in SDF. Antioxidant activity of SDF was higher than that of IDF based on the evaluation of free radical scavenging and iron reducing capacity in vitro. Meanwhile, the glucose dialysis retardation index of IDF and SDF was 12.59% and 9.26% at 30 min, respectively. And, there was no significant difference in the adsorption capacity of glucose among different samples (P > 0.05). Furthermore, SDF had strong α-amylase inhibition (17.92% inhibition rate) and sodium cholate adsorption capacities; the adsorption amount was 16.76 g kg-1 in 2.00 g L-1 sodium cholate solution. CONCLUSION: Foxtail millet bran DF, especially SDF, has good functional properties and would be a suitable ingredient for health-beneficial food production. However, the relevant verification trials in vivo need to be carried out in the next steps. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phenolic antioxidants of foxtail and little millet cultivars and their inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities.

Evaluation of phenolic contents and their in vitro bioactivities of six diverse cultivars of foxtail and little millets revealed that their total phenolic content ranged from 19.42 to 24.12 µmol ferulic acid equivalents/g. The soluble fraction accounted for more than 80% of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Ferulic, caffeic and sinapic acids were the predominant phenolic acids, and luteolin and kaempferol were major flavonoids in the soluble fractions of millets. However, ferulic and p-coumaric acids were abundant in the bound fractions. Millet cultivars exhibited relevant changes in antioxidant activities in different mechanisms. Little millet cultivars showed superior inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase than foxtail millet cultivars. The soluble and bound fractions of CO7 cultivar of foxtail millet (IC50, 22.37 and 57.26 µg/ml) and CO4 cultivar of little millet (IC50, 18.97 and 55.69 µg/ml) displayed strong inhibition towards α-glucosidase. These results suggest the potential application of underutilized millets as functional food ingredients for regulating postprandial hyperglycemia.

Changes in the GABA and polyphenols contents of foxtail millet on germination and their relationship with in vitro antioxidant activity.

Germination along with ultrasonic assisted extraction induced a significant beneficial effect on the characteristics of polyphenolic components profile, GABA contents and in vitro antioxidant capacity of the foxtail millet flour extracts. The total antioxidant activity (29.0-45.23 mgAAE/g) and reducing power (0.53-0.76 µg/ml) increase during germination were due to quantitative increase in phthalicacid; hex-3yl-ester; hexadecanoicacid methylester etc. whereas, increase in DPPH (48.32-59.62%) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities (35.44-63.07 mM-Trolox/g) were attributed to increase in hexadecanoic acid methylester; 9,12-Octadecadienoicacid ethylester and synthesis of new compounds like pentadecanoicacid; 14-methyl-methylester etc. The metal chelating abilities (34.92-57.38 mgEDTA/g) and in vitro antioxidant activity increase due to overall increase in phenolics, flavonoids along with GABA contents. Synthesis of additional polyphenolic components viz. astaxanthin, propanoicacid, 1-monolinoleoylglycerol trimethylsilylether, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoicacid etc. as a result of germinated explored the possible potential utilization of germinated foxtail millet grains in various functional and convenience food formulations.

Effect of foxtail millet protein hydrolysates on lowering blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foxtail millet protein hydrolysates on lowering blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS: The protein of foxtail millet after extruding or fermenting and the raw foxtail millet was extracted and hydrolyzed by digestive protease to generate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides. The potential antihypertensive effect of protein hydrolysates from foxtail millet in SHRs was investigated. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment with 200 mg peptides/kg of body weight of protein hydrolysates, blood pressure was lowered significantly, and the raw and extruded samples were more effective than the fermented samples. The serum ACE activity and angiotensin II levels in the treatment groups were significantly lower than that of the control. The percent heart weight decreased in the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Thus, ingestion of foxtail millet protein hydrolysates especially for the raw and extruded hydrolysates may ameliorate hypertension and alleviate related cardiovascular diseases.

Increasing Selenium and Yellow Pigment Concentrations in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Grain with Foliar Application of Selenite.

Although addition of selenium (Se) is known to increase Se in crops, it is unclear whether exogenous Se is linked to nutritional and functional components in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). In this study, we examined the potential of increasing Se and yellow pigment (YP) in foxtail millet grain by foliar application of Se. Field experiments were conducted during the growing season of foxtail millet in 2013 and 2014 to assess the effects of foliar spray of sodium selenite (10-210 g Se ha(-1)) on the yield, Se uptake and accumulation, total YP, and microminerals in the grain. Average grain yields with Se application were 5.60 and 4.53 t ha(-1) in the 2 years, showing no significant differences from the unfertilized control. However, grain Se concentration increased linearly with Se application rate, by 8.92 and 6.09 µg kg(-1) in the 2 years with application of 1 g Se ha(-1) (maximum grain recovery rates of Se fertilizer, 52 and 28 %). Likewise, total grain YP concentration markedly increased by 0.038 and 0.031 mg kg(-1) in the 2 years with application of 1 g Se ha(-1). Grain Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations were not significantly affected by Se application. This study indicated that foliar application of Se effectively and reliably increased the concentrations of Se and YP in foxtail millet grain without affecting the yield or mineral micronutrient concentrations. Thus, foliar-applied selenite has a significant potential to increase the concentrations of selenium and YP (putative lutein (Shen, J Cereal Sci 61:86-93, 2015; Abdel-Aal, Cereal Chem 79:455-457, 2002; Abdel-Aal, J Agric Food Chem 55:787-794, 2007)) of foxtail millet and, thus, the health benefits of this crop.

Phenolic and carotenoid profiles and antiproliferative activity of foxtail millet.

Commonly consumed foxtail millet varieties Jingu28 and Jingu34 were compared in terms of phytochemical composition, antioxidant property, and antiproliferative activity. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) was evaluated based on HepG2 cell cultivation. Antiproliferative properties against HepG2 and MDA cell were assayed by methylene blue assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) was 78.79 and 114.22 mg gallic acid equiv/100 g DW in Jingu28 and Jingu34. Both varieties contained ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, syringic acid. Xanthophylls and zeaxanthin were also detected. Peroxyl radical scavenging capacity of the foxtail millet were 228.13 (Jingu28) and 355.03 (Jingu34) µmol of vitamin C equiv/100 g, respectively. CAA values of the foxtail millet varieties ranged from 1.52 to 8.97 µmol quercetin equiv/100 g DW. The proliferation of MDA and HepG2 cancer cells were significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to Jingu28 and Jingu34 extractions.