## 4 Conclusions  
In the present study, we identified changes in mineral element and bioactive properties of the of _Trifolium pratense_ L. and _Medicago sativa_ L. sprouts during germination with an increased bioactivity and mineral content. The anti-radical activity, expressed as DPPH\(\bullet\) free radical inhibition percentages, significantly increased in the extracts of both ALF and RCV sprouts during germination, reaching a maximum in the second day of germination for RCV (45.12%) and in the third day for ALF (60.7%). The highest total polyphenols content was 23.34 mg gallic acid eq/g DW in RCV sprouts recorded in the fourth day of germination, while in ALF the highest level of 18.51 mg gallic acid eq/g DW was reached in the third day.  
Both ALF and RCV sprouts were found to be rich in major mineral elements like Mg, K, Na, and Ca, and trace elements such as Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Se. The content of Ca, Na, Fe, and Se in ALF sprouts was significantly (\(p\) < 0.05) higher than in RCV sprouts. Large differences in the mineral  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Step** & **Power (\%)** & **Ramp (min)** & **Pressure (bar)** & **Temperature (\({}^{\circ}\)C)** & **Time (min)** \\ \hline
1 & 80 & 5 & 40 & 170 & 10 \\
2 & 90 & 1 & 40 & 200 & 15 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 3: Parameters of digestion process.  
content were found between plant species and during the germination. Ca, Se, Fe, K, and Ni levels increased in ALF during germination while in RCV, germination resulted in increased Na, K, Cu, Ni, and Se levels. PCA analysis showed that Mg, Cu, and K are representative for RCV sprouts in the fourth and fifth day of germination, while Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Na, Ca, Se characterize the ALF sprouts.  
The phytochemicals and anti-radical activities of sprouts were considerable depending on the germination process. The third and fourth day germinated sprouts may provide the best potential value targeting beneficial heath.  
Overall, our research has confirmed the nutritional features of _Trifolium pratense_ L. and _Medicago sativa_ L. sprouts and highlighted their potential to be considered as functional food products and nutraceuticals.  
The following are available online at [[http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7249/s1](http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7249/s1)]([http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7249/s1](http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7249/s1)), Table S1: Total polyphenols, anti-radical activity and sum of isoflavones with estrogenic activity (genistin, genistein, daidzin, daidzein, formonontein, glycitein, myriectin) in ALF and RCV seeds and sprouts during germination (ALF and RCV samples coded as: day 1-first day of germination; day 2-s day of germination; day 3-third day of germination; day 4-fourth day of germination; day 5-fifth day of germination); Table S2. Correlation matrix between bioactive properties of RCV seeds and sprouts corresponding to different germination stages; Table S3. Correlation matrix between bioactive properties of ALF seeds and sprouts corresponding to different germination stages; Figure S1: Relative changes in the Ni and Mn content in sprouts of ALF and RCV during germination compared to row seeds. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
Conceptualization, E.R.C. and C.L.C.; methodology, C.S.; software, E.-I.G., D.B.; validation, E.-I.G., C.L.C. and E.R.C.; formal analysis, M.L.; investigation, E.R.C.; resources, E.R.C.; data curation, M.D.; writing--original draft preparation, E.R.C.; writing--review and editing, E.R.C., C.L.C. and E.-I.G.; visualization, C.E.G., D.B.; supervision, R.B. All authors are read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
Eliasbeta-Irina Geana is grateful to the Operational Programme Human Capital of the Ministry of European Funds through the Financial Agreement 51668/09.07.2019, SMIS code 124705.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.