Antioxidant activity of feruloylated oligosaccharides from wheat bran

Ferulic acid, the main phenolic acid in wheat bran, is esterified to arabinose residues in the cell wall arabinoxylan. Treatment of wheat bran insoluble dietary fibre with xylanases from Bacillus subtilis released feruloylated oligosaccharides, which were purified with Amberlite XAD-2. The antioxidant activity of such oligosaccharides was evaluated using the assay system for erythrocyte hemolysis mediated by peroxyl free radicals generated from 2,2^′-azobis-2-amidinopropane dihydrochloride (AAPH) under in vitro conditions. The feruloylated oligosaccharides inhibited hemolysis of erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner with 91.7% inhibition of erythrocyte hemolysis at 4 mg/ml.     

Effect of ultrafine grinding on hydration and antioxidant properties of wheat bran dietary fiber

Wheat bran dietary fiber (DF) powders was prepared by ultrafine grinding, whose effects were investigated on the composition, hydration and antioxidant properties of the wheat bran DF products. The results showed that ultrafine grinding could effectively pulverize the fiber particles to submicron scale. As particle size decrease, the hydration properties (water holding capacity, water retention capacity and swelling capacity) of wheat bran DF were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased and a redistribution of fiber components from insoluble to soluble fractions was observed. The antioxidant activities of wheat bran and DF before and after grinding were in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferrous ion-chelating activity, reducing power and total phenolic content (TPC). Compared with DF before and after grinding, micronized insoluble DF showed increased chelating activity, reducing power and TPC yet decreased DPPH˙ radical scavenging activity. Positive correlations were detected between chelating activity, reducing power and TPC.     

Investigation of the interaction between soluble antioxidants in green tea and insoluble dietary fiber bound antioxidants

This work investigates the possibility of interaction between insoluble dietary fiber bound antioxidants, specifically of wheat bran, and soluble antioxidants like those provide by aqueous infusions of green tea. Solutions of pure catechins were also assayed for comparison with those naturally found in tea. To accomplish this, the aqueous and alcohol soluble fractions as well as the lipid components of wheat bran were firstly removed and the freeze-dried insoluble residue was then treated with different concentrations of green tea infusions or aqueous solutions of epicatechin (EC) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for certain time. Treatment with EC (0–200 μM) had no significant effect on the antioxidant capacity of insoluble bran fraction. However, treatment with EGCG significantly (p < 0.05) increased linearly the antioxidant capacity as a function of concentration (0–100 μM). Treatment with great tea infusions (1–3 g/100 ml) also increased the resulting antioxidant capacity of insoluble bran fraction, but the effect was lesser at higher infusion concentrations. Liquid chromatography couple to mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analyses of aqueous phases after treatment indicated comparable levels of decrease in the concentrations of catechins confirming their reaction with the radical forms of antioxidants bound to insoluble bran matrix.     

Alleviation effect of heat-treated and in vitro gastrointestinal digested soymilks on AAPH-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes: Digested soymilks alleviate oxidative stress

To investigate the potential protective effect of raw and heat-treated soymilks after gastrointestinal digestion against chemical oxidative stress induced by 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) on human erythrocytes, soymilk was subjected to heat treatment and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The inhibition rate of hemolysis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSH) and the enzyme activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cellular glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated as the biomarkers of oxidative status. Hemolysis of erythrocytes induced by AAPH was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with the digested raw soymilk (DRS) and digested heat-treated soymilk (DHS). Moreover, heat treatment prior to gastrointestinal digestion improved the inhibition effect of soymilk on erythrocytes hemolysis. The soymilk treated at 95 °C showed the highest inhibition rate, followed by 121 °C and 143 °C, revealed that the increase of temperature caused the decrease of hemolysis inhibition rate of DHS. Preincubation with the digested soymilks reduced the accumulation of MDA in erythrocytes, indicating the inhibition effect of the digested soymilks on lipid peroxidation. Results revealed that DRS and DHS alleviated the hemolysis of erythrocytes and lipid peroxidation resulted from oxidative stress by suppressing the accumulation of ROS, reducing the increase of SOD activity and decrease of non-enzymatic antioxidant GSH and enzymatic antioxidant GPx activity. Compared with raw soymilk, heat treatment improved the protective effect of the digested soymilk on erythrocytes against oxidative stress via enhancing the free radicals scavenging activity instead of improving the inhibition effect on the generation of free radicals.     

Mechanism of the interaction between insoluble wheat bran and polyphenols leading to increased antioxidant capacity

This study aimed to provide an in-depth investigation of the interaction between insoluble wheat bran and polyphenols. Treatment with tannic acid, but not gallic acid, increased the bound antioxidant capacity of insoluble wheat bran depending on its aqueous concentration (p < 0.05). Among the beverages tested (white and red wines, black and green tea infusions), treatment with green tea infusion caused the highest increase in the total antioxidant capacity. Temperature, time, air and pH were found to significantly affect the reaction between insoluble wheat bran and polyphenols. The bound antioxidant capacity of insoluble bran increased to above 100 mmol TE.kg^− 1 after treatment with green tea infusion at optimum conditions (50 °C, pH 9.0, no airflow). Concentration of free amino groups available in wheat bran significantly decreased (59.5%) after the treatment. The results suggested that polyphenols are oxidized to quinones under alkaline conditions further bound to free amino groups available on the surface of wheat bran.     

Dephytinization of wheat and rice brans by hydrothermal autoclaving process and the evaluation of consequences for dietary fiber content,antioxidant activity and phenolics

Autoclaving process applied to wheat and rice bran samples to decrease the phytic acid content and to enhance the functional and nutritional properties (dietary fiber and phenolic content, antioxidant activity) of bran samples. All hydrothermal treatments caused significant decreases in phytic acid contents of both wheat (95.2%) and rice bran (95.6%) samples. The most effective process conditions on enhancing the total dietary fiber content for both bran samples were pH 4.0 level and 1.5 h holding time. Autoclaving treatment resulted in a decrease in total phenolic contents after holding for 90 min and at 121 °C at their native pH levels. Autoclaving for 90 min caused the greatest degree of increment in the total antioxidant activity of wheat (12%, pH 4.0) and rice bran samples (2%, pH 3.5). Autoclaving treatment was found as quite effective method for both dephytinization and enrichment of wheat and rice brans as a functional food ingredient.Industrial relevanceAuthors believe that the study presents important new information in terms of both enhancing functional properties of wheat and rice brans by hydrothermally dephytinization treatment and revealing the correlation between hydrothermal treatment and functional ingredients of brans. In this way, proposed method transforms inexpensive and easily accessible sources into important food ingredients and gives them added value. Hydrothermal treatment also enables food industry to use cereal brans as functional ingredients in the applications of both designing and enriching new and healthy food formulations.     

Carbohydrate composition of raw and extruded pulse flours

Extrusion cooking technology is commercially used in the fabrication of a variety of snack-type and ready-to-eat foods made from cereal grains. However, with the exception of soybean, pulses such as lentil, dry pea and chickpea have not been used for the development of extruded food products. In this study, total carbohydrates, mono-, di- and oligosaccharides, and soluble and insoluble dietary fiber were determined before and after extrusion cooking under specific processing conditions. Concentrations of total available carbohydrates (TAC) in lentil, chickpea and dry pea flours ranged from 625 g/kg to 657 g/kg dry matter. Dry pea showed the highest concentration of TAC, followed by chickpea and lentil. Extrusion processing did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect the TAC content of dry pea and lentil flours. However, extrusion processing decreased the concentration of the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (raffinose and stachyose) in pulse extrudates. Formulated pulse flours demonstrated a beneficial increase in dietary fiber. This research indicates that value-added, nutritious snacks with reduced levels of flatulence factors and higher contents of dietary fiber can be fabricated successfully by extrusion processing of formulations based on lentil, dry pea or chickpea, and represent good alternatives to traditional cereal-based snacks. Also, the commercialization of value-added, pulse-based snacks would increase pulse consumption.     

Amelioration of hyperglycemia,hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation in steptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed a high fat diet by riceberry supplement

Dark purple riceberry bran contains a higher dietary fiber and antioxidant compounds than unpigmented rice bran. Riceberry supplement (RB) was used to evaluate the effects on biochemical parameters, skeletal muscle glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), oxidative stress and inflammation in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rat. To elucidate the effects were due to dietary fiber supplementation and/or bioactive components, equivalent amounts of dietary fiber present in RB were also fed to STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes Sprague–Dawley rats (non-FBG ? 16.65 mM) were randomly divided into five groups: DM fed a high fat (HF) diet, DM-RB1 fed 5% RB, DM-RB2 fed 41% RB, DM-F1 fed 0.6% fiber and DM-F2 fed 5% fiber. After 12 weeks, significant improvement of BG, insulin, HbA1_C, IPGTT and GLUT4 levels were observed in DM-RB1 and DM-RB2 groups. Hyperlipidemia was significantly improved in DM-RB2 and DM-F2 groups. Oxidative stress (TBARS), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx), antioxidant capacity (ORAC), pro-inflammation cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) were improved in DM-RB1 and DM-RB2 groups. Improvement of pancreas and spleen histology was found in DM-RB1 and DM-RB2 groups. These indicate the potential of RB to improve hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia conditions as well as alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation.     

In-vitro mineral binding capacity of five fiber sources and their insoluble components for magnesium and calcium1

In-vitro binding of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) by total dietary fiber, hemicellulose A (HCL A), lignocellulose (LCL), cellulose (CL), and lignin (L) fractions isolated from rice bran (RB), wheat bran (WB), oat fiber (OF), apple fiber (AF) and tomato fiber (TF) was evaluated. At pH 6.8, significant amounts of Ca were bound by whole fibers, ranging from 800 μg g⁻¹ for RB to 10 097 μg g⁻¹ for TF. Mg bound by whole fibers varied from 496 μg g⁻¹ for OF to 2177 μg g⁻¹ for WB. Re-acid washing (pH<2.0) released 95–99% of the Ca and Mg bound to the fibers. Fibers with the highest endogenous Ca and Mg concentrations bound significantly (P<0.05) the highest amounts of the minerals studied. The Ca bound by HCL A varied from 9753 μg g⁻¹ for RB to 11 337 mg g⁻¹ for TF, whereas Mg bound varied from 1151 μg g⁻¹ for OF to 5626  μg g⁻¹ for TF hemicellulose fractions, respectively. Among the fiber components, Mg binding decreased in the order HCL A>LCL>L>CL, whereas Ca bound was in the order HCL A>LCL>CL>L. A relatively strong correlation was observed between the combined effects of protein content, hemicellulose, and lignin vs total Ca and Mg bound. 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved     

Identification of bioactive peptides in commercial Cheddar cheese

This study examined the presence of antimicrobial, antioxidant and antihypertensive peptides in three commercially available Australian Cheddar cheeses. Peptide extracts as well as fractionated peptide extracts were examined. Commercial cheese A peptides exhibited the greatest inhibition against Bacillus cereus and also commercial cheese A fractionated peptides greater than 10 kDa showed the highest inhibition against B. cereus. Commercial cheese A peptides also showed the highest inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a free radical used to measure antioxidant activity. All cheese fractionated peptides greater than 10 kDa demonstrated higher inhibition of DPPH after fractionation. Antihypertensive peptides were determined by inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Overall, commercial cheese A had the lowest concentration required to inhibit ACE and commercial cheese A fractionated peptides lower than 5 kDa had the lowest inhibition after fractionation. These preliminary findings suggest that peptide extracts of three commercial Australian Cheddar cheeses exhibit antimicrobial, antihypertensive and antioxidant properties.     

Antioxidant capacity of cocoa beans and chocolate assessed by FTIR

The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of cocoa beans and chocolate produced from spontaneous and inoculated fermentations of different cocoa varieties were evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as conventional methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), was used to determine TAC and TPC. Chocolate showed higher (p < 0.05) TPC (47.17–57.16 mg GAE/g) and TAC (1.66–2.33 mM TE/g and 8.86–11.35 mM TE/g as measured by DPPH and ABTS, respectively) than cocoa beans (6.30–26.05 mg GAE/g, 0.24–1.17 mM TE/g and 1.29–4.83 mM TE/g for TPC, DPPH and ABTS, respectively). Partial least square (PLS) model for infrared data showed a good calibration coefficient (R²cal > 0.94), indicating that the FTIR technique represents a fast and reliable tool to evaluate TPC and TAC in cocoa beans and chocolate.     

In vitro digestibility and colonic fermentability of aleurone isolated from wheat bran

Two aleurone preparations, isolated from wheat bran, with different levels of tissue purity, were compared to the wheat bran starting material. Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and in vitro fermentability were investigated and microscopy was used to visualize morphological changes. Arabinoxylans constituted the main part of the dietary fibre fraction. However, the degree of branching was found to be lower in arabinoxylans from aleurone than in that from original bran. Due to the high fibre content, in vitro digestibility was rather low but digestible compounds were largely eliminated. In vitro fermentability using fresh human faecal material turned out to be higher in aleurone than in wheat bran. Moreover, the degree of purity of the aleurone preparations influenced the amount of fermentation products. Proportions of the main short chain fatty acids were very similar in all samples, with ratios of propionate and butyrate slightly above average compared to other dietary fibre sources. Arabinoxylans from aleurone were virtually completely degraded within 8 h, whereas with wheat bran, substantial amounts were still present after 24 h. Moreover, increasing arabinose:xylose ratios during fermentation suggested a better fermentability of arabinoxylans with a lower branching degree. Microscopic investigations confirmed the better fermentability of aleurone compared to wheat bran. In addition, a specific breakdown pattern of aleurone cell walls could be observed.     

A method for production of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) using barley bran supplemented with glutamate

γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) has antihypertensive and anti-stress effects on human health. In this study, we developed a simple method for GABA production from sodium glutamate using barley bran without any buffer or any coenzyme. We determined the optimal reaction conditions of the GABA production using barley bran as described below, reaction temperature: 20 °C, initial barley bran concentration: 150 mg/mL, initial sodium glutamate concentration: 10 mM, reaction time: 6 h. Under optimal conditions using barley bran, the concentration of GABA reached 11.0 mM (containing GABA from barley bran) from 10.0 mM of sodium glutamate; however in using wheat and rice bran, the GABA concentrations were only 3.9 and 0.8 mM, respectively. To apply the water containing GABA produced from sodium glutamate using barley bran (WGBB) to beer brewing, we prepared wort using WGBB. The wort contained a large amount of GABA (257 μg/mL) without lowering the other wort qualities.     

Contents of dietary fibre components and their relation to associated bioactive components in whole grain wheat samples from the HEALTHGRAIN diversity screen

A large and diverse material collection of whole grain wheat samples (n = 129) was analysed for total dietary fibre (TDF) content and composition, including fructan (11.5–15.5%). Correlations between the dietary fibre components, associated bioactive components (e.g. tocols, sterols, phenolic acids and folates) and agronomic properties previously determined on the same samples were found with multivariate analysis (PCA). Samples from the same countries had similar characteristics. The first PC described variation in components concentrated in the starchy endosperm (e.g. starch, β-glucan and fructan) and the dietary fibre components concentrated in the bran (e.g. TDF, arabinoxylan and cellulose). The second PC described the variation in kernel weight and other bran components such as alkylresorcinols, tocols and sterols. Interestingly, there was no correlation among these different groups of bran components, which reflected their concentration in different bran tissues. The results are of importance for plant breeders who wish to develop varieties with health-promoting effects.     

Influence of genotype and environment on the dietary fiber content of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown in Canada

The insoluble fiber (IDF), soluble fiber (SDF) and total dietary fiber (TDF) contents of six field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes from five growing locations in Saskatchewan in the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons were analyzed to investigate the possible effect of genotype, environment and year on fiber content. Samples were analyzed using the enzymatic–gravimetric method of fiber analysis. Growing location had a significant effect (p < 0.0001) on IDF, SDF and TDF content. Genotype had a strong effect (p < 0.0001) on both IDF and TDF content, while having no significant effect (p = 0.40) on SDF content. Crop year displayed a significant effect on SDF and TDF (p < 0.0001) content while having a smaller effect on IDF content (p < 0.01). Green cotyledon genotypes exhibited significantly higher IDF and TDF contents (p < 0.05) than did yellow genotypes. Significant genotype × location (p < 0.05) and location × year (p < 0.001) interaction terms were observed for TDF content.     

Effect of Lactobacillus brevis-based bioingredient and bran on microbiological,physico-chemical and textural quality of yeast-leavened bread during storage

The effects of wheat bran and of a Lactobacillus brevis-based bioingredient (LbBio), obtained after growth in flour-based medium, on quality of yeast-leavened wheat bread (WWB) were investigated. Bran was used in bread formulation by substituting a part (20 g/100 g) of white wheat flour (WBB), while LbBio was used instead of the water content (WWB + LbBio and WBB + LbBio). The use of LbBio in WWB resulted in the biological acidification of the dough due to lactic, phenyllactic and OH-phenyllactic acid contents determining a high fermentation quotient value and an improved bread texture and microbiological quality. Conversely, wheat bran reduced the specific volume and crumb hardness during storage at 25 °C, and affected the antibacterial ability of LbBio during 30 °C storage. Our findings demonstrated that LbBio counteracted the negative effects of bran and allowed to obtain an enriched fibre bread with specific volume and soft crumb comparable to bread without bran.Industrial relevanceBread is a perishable food with a short microbiological and physico-chemical shelf-life. The main microbiological alteration occurring into few days after baking is the “rope spoilage” caused by spore-forming bacteria originating from raw materials. This phenomenon, often misinterpreted as a sign of unsuccessful dough leavening and not visible from outside, is more common under industrial production conditions during the hot season causing large economic losses in the warm climates of Mediterranean countries, Africa and Australia. The use of sourdough often controls this alteration even if the industrial application of this traditional process is limited by the long leavening times. In this study, an innovative procedure for the preparation of yeast-leavened bread comprising the addition of a fermentation product from Lactobacillus brevis grown in a flour-based medium has been applied. The resulting fermentation product (LbBio bioingredient) acts as a sourdough acidifying the dough and improving the textural, physico-chemical and microbiological properties of the resulting bread. The application of bioingredient LbBio could represent an innovative strategy in industrial bread production to obtain acidified yeast-leavened products, thus, preventing the ropy spoilage and reducing the negative effects of bran addition.     

Soluble polysaccharides from flaxseed kernel as a new source of dietary fibres: Extraction and physicochemical characterization

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fibres. Recent study in our research group discovered that the kernel of flaxseed contained about 20% (w/w) of dietary fibres, which has not been reported before. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed that flaxseed kernel dietary fibres (FKDF) are mostly in the supporting structure of the cell walls. To study the structure and physicochemical properties of FKDF, a modified sequential extraction and fractionation procedure was utilised, and five separate FKDF fractions were obtained as flaxseed kernel (FK) water-extracted polysaccharides (FK-WP), FK EDTA-extracted polysaccharides (FK-EP), FK Na₂CO₃-extracted polysaccharides (FK-NP), FK 1 M KOH-extracted polysaccharides (FK-KPI), and FK 4 M KOH-extracted polysaccharides (FK-KPII). FKDF fractions were all water-soluble. The average molecular weight of FK-WP was 486 kDa, FK-EP 593 kDa, FK-NP 704 kDa, FK-KPI 770 kDa, and FK-KPII 1660 kDa. Monosaccharide compositions were different among FKDF fractions; alkaline solution extracted FKDF fractions had relatively higher percentage of arabinose, but relatively lower content of glucose compared with FK-WP and FK-EP. All FKDF fractions had the ability to lower the surface tension of water, among which FK-KPI exhibited the best surface activity. Rheological properties showed that FKDF fractions had low viscosity and 2% (w/v) FKDF water solution exhibited viscoelastic behaviour at 25 °C. Those findings could benefit the related food industries for providing healthier and more value-added flaxseed products.     

Antioxidant and type II diabetes related enzyme inhibition properties of methanolic extract of an underutilized food legume,Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC: Effect of traditional processing methods

The methanolic extract of Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC (Jack bean) seed, an underutilized food legume collected from India was analyzed for antioxidant and health relevant functional properties. The raw seeds contained total free phenolic content of 12.98 ± 1.63 g catechin equivalent/100 g extract DM. The raw seed extract exhibited ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP, 1218 mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of β-carotene degradation (49.81%), radical scavenging activity against DPPH (56.78%) and superoxide (35.89%). In addition, 77.56% of α-amylase and 75.45% of α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition characteristics were found under in vitro starch digestion bioassay. Sprouting + oil-frying caused an apparent increase on the total free phenolic content with significant improvement on antioxidant and free-radical scavenging capacity, while soaking + cooking as well as open-pan roasting treatments showed diminishing effects. Inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activities were declined to 22.69 and 42.69%, respectively during sprouting + oil-frying treatment is more desirable for the dietary management of type II diabetic patients.     

Dietary fiber,fructooligosaccharides, and physicochemical properties of homogenized aqueous suspensions of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius)

Yacon roots are a promising source of inulin­type fructans (35 g/100 g dry matter) with a total amount of dietary fiber of about 45 g/100 g dry matter. The polydispersity of the particle size distribution of yacon aqueous suspension was reduced with increasing the degree of homogenization due to two phenomena: aggregation of particles, and disruption of large particles. Non­homogenized yacon suspensions exhibited large cell clusters that were disrupted into small cell clusters, single cells, and aggregates. The most concentrated suspension exhibited mainly aggregates.The volume fraction of the suspensions decreased significantly with increasing the degree of homogenization. This was attributed to a denser packing of small particles and aggregates in between large particles thus allowing the water within the structure to be released.Yacon suspensions exhibited high elastic modulus (750 Pa) at low water insoluble solids content (0.9% WIS). Additional results suggested that inulin­type fructans contributed to the elastic properties of yacon suspensions.The yacon suspensions studied in this work can be considered as semi­concentrated suspensions, i.e. the plot elastic modulus of the suspensions versus concentration exhibited a region immediately after the transition region. Particle interactions seem to be of great importance in this region in the particular case of yacon suspension since the elastic modulus (G′) reached 750 Pa at low water insoluble solids content (< 1%).     

Influence of marine oligosaccharides on the response of various biological systems to UV irradiation

Low molecular weight alginate-derived oligosaccharide (ADO) (373–571 Da) and chito-oligosaccharide (COS) (855–1671 Da) were purified from alginate and chitosan, and known as marine oligosaccharides with polyanionic and polycationic properties, respectively. We compared the effects of ADO and COS on cell regulation using several biological models (Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis spore), cellular uptake determination, erythrocytes haemolysis inhibition and antioxidant capacity assay to investigate stress response under UV radiation. Our results further confirmed the anti-UVR potential of ADO and COS and their potential for commercial UVR protector application in the area of functional foods as food ingredients.