Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Pearled Wheat and Roller‐Milled Fractions

Wheat contains phenolic compounds concentrated mainly in bran tissues. This study examined the distribution of phenolics and antioxidant activities in wheat fractions derived from pearling and roller milling. Debranning (pearling) of wheat before milling is becoming increasingly accepted by the milling industry as a means of improving wheat rollermilling performance, making it of interest to determine the concentration of ferulic acid at various degrees of pearling. Eight cultivar samples were used, including five genotypes representing four commercial Canadian wheat classes with different intrinsic qualities. Wheat was pearled incrementally to obtain five fractions, each representing an amount of product equivalent to 5% of initial sample weight. Wheat was also roller milled without debranning. Total phenolic content of fractions was determined using the modified Folin‐Ciocalteau method for all pearling fractions, and for bran, shorts, bran flour, and first middlings flour from roller milling. Antioxidant activity was determined on phenolic extracts by a method involving the use of the free radical 2,2‐diphenyl‐l‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Total phenolics were concentrated in fractions from the first and second pearlings (>4,000 mg/kg). Wheat fractions from the third and fourth pearlings still contained high phenolic content (>3,000 mg/kg). A similar trend was observed in antioxidant activity of the milled fractions with ≈4,000 mg/kg in bran and shorts, ≈3,000 mg/kg in bran flour, and <1,000 mg/kg in first middlings flour. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were highly correlated (R² = 0.94). There were no significant differences between red and white wheat samples. A strong influence of environment (growing location) was indicated. Pearling represents an effective technique to obtain wheat bran fractions enriched in phenolics and antioxidants, thereby maximizing health benefits associated with wheat‐based products.     

Application of the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spin Probe Technique for Detection of Irradiated Wheat

The fast decay of free radicals makes application of traditional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques impractical for detection of irradiated wheats when the storage time is longer than 30 days. In this study, therefore, the effects of irradiation on wheat seeds were investigated by using the EPR spin probe technique. The technique is based on the ability of the spin probes to transfer valuable information related to the changes in the structural characteristics of embryo cell membranes caused by irradiation. As a result of irradiation, the enviroment of the spin probe is modified and this modification can be followed from the recorded spectra. The doses studied were 1.0, 2.5, 10.0, and 20.0 kGy. An aqueous solution of 16-doxyl stearic acid (16-DSA) was used The embryos were detached using a steel needle and kept in 16-DSA solution for 2.5 hr and washed with distilled water. The spectra of the samples were recorded. The detection of irradiated wheats by this technique was possible at doses of ≥2.5 kGy. An important advantage of this approach is that it is applicable even after eight months of storage.     

Effect of Single‐Pass and Multipass Milling Systems on Whole Wheat Durum Flour and Whole Wheat Pasta Quality

Single‐pass and multipass milling systems were evaluated for the quality of whole wheat durum flour (WWF) and the subsequent whole wheat (WW) spaghetti they produced. The multipass system used a roller mill with two purifiers to produce semolina and bran/germ and shorts (bran fraction). The single‐pass system used an ultracentrifugal mill with two configurations (fine grind, 15,000 rpm with 250 μm mill screen aperture; and coarse grind, 12,000 rpm with 1,000 μm mill screen aperture) to direct grind durum wheat grain into WWF or to regrind the bran fraction, which was blended with semolina to produce a reconstituted WWF. Particle size, starch damage, and pasting properties were similar for direct finely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted durum flour/fine bran blend and for direct coarsely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted semolina/coarse bran blend. The semolina/fine bran blend had low starch damage and had desirable pasting properties for pasta cooking. WW spaghetti was better when made with WWF produced using the multipass than single‐pass milling system. Mechanical strength was greatest with spaghetti made from the semolina/fine bran or durum flour/fine bran blends. The semolina/fine bran and semolina/coarse bran blends made spaghetti with high cooked firmness and low cooking loss.     

Electron spin resonance studies of free radicals in gamma-irradiated soybean paste.

Free radicals in gamma-irradiated soybean paste were investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to determine the effect of temperature (77-296 K) and moisture content (1-54%) of samples irradiated at high dose (1-40 kGy). The samples were kept in liquid nitrogen (77 K) during irradiation and subsequent ESR measurements. The spectra shown at 77 K consisted of the hydrogen atom lines at low and high field and complicated symmetric spectrum. By increasing the microwave power, the line shape of ESR spectra altered, which indicated the detection of different paramagnetic centers at different microwave powers. In saturation curves, it was possible to select four types of spectra components which were different in their relaxation times. By the different irradiation doses, the change in free radical concentration showed a curvilinearly increasing relationship with irradiation dose in wet samples, whereas a proportional relationship was observed with dried samples. This might indicate that the indirect process of free radical formation was involved with the existence of free water radicals in the wet samples.     

Milling Quality and White Salt Noodle Color of Chinese Winter Wheat Cultivars

Improvement of milling quality is an important aspect in wheat breeding programs. However, the milling quality of Chinese wheats remains largely unexplored. Fifty‐seven Chinese winter wheat cultivars from four regions were used to investigate the variation of milling quality parameters and to determine the associations between milling quality traits and color of noodle sheet. Substantial variation was presented for all measured parameters in this germplasm pool. Complete soft, hard, and medium‐hard types were observed. Soft wheat and hard wheat show significant differences in flour ash content, flour bran area, and flour color grade. No simple trait can be used to select for flour milling quality. High flour ash content and bran speck area contributed negatively to brightness of dry flour. Correlation coefficients (r) between L* value of dry flour and flour ash content and bran speck area were ‐0.47 and ‐0.65 for hard cultivars, and ‐0.51 and ‐0.72 for soft cultivars, respectively. Flour color grade (FCG) was significantly and positively associated with bran speck area; r = 0.56 and 0.73 for hard and soft wheats, respectively. There was a high correlation between FCG and L* value of flour water slurry (r = ‐0.95). Strong associations were also established between milling quality index (MQI) and FCG, L* value of dry flour, flour‐water slurry, and white salted noodle sheet for both hard and soft wheats. In conclusion, substantial progress could be achieved in improvement of milling quality in Chinese winter wheats through genetic selection, and FCG and MQI could be two important parameters for evaluation of milling quality in breeding programs.     

Physical and Milling Characteristics of Wheat Kernels After Enzyme and Acid Treatments

The current wheat milling process separates bran from endosperm by passing tempered wheat kernels through successive break rolls and sifters. Using hydrolytic enzymes during tempering degrades bran and aleurone layers and can improve milling efficiency and yield. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical and enzymatic treatments of wheat kernels before milling on physical and milling characteristics of the resulting wheat and flour quality. Hard wheat kernels were soaked in dilute acid or water and dried back to original moisture before being tempered with enzymes in water. Kernel physical and milling characteristics (600 g) were evaluated. Dilute acid soaking did not affect the 1,000‐kernel weight and diameter but softened treated kernels. When treated kernels were pearled, bran removal was mostly from ends; and the reducing sugar content in enzyme‐treated bran was significantly higher than the control. Compared with the control, acid‐soaked enzyme‐tempered kernels showed small but significant improvement in straight flour yield, with virtually no difference in protein content, and flour color. Chemical and enzyme treatment resulted in higher ash in flour. These differences were not seen in milling of larger batches (1,500 g) of kernels.     

Stability of Vitamin E in Wheat Flour and Whole Wheat Flour During Storage

The stability of vitamin E during 297 days of storage of wheat flour and whole wheat flour ground on a stone mill or a roller mill, respectively, were studied. One day after milling, the total content of vitamin E, expressed in vitamin E equivalents (α‐TE), was 18.7 α‐TE and 10.8 α‐TE for stone‐milled and roller‐milled wheat flour, respectively. The difference in total vitamin E content was primarily due to the absence of the germ and bran fractions in the roller‐milled flour. The total loss of vitamin E during storage was 24% for stone‐milled wheat flour but 50% for roller‐milled wheat flour. These results indicate that vitamin E, which is present in high amounts in wheat germ, functions as an antioxidant in the stone‐milled wheat flour. Hexanal formation showed that lipid oxidation in roller‐milled flour occurred just after milling, whereas the formation of hexanal in the germ fraction displayed a lack period of 22 days, confirming that vitamin E functions as an effective antioxidant in the wheat germ. Results showed no significant difference in total loss of vitamin E for stone‐milled and roller‐milled whole wheat flour. Total loss after 297 days of storage for both milling methods was ≈32%.     

Impact of Bran Addition on Water Properties and Gluten Secondary Structure in Wheat Flour Doughs Studied by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The aim of this work was to elucidate the underlying physical mechanism(s) by which bran influences whole grain dough properties by monitoring the state of water and gluten secondary structure in wheat flour and bran doughs containing 35–50% moisture and 0–10% added bran. The system was studied with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy. Comparison of the OH stretch band of water in flour dough with that in H₂O‐D₂O mixtures having the same water content revealed the formation of two distinct water populations in flour dough corresponding to IR absorption frequencies at 3,600 and 3,200 cm^–1. The band intensity at 3,200 cm^–1, which is related to water bound to the dough matrix, decreased and shifted to lower frequencies with increasing moisture content of the dough. Addition of bran to the dough caused redistribution of water in the flour and bran dough system, as evidenced by shifts in OH stretch frequency in the 3,200 cm^–1 region to higher frequencies and a reduction in monomeric water (free water). This water redistribution affected the secondary structure of gluten in the dough, as evidenced by changes in the second‐derivative ATR‐FTIR difference spectra in the amide I region. Bran addition caused an increase in β‐sheet content and a decrease in β‐turn (β‐spiral) content. However, this bran‐induced transconformational change in gluten was more significant in the 2137 flour dough than in Overley flour dough. This study revealed that when bran is added to flour dough, water redistribution among dough components promotes partial dehydration of gluten and collapse of β‐spirals into β‐sheet structures. This transconformational change may be the physical basis for the poor quality of bread containing added bran.     

Irradiation stability of folic Acid in powder and aqueous solution

This study attempts to examine the folic acid stability after irradiation treatment, under different physical states, pH values, and atmosphere conditions. Aqueous folic acid samples, folic acid in powder, and wheat flour fortified with folic acid were irradiated by an electron beam (E-beam) between 0 (control) and 10.0 kGy. It was realized that the physical state of folic acid plays an important role on its stability toward E-beam processing, being largely unstable in solution, no matter the pH and atmosphere conditions assayed. Otherwise, folic acid in powder showed huge irradiation stability, even when mixed in a dry food matrix, such as fortified wheat flour samples.     

Laboratory Milling Method for Whole Grain Soft Wheat Flour Evaluation

Whole grain wheat products are a growing portion of the foods marketed in North America, yet few standard methods exist to evaluate whole grain wheat flour. This study evaluated two flour milling systems to produce whole grain soft wheat flour for a wire‐cut cookie, a standard soft wheat product. A short‐flow experimental milling system combined with bran grinding in a Quadro Comil produced a whole grain soft wheat flour that made larger diameter wire‐cut cookies than whole grain flour from a long‐flow experimental milling system. Average cookie diameter of samples milled on the short‐flow mill was greater than samples milled on the long‐flow system by 1 cm/two cookies (standard error 0.09 cm). The long‐flow milling system resulted in more starch damage in the flour milling than did the short‐flow system. The short‐flow milling system produced flours that were useful for discriminating among wheat cultivars and is an accessible tool for evaluating whole grain soft wheat quality.     

Effect of Wheat Bran on Dough Rheology and Final Quality of Chinese Steamed Bread

Wheat bran is a low‐cost by‐product abundantly produced by the wheat flour industry. As a staple food of China, Chinese steamed bread (CSB) represents about 40% of China's wheat consumption. This study investigated the effects of incorporating wheat bran into the CSB at different levels (5, 10, and 15%). The dough behavior was measured by analyzing rheological properties. Quality of CSB was analyzed from two perspectives: physical properties and nutritional quality. For physical properties, specific volume, loaf height, moisture, and texture were measured by 1 . The predicted glycemic response of the bread was analyzed by using an in vitro digestion method. The results illustrated that the incorporation of wheat bran into wheat flour reduced the extensibility of the dough, decreased specific volume, and increased bread hardness, gumminess, and chewiness. However, this study also showed that addition of wheat bran can decrease the predicted glycemic response of steamed bread by up to 39%.     

Influence of UV Exposure on Phenolic Acid Content,Mechanical Properties of Bran,and Milling Behavior of Durum Wheat (Triticum Durum Desf.)

Durum wheat bran was exposed to UV radiation up to 48 hr and the changes in ferulic acid (FA) content in the peripheral part s of grain were measured. The treatment resulted in a 25% decrease in FA monomer and a 44% decrease in dehydrodiferulic acid (DHD) ester‐linked to the cell‐wall arabinoxylans. This reduction was partly explained by a significant increase of FA (30%) and DHD (36%) engaged in hot alkali‐labile linkages. The results suggest that UV irradiation induced the formation of new cross‐links between feruloylated arabinoxylan and lignin in the pericarp. The effects of UV treatment on bran mechanical properties and wheat milling behavior were investigated. UV irradiation for 15 hr increased the stress to rupture by 30% and decreased the extensibility of bran tissues by 54%. This stiffening was associated with an increase in bran friability during grinding. Although this effect was due in part to the hydrothermal history of the grain, chemical modification induced by UV significantly influenced the size reduction of bran particles, which can be explained by the modification of the mechanical properties of bran. Relationships between the organization of cell‐wall polymers, the mechanical properties of tissues, and the behavior of wheat grain during milling were investigated.     

小麦制粉不同组分中铁锌含量的影响因素探析

提高小麦籽粒有益微量元素含量,特别是对人体影响较大的Fe、Zn含量,是解决中国广大居民微量元素营养匮乏的重要途径之一。2012-2015年将3个不同基因型小麦品种(邯6172、衡5229和周麦16),种植于河北石家庄赵县、陕西杨凌区和河南省新乡辉县。每个地域3个小区,每小区面积10 m²,试验田按照当地小麦品种区域试验管理。共采集36份小麦样品,小麦籽粒粉碎制得全麦粉;同时将小麦籽粒加工制粉,得到粗麸、细麸和面粉。采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定全麦粉及制粉产品(粗麸、细麸和面粉)中的Fe、Zn含量。结合单因素方差分析及Duncan多重比较分析不同地域、不同基因型、不同年际获得的小麦不同制粉产品间的Fe、Zn含量差异。结果表明,基因型对本研究全麦粉Fe含量影响最为显著,地域是影响全麦粉Zn含量的最重要因素。Fe、Zn含量在小麦制粉不同组分中的变化趋势为:粗麸>细麸>面粉。Fe含量在各组分中受基因型影响最大。Zn含量在全麦粉和粗麸中受地域影响最大,细麸中受年际影响最大,面粉中分别受年际×地域的交互作用、基因型和年际3个因素的影响最大。综上所述,全麦粉相对面粉的Fe、Zn含量更高,且更容易通过选种和选择合适地域耕种提高其Fe、Zn含量。本研究为从小麦的种植及加工角度改善主食中铁锌含量较低这一现状提供了理论参考。     

Bran Characteristics and Bread‐Baking Quality of Whole Grain Wheat Flour

Variations in physical and compositional bran characteristics among different sources and classes of wheat and their association with bread‐baking quality of whole grain wheat flour (WWF) were investigated with bran obtained from Quadrumat milling of 12 U.S. wheat varieties and Bühler milling of six Korean wheat varieties. Bran was characterized for composition including protein, fat, ash, dietary fiber, phenolics, and phytate. U.S. soft and club wheat brans were lower in insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and phytate content (40.7–44.7% and 10.3–17.1 mg of phytate/g of bran, respectively) compared with U.S. hard wheat bran (46.0–51.3% and 16.5–22.2 mg of phytate/g of bran, respectively). Bran of various wheat varieties was blended with a hard red spring wheat flour at a ratio of 1:4 to prepare WWFs for determination of dough properties and bread‐baking quality. WWFs with U.S. hard wheat bran generally exhibited higher dough water absorption and longer dough mixing time, and they produced smaller loaf volume of bread than WWFs of U.S. soft and club wheat bran. WWFs of two U.S. hard wheat varieties (ID3735 and Scarlet) produced much smaller loaves of bread (<573 mL) than those of other U.S. hard wheat varieties (>625 mL). IDF content, phytate content, and water retention capacity of bran exhibited significant relationships with loaf volume of WWF bread, whereas no relationship was observed between protein content of bran and loaf volume of bread. It appears that U.S. soft and club wheat bran, probably owing to relatively low IDF and phytate contents, has smaller negative effects on mixing properties of WWF dough and loaf volume of bread than U.S. hard wheat bran.     

Impact of Wheat Fiber on Frozen Dough Shelf Life and Bread Quality

Freezing and prolonged frozen storage of dough results in constant deterioration in the overall quality of the final product. In this study the effect of wheat bran and wheat aleurone as sources of arabinoxylan (AX) on the quality of bread baked from yeasted frozen dough was investigated. Wheat fiber sources were milled to pass through a 0.5 mm screen, prehydrated for 15 min, and incorporated into refined wheat flour at 15% replacement level. Dough products were prepared from refined flour (control A), whole wheat flour (control B), aleurone composite flour (composite flour A), and bran composite flour (composite flour B) and stored at –18°C for 28 weeks. Dough samples were evaluated for breadmaking quality at zero time, 14 weeks, and 28 weeks of storage. Quality parameters evaluated were loaf weight, loaf specific volume, and crumb firmness. Composite flour bread samples showed the most resistance to freeze damage (less reduction in the overall product quality), indicating a possible role of some fiber components (e.g., AX) in minimizing water redistribution in the dough system and therefore lessening adverse modifications to the gluten structure. The data suggest that the shelf life of frozen dough and quality of obtained bread can be improved with the addition of an AX source.     

Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Content in Commercial Wheat Mill Streams

The content of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as vitamin E (tocols), was determined in fractions of roller‐milled wheat grains. The results showed that vitamin E components are present in all major flour fractions of wheat, but that the vitamin E content and composition differed significantly between fractions. The total content of vitamin E, calculated as alpha‐tocopherol equivalents, changed from 16.1 mg α‐TE/g in wheat grain to 12.2 mg α‐TE/g in roller‐milled wheat flour. The germ fraction had the highest content of tocopherols, and the content of α‐tocopherol (195.2 μg/g) was 16 times higher (on average) than in any other fraction. The content of tocotrienols was distributed more uniform in the wheat grain with the highest content in the bran fractions, and the content of β‐tocotrienol was higher than the content of α‐tocopherol in all milling fractions except the wheat germ. The content of β‐tocotrienol was 24.1 μg/g in wheat grain, 25.3–31.0 μg/g in the bran fractions, and 14.3–21.9 μg/g in the fractions of endosperm. Overall, germ and fine bran fractions represent good sources of vitamin E and might be used in breadmaking.     

End Use Quality of Waxy Wheat Flour in Various Grain‐Based Foods

The practical applications of flour from waxy (amylose‐free) hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were assessed. The applications evaluated were bread, cakes, white salted noodles, and pasta for gyoza. An excessive addition of waxy hexaploid wheat flour to total wheat flour (>20%) resulted in poorer functional properties (sticky, lumpy, or less crispy textures) in almost every end use product. However, incorporation of <20% waxy hexaploid wheat flour, produced considerable improvement in shelf‐life characteristics. After one day of storage, the bread from flour including waxy hexaploid wheat flour maintained moistness, softness, and stickiness. This application of waxy hexaploid wheat flour as an antistaling ingredient was also confirmed in cake products. Tests were also conducted on alimentary pasta products. In alimentary pasta, waxy hexaploid wheat flour was most effective when utilized for frozen fried dumplings (gyoza). By using flour including 30 or 50% waxy hexaploid wheat flour, the problem of firmness was solved without other ingredients. In conclusion, flour from waxy hexaploid wheat may be useful in developing more increased staling‐ and freezing‐tolerant grain‐based foods. Starch properties could be responsible for these improved characteristics.     

ESR波谱法及其他物理法检测淀粉类辐照食品

研究了ESR波谱技术检测淀粉类辐照食品的方法。测定不同剂量辐照处理的玉米粉、小麦粉和糯米粉的电子自旋共振（ESR）波谱。结果表明：未辐照和辐照样品的ESR波谱有明显区别,ESR信号强度随着样品辐照吸收剂量的增加而增强。利用ESR试验结果与电镜图像进行比较。利用ESR波谱技术能够鉴别出含淀粉类辐照食品（玉米粉、小麦粉和糯米粉）是否经过辐照。     

Determination of Surface Tension Properties of Wheat Endosperms,Wheat Flours,and Wheat Glutens

During wheat dough processing, a large part of the interactions with water are governed by wettability properties of flour. The wettability properties of wheat materials (flat slices of wheat endosperm, flour‐based pellets, and gluten‐based pellets) were assessed by the measurement of contact angles of a sessile drop of three reference liquids (water, diiodomethane, and formamide) and estimated by equilibrium properties (contact angles and surface tension properties) and drop penetration rates. The surface tension (γ_s) of wheat materials was measured between 49.6 and 55.3 mJ/m^‐2. The present work permitted the evaluation of specific wheat types (hard wheat vs. soft wheat) and evaluation of the influence of material structure (flat slices of endosperm vs. flour‐based pellets), and material nature (flour‐based pellets vs. gluten‐based pellets) on the wettability properties. The surface tension properties were considered with regard to the nonideal structure of sample surfaces by considering surface roughness and material porosity.     

Spectroscopic Analysis of Wheat Fractions and Reconstituted Whole Wheat Mixtures by 1H‐NMR and NIR

Commercial success of whole wheat products has warranted development of new analytical approaches for differentiating whole grain products from conventional food products made from refined grains. Here, we have analyzed three different wheat fractions (namely, bran, germ, and refined flour) of two wheat varieties. In addition, a whole wheat sample containing all three fractions was also included in the study to investigate the application of two spectral fingerprinting methods—proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR) and near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy—for differentiating the three fractions and the whole wheat. Results show that both these methods provide unique spectral fingerprints for the bran, germ, refined, and whole wheat flours. In addition, we were able to distinguish whole grain composed of different ratios of the germ, bran, and refined grain, exemplifying the potential applicability of both fingerprinting methods (NIR and NMR) for the differentiation of whole and refined wheat samples. Principal component analysis on ¹H‐NMR data with four different bin sizes (0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 ppm) did not have significant influence on differentiation of the four fractions.