Phytochemical Profile and Antiproliferative Activity of Dough and Bread Fractions Made from Refined and Whole Wheat Flours

Phytochemical profile (phenolic acids, carotenoids, and tocopherols) and antiproliferative properties of bread processing fractions, including the dough, crumb, and upper crust made from refined wheat and whole wheat flours were analyzed for two wheat cultivars. Ferulic acid, lutein, and α‐tocopherol were the predominant phenolic acid, carotenoid, and tocopherol, respectively, extracted from all fractions. The levels of all phytochemicals in whole wheat samples were over eightfold higher than their corresponding refined wheat samples. The concentrations of total phenolic acids (soluble and insoluble bound) were higher in the upper crust of refined (∼60–90%) and whole wheat (∼15–40%) breads than their corresponding dough fractions. However, the dough of whole wheat had higher levels of tocopherols and carotenoids compared with the crumb and upper crust, suggesting that phenolic acids were relatively stable during baking, whereas tocopherols (∼25–80%) and carotenoids (∼20–80%), were partially degraded. The antiproliferative activity of whole wheat bread extracts against HT‐29 cancer cells was weakly correlated with total phenolic acids but showed no correlations with total carotenoid and total tocopherol contents.     

Changes in the Element Composition of Flours during Maturation of the Winter Wheat Kernel

Abstract

An underappreciatel field of plant analysis is the change in the nutrient concentration of flours from winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during maturation. The knowledge of these processes is important because breeding solely for higher yield has caused a decrease in the nutrient concentrations important for human nutrition. The difference in nutrient concentration of flours from grains of different spike positions is also an interesting field of plant analysis. The objective of this study was to study these processes to better understand the effect of these factors on flour quality. The concentration and amount of macro (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium) and micronutrients (copper, manganese, iron, zinc) were determined in the flours of grains of two genotypes from basal, central, and apical grain positions, from the 14th day to the 42th day after anthesis. Genotype and sampling time both affected the concentration of nutrients. The grain position on the head also influenced the N, Ca, K, Mn, P, and S concentrations. The amount of assimilated nutrients in flours increased until the middle of maturity, and then remained around specific values in the case of some elements. We describe the changes in concentrations of these nutrients based on changes in the assimilated mass.     

Levels of Protein and Protein Composition in Hard Winter Wheat Flours and the Relationship to Breadmaking

Protein and protein fractions were measured in 49 hard winter wheat flours to investigate their relationship to breadmaking properties, particularly loaf volume, which varied from 760 to 1,055 cm³ and crumb grain score of 1.0–5.0 from 100 g of flour straight‐dough bread. Protein composition varied with flour protein content because total soluble protein (SP) and gliadin levels increased proportionally to increased protein content, but albumins and globulins (AG), soluble polymeric proteins (SPP), and insoluble polymeric protein (IPP) levels did not. Flour protein content was positively correlated with loaf volume and bake water absorption (r = 0.80, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.45, P < 0.01, respectively). The percent SP based on flour showed the highest correlation with loaf volume (r = 0.85) and low but significant correlation with crumb grain score (r = 0.35, P < 0.05). Percent gliadins based on flour and on protein content were positively correlated to loaf volume (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.46, P < 0.001, respectively). The percent IPP based on flour was the only protein fraction that was highly correlated (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001) with bake water absorption followed by AG in flour (r = 0.30, P < 0.05). Bake mix time was correlated positively with percent IPP based on protein (r = 0.86) but negatively with percent SPP based on protein (r = ‐0.56, P < 0.0001).     

Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Fractionated by Wheat Kernel Thickness and Separated by Kernel Specific Density

Two wheat cultivars, soft white winter wheat Yang‐mai 11 and hard white winter wheat Zheng‐mai 9023, were fractionated by kernel thickness into five sections; the fractionated wheat grains in the 2.7–3.0 mm section were separated sequentially into three fractions according to kernel specific density. Physical properties of unfractionated, fractionated, and separated wheat grains and the physicochemical properties of processed wheat flour were determined. Test weight, relative density, and whiteness of flour in the middle kernel thicknesses were maximal and those properties decreased with increasing or decreasing kernel thickness; they also decreased with decreasing kernel specific density. Extensigraph properties showed the same results. Water absorption of flour and kernel hardness increased with increasing kernel thickness and decreasing kernel specific density. The farinograph properties also were related to kernel thickness and specific density. Pasting viscosity increased with increasing kernel thickness for sections from <2.5 mm to 3.0–3.2 mm, except that the >3.2 mm section was lowest; the kernels with the lightest specific density also were lowest. Thus, the quality of wheat grains with the greatest kernel thickness was not the best, and in fact may be the worst. The quality of wheat grains with small kernel thickness and light kernel specific density generally were worst. Most physicochemical properties of unfractionated and unseparated wheat grains were accurately predicted by the weighted‐average of the different kernel thickness sections and different kernel specific density fractions, except relative density, falling number, dough development time, and pasting temperature.     

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.     

Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours

Waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contains endosperm starch lacking in amylose. To realize the full potential of waxy wheat, the pasting properties of hard waxy wheat flours as well as factors governing the pasting properties were investigated and compared with normal and partial waxy wheat flours. Starches isolated from six hard waxy wheat flours had similar pasting properties, yet their corresponding flours had very different pasting properties. The differences in pasting properties were narrowed after endogenous α‐amylase activity in waxy wheat flours was inhibited by silver nitrate. Upon treatment with protease, the extent of protein digestibility influenced the viscosity profile in waxy wheat flours. Waxy wheat starch granules swelled extensively when heated in water and exhibited a high peak viscosity, but they fragmented at high temperatures, resulting in more rapid breakdown in viscosity. The extensively swelled and fragmented waxy wheat starch granules were more susceptible to α‐amylase degradation than normal wheat starch. A combination of endogenous α‐amylase activity and protein matrix contributed to a large variation in pasting properties of waxy wheat flours.     

Comparison of Antioxidant Components and Activity of Buckwheat and Wheat Flours

Plant phenolics and tocopherols content were determined in light and wholegrain buckwheat and wheat flour. Antioxidant activity of flours were comparatively assessed by scavenging activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•), hydroxyl (^•OH), and superoxide anion (O₂^•–) radicals, reducing activity, and chelating activity on Fe²⁺. Rutin, quercetin, and ferulic acid were quantified in both buckwheat flours, while ferulic acid was quantified in wholegrain wheat flour. Significantly higher content of phenolics and tocopherols was found in buckwheat than in wheat flours. Tocopherols in buckwheat flours were present in the order: γ‐ > α‐>> δ‐tocopherol, and in wheat flours: α‐ > γ‐ >> δ‐tocopherol. Buckwheat flours possessed better scavenging abilities on DPPH^•, ^•OH and O₂^•– radicals, as well as better reducing activity, while wheat flours showed better chelating activity on Fe²⁺, according to IC₅₀ values. Results suggest the possibility of improving the antioxidant properties of wheat‐based food products through addition of buckwheat flour.     

Evaluation of Various Baking Methods for Polished Wheat Flours

Flour qualities of polished wheat flours of three fractions, C‐1 (100–90%), C‐5 (60–50%), and C‐8 (30–0%), obtained from hard‐type wheat grain were used for the evaluation of four kinds of baking methods: optimized straight (OSM), long fermentation (LFM), sponge‐dough (SDM) and no‐time (NTM) methods. The dough stability of C‐5 in farinograph mixing was excellent and the maturity of polished flour doughs during storage in extensigraph was more improved than those of the commercial wheat flour (CW). There were no significant differences in the viscoelastic properties of CW dough after mixing, regardless of the baking method, while those of polished flour doughs were changed by the baking method; this tendency became clear after fermentation. The polished flours could make a better gluten structure in the dough samples after mixing or fermentation using LFM and SDM, as compared with other baking methods. Baking qualities such as specific volume and storage properties of breads from all polished flours made with SDM increased more than with other methods. In addition, viscoelastic properties of C‐5 and C‐8 doughs fermented by SDM were similar to those of CW, and the C‐5 breadcrumb showed softness similar to that of the CW. Also, SDM could make C‐5 bread with significantly higher elasticity and cohesiveness after storage for five days when compared with CW bread. Therefore, SDM with long fermentation, as compared with other baking methods, was considered suitable for use with polished flours to give better effects on dough properties during fermentation, resulting in more favorable bread qualities.     

Frozen and Unfrozen Water Contents of Wheat Flours and Their Components

The properties of frozen and unfrozen water in two different wheat flours (hard and soft), and in their main components (gluten, starch, damaged starch, water‐soluble and water‐insoluble pentosans), were described using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As a reference, enthalpy values of crystallization (298 J/g) and melting (335 J/g) of pure water were determined from the total heat flow curves. The separation of thermal events between the reversing and nonreversing heat flows with modulated DSC was not effective due to disturbances in the modulated temperature scan. For wheat flours and their components, linear regressions described well the changes in frozen water content calculated from enthalpies of freezing (R² = 0.970–0.982) or melting (R² = 0.783–0.996). The unfrozen water content (UFWC) calculated for the hard wheat flour (29–31%, db) was close to that calculated for the soft wheat flour (30–32%). The UFWC of wheat gluten (38–47%), starch (38–42%), damaged starch (37–40%), water‐soluble pentosans (51%), and water‐insoluble pentosans (40–44%) were higher than the corresponding values for the flours. The simple summation of the contributions of each component cannot be used to estimate the overall behavior of flours.     

Structural Variation and Levels of Water-Extractable Arabinogalactan-Peptide in European Wheat Flours

Water-extractable arabinogalactan-peptides (WE-AGP) were isolated from flour of eight different wheat cultivars (harvest year 1996). Little structural variation in WE-AGP of flour of the different wheat cultivars was observed. The arabinose-to-galactose (A/G) ratio of WE-AGP varied between 0.66 and 0.73. Methylation analysis showed that the proportion of β-1,3-galactopyranosyl residues is almost equal for the different WE-AGP samples (10.2–11.1%). More variation was observed for the proportion of the β-1,6-galactopyranosyl residues (9.4–13.0%) and β-1,3,6-galactopyranosyl residues (76.0–80.1%). The ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (D₂O, 85°C, 300 MHz) were comparable, and gel permeation analysis consistently yielded a narrow peak with an apparent molecular weight between 5.0 × 10⁴ and 10.0 × 10⁴. Interpretation of the results was facilitated by α-L-arabinofuranosidase debranching of WE-AGP. For flour samples of 18 wheat cultivars (10 from 1994 harvest, eight from 1996 harvest), the variation in percentage of water-extractable arabinoxylan (WE-AX) (0.31–0.78% of dry matter) was much larger than the variation in percentage of water-extractable arabinogalactan (WE-AG) (0.24–0.33%). The ratio of WE-AX to WE-AG for flour samples of different wheat cultivars varied between 1.00 and 2.44.     

Granule Size Distribution and Chemical Composition of Starches from 12 Soft Wheat Cultivars

Granule size distribution of wheat starch is an important characteristic that can influence its chemical composition, which in turn may affect its functionality. The granule size distribution and chemical composition of soft wheat starches were characterized and compared and relationships among those properties were identified. Thirty-four starch samples from 12 soft wheat cultivars grown in the eastern half of the United States were examined. Granule size distribution was characterized using a laser light-scattering technique. Amylose and phospholipid contents were determined using colorimetric procedures. A clear trimodal distribution of granule sizes was shown by 26 out of 34 starch samples: small granules with diameters <2.8 μm, midsize granules with diameters of 2.8–9.9 μm, and large granules with diameters >9.9 μm. Volume% distribution of granules within the three size classes had ranges of 9.7–15.2% (small), 13.4–27.9% (medium), and 57.9–76.9% (large). Highly significant differences were seen among the cultivars for volume% of granules within the ranges of 9.9–18.5 μm and 18.5–42.8 μm. Cultivar specific surface area means also differed. The environment affected granule size distribution, with some cultivars exhibiting more variation than others. Pioneer 2555 was the least variable, whereas Pioneer 2550 and Geneva were the most variable cultivars. Mean total amylose (TAM), apparent amylose (AAM), and lysophospholipid (LPL) values varied significantly among cultivars. TAM was positively correlated with the volume% of granules of 9.9–18.5 μm. LPL was negatively correlated with mean starch granule diameter and positively correlated with specific surface area of granules, indicating smaller granules tended to have higher lipid contents. Results suggest that significant differences exist in granule size distribution of soft wheat starches and affect starch chemical composition. Data also suggest it is possible that lipid is preferentially associated with the biosynthesis of small starch granules.     

Correlation of Quality Parameters with the Baking Performance of Wheat Flours

The baking performance of a set of flours from 13 wheat cultivars was determined by means of two different microscale baking tests (10 g of flour each). In the micro‐rapid‐mix test the dough was mixed for a fixed time at a high speed, whereas the microbaking test used mixing to optimum dough consistency in a microfarinograph. Quality parameters such as sedimentation value, crude protein content, dough and gluten extension data, and microfarinograph data were also determined. Finally, quality‐related protein fractions (gliadins, glutenins, SDS‐soluble proteins, and glutenin macropolymer) were quantitated by extraction/HPLC methods with reversed‐phase and gel‐permeation columns. All quality parameters were correlated with the bread volumes of both baking tests. The results demonstrated that the microbaking test (adapted mixing time) was much more closely related to the quality parameters than the micro‐rapid‐mix test (fixed mixing time), which hardly showed any correlation. Among the standard quality parameters, only the crude protein content showed a medium correlation with the bread volume of the microbaking test (r = 0.71), whereas the contents of gliadins (r = 0.80), glutenins (r = 0.76), and glutenin macropolymer (r = 0.80) appeared to be suitable parameters to predict the baking performance of wheat flour. All other quality parameters were not or were only weakly correlated and unsuitable for predicting baking performance.     

Dough and Baking Properties of High‐Amylose and Waxy Wheat Flours

The dough properties and baking qualities of a novel high‐amylose wheat flour (HAWF) and a waxy wheat flour (WWF) (both Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated by comparing them with common wheat flours. HAWF and WWF had more dietary fiber than Chinese Spring flour (CSF), a nonwaxy wheat flour. Also, HAWF contained larger amounts of lipids and proteins than WWF and CSF. There were significant differences in the amylose and amylopectin contents among all samples tested. Farinograph data showed water absorptions of HAWF and WWF were significantly higher than that of CSF, and both flours showed poorer flour qualities than CSF. The dough of WWF was weaker and less stable than that of CSF, whereas HAWF produced a harder and more viscous dough than CSF. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed that starch in HAWF dough gelatinized at a lower temperature in the baking process than the starches in doughs of WWF and CSF. The starch in a WWF suspension had a larger enthalpy of gelatinization than those in HAWF and CSF suspensions. Amylograph data showed that the WWF starch gelatinized faster and had a higher viscosity than that in CSF. The loaves made from WWF and CSF were significantly larger than the loaves made from HAWF. However, the appearance of bread baked with WWF and HAWF was inferior to the appearance of bread baked with CSF. Bread made with WWF became softer than the bread made with CSF after storage, and reheating was more effective in refreshing WWF bread than CSF bread. Moreover, clear differences in dough and bread samples were revealed by scanning electron microscopy. These differences might have some effect on dough and baking qualities.     

Effect of Exogenous Lipase on Dough Lipids During Mixing of Wheat Flours

In control dough, endogenous wheat lipase was inactive, because the triacylglycerol (TAG), 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG_1,2), and 1,3-diacylglycerol (DAG_1,3) fractions of nonpolar lipids were not affected by mixing. Conversely, the free fatty acid (FFA) and monoacylglycerol (MAG) fractions decreased, mainly due to the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) catalyzed by wheat lipoxygenase. Addition of exogenous lipase to flour (15 lipase units [LU] per gram of dry matter) resulted in substantial modification of nonpolar lipids during dough mixing. Due to the 1,3 specificity of the lipase used in this experiment, the TAG and DAG_1,3 fractions decreased, whereas the MAG and FFA fractions increased. The DAG_1,2 fraction increased at the beginning of mixing and decreased after 40 min of mixing. Moreover, part of the PUFA released by lipase activity was oxidized by wheat lipoxygenase, resulting in major losses of PUFA. Conversely, the net content of the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SMUFA) remained constant, because the free SMUFA content increased primarily at the expense of the esterified forms. For a constant mixing time of 20 min, increasing the amount of lipase added to dough (from 2.5 to 25 LU/g of dry matter) resulted in a linear decrease in the TAG fraction and a linear increase in the SMUFA content in the FFA fraction. At the same time, the PUFA content of the FFA fraction increased only for additions of lipase to flour of >5 LU/g of dry matter, due to partial oxidation by wheat lipoxygenase.     

Comparison of Asian Noodles from Some Hard White and Hard Red Wheat Flours

Asian noodles were prepared by an objective laboratory method that included adding optimum water to the dry ingredients, mixing the ingredients to homogeneous salt distribution, and sheeting of the dough under low shear stress. The lightness (L*) values of alkaline‐ and salt‐noodle doughs made from 65% extraction hard white wheat flours (except KS96HW115 flour at ≈70% extraction) were higher than those from 60% extraction hard red wheat flours (except Karl 92 flour at ≈70% extraction). A hard white spring wheat, ID377s, and a Kansas line of hard white winter wheat, KS96HW115, to be released in 2000, gave the highest L* values for dough sheets stored for 2 and 24 hr at 25°C. Cooking losses were 5–9 percentage points higher for alkaline noodles than salt noodles, but the cooking yields of the two types of Asian noodles were almost the same. Cooked alkaline noodles made from a high‐swelling flour (SP₉₃≈21 g/g) gave higher tensile strength than those made from several low‐swelling flours (SP₉₃ ≈15 g/g) with the same protein contents (≈12.5%). However, the cooked salt noodles gave the same tensile strength.     

Influence of Added Starch on Mixing of Dough Made with Three Wheat Flours Differing in High Molecular Weight Subunit Composition: Rheological Behavior

The effect of mixing time (6 and 20 min) and starch content were studied on doughs prepared with three wheat flours differing in high molecular weight subunit composition. Rheological measurements were performed in dynamic oscillation: frequency and strain sweeps, stress relaxation, and in large deformation viscosity measurements. The flours were diluted with starch to cover flour protein contents of 10–15%. Water was added to keep the starch‐water ratio constant when doughs were prepared with different protein contents. By increasing the starch content of the doughs, the rheological properties approached those of a starch‐water mixture prepared with the same starch‐water ratio as in the dough. The effect of the starch granules was reinforced by prolonged mixing. This may explain the higher values of the storage modulus and relaxation times observed after 20 min of mixing. Qualities related to gluten properties, appeared more clearly in large deformation viscosity measurements.     

Influence of Bran Particle Size on Bread‐Baking Quality of Whole Grain Wheat Flour and Starch Retrogradation

The influence of bran particle size on bread‐baking quality of whole grain wheat flour (WWF) and starch retrogradation was studied. Higher water absorption of dough prepared from WWF with added gluten to attain 18% protein was observed for WWFs of fine bran than those of coarse bran, whereas no significant difference in dough mixing time was detected for WWFs of varying bran particle size. The effects of bran particle size on loaf volume of WWF bread and crumb firmness during storage were more evident in hard white wheat than in hard red wheat. A greater degree of starch retrogradation in bread crumb stored for seven days at 4°C was observed in WWFs of fine bran than those of coarse bran. The gels prepared from starch–fine bran blends were harder than those prepared from starch–unground bran blends when stored for one and seven days at 4°C. Furthermore, a greater degree of starch retrogradation was observed in gelatinized starch containing fine bran than that containing unground bran after storage for seven days at 4°C. It is probable that finely ground bran takes away more water from gelatinized starch than coarsely ground bran, increasing the extent of starch retrogradation in bread and gels during storage.     

Distribution of Protein Composition in Bread Wheat Flour Mill Streams and Relationship to Breadmaking Quality

Wheat protein quantity and composition are important parameters for wheat baking quality. The objective of this study was to use fractionation techniques to separate the proteins of flour mill streams into various protein fractions, to examine the distribution of these protein fractions, and to establish a relationship between protein composition and breadmaking quality. Nine break streams, nine reduction streams, and three patent flours obtained from three samples of Nekota (a hard red winter wheat) were used in this study. A solution of 0.3M NaI + 7.5% 1-propanol was used to separate flour protein into monomeric and polymeric proteins. The protein fractions, including gliadin, albumin+globulin, HMW-GS, and LMW-GS, were precipitated with 0.1M NH₄Ac-MeOH or acetone. The fractions were statistically analyzed for their distribution in the mill streams. The quantities of total flour protein and protein fractions in flour were significantly different among mill streams. The ratio of polymeric to monomeric proteins in break streams was significantly greater than in the reduction streams. The relationship between protein composition and breadmaking quality showed that the quantities of total flour protein, albumin+ globulin, HMW-GS, and LMW-GS in flour were significantly and positively correlated with loaf volume. The ratio of HMW-GS to LMW-GS had little association with loaf volume. The gliadin content in total flour protein was negatively and significantly correlated with loaf volume. These results indicated that the quantity and composition of protein among the mill streams was different, and this resulted in differences in breadmaking quality.     

Relationships of Free Lipids with Quality Factors in Hard Winter Wheat Flours

Hard winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flours (n = 72) were analyzed for free lipids (FL) and their relationships with quality parameters. The two main glycolipid (GL) classes showed contrary simple linear correlations (r) with quality parameters. Specifically, kernel hardness parameters, flour yields, and water absorptions had significant negative correlations with monogalactosyldiglycerides (MGDG) but positive correlations with digalactosyldiglycerides (DGDG). MGDG showed negative correlations with gluten content but positive correlations with gluten index. The percentages of DGDG in FL had significant positive correlations among cultivars (n = 12) with mixograph and bake mix times (r = 0.71, P < 0.01 and r = 0.67, P < 0.05, respectively), mixing tolerance (r = 0.67, P < 0.05), and bread crumb grain score (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). These results suggest that increasing DGDG in FL could contribute to enhancing wheat quality attributes including milling, dough mixing, and breadmaking quality characteristics. FL content and composition (ratio of MGDG or DGDG to GL) supplement flour protein content to develop prediction equations of mixograph mix time (R² = 0.89), bake mix time (R² = 0.76), and loaf volume (R² = 0.72).     

Extrusion Expansion Characteristics of Samples of Select Varieties of Whole Yellow and Green Dry Pea Flours

Extrusion expansion characteristics of commercially available whole flours from three green pea varieties (Ariel, Aragorn, and Daytona) and three yellow pea varieties (Carousel, Treasure, and Jetset) were investigated with a corotating twin‐screw extruder. Feed moisture content was kept constant at 15 ± 0.5% (wb). Two barrel temperature levels of 140 and 160°C and three screw speed levels of 150, 200, and 250 rpm were studied. A round die with an opening of 3 mm was used. The radial expansion ratio (ER) of whole pea extrudates was 2.75–3.34. It was shown that the varieties had a significant impact on the expansion properties. Daytona green pea had a significantly greater ER compared with all other varieties (P < 0.05) within the conditions studied. ER was also found to have a positive linear correlation with screw speed. The microstructure of extrudate cross‐sections showed that the samples with greater expansion had more uniform and relatively small pore structure. The results show the importance of using the specific varieties of peas for optimum expansion during extrusion.