Sugars and uronic acids in Irish solids

The amounts of neutral sugar and uronic acid released with 1N H₂SO₄ and the total neutral sugar in soil have been measured for the top 10 cm of 38 Irish grassland soils. The three carbohydrate fractions were highly correlated with carbon, correlations being greatest within similar soil classes. Total sugar would account for 23.7%, neutral sugar released with 1N H₂SO₄ for 11.2%, and uronic acid for 1.25% of the carbon in the “average” Irish soil (5.30% carbon).Hydrolysis of soil with 1N H₂SO₄ released about three-quarters of the hemicellulose components. Whereas this fraction showed minor variations between soil classes when examined by gas-liquid and paper chromatography, total sugar and uronic acid fractions showed no observable variation.The presence in soil of xylan incorporating (1 → 4)-linked β — D-xylopyranose residues has been demonstrated.     

Quantification of polyphenolics and their antioxidant capacity in fresh plums

Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of 11 cultivars of fresh plums were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Identification and quantification of individual polyphenolics were performed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector. The total phenolic contents of various cultivars widely varied from 125.0 to 372.6 mg/100 g expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The level of total flavonoids in fresh plums ranged between 64.8 and 257.5 mg/100 g expressed as catechin equivalents. Antioxidant capacity, expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), ranged from 204.9 to 567.0 mg/100 g with an average of 290.9 mg/100 g of fresh weight. Cv. Beltsville Elite B70197 showed the highest amounts of total phenolics and total flavonoids and the highest VCEAC. A positive relationship (correlation coefficient r (2)() = 0.977) was presented between total phenolics and VCEAC, suggesting polyphenolics would play an important role in free radical scavenging. The level of IC(50) value of superoxide radical anion scavenging activity of the plum cultivars ranged from 13.4 to 45.7 mg of VCEAC/100 g. Neochlorogenic acid was the predominant polyphenolic among fresh plums tested. Flavonols found in plum were commonly quercetin derivatives. Rutin was the most predominant flavonol in plums. Various anthocyanins containing cyanidin aglycon and peonidin aglycon were commonly found in all plums except for cv. Mirabellier and NY 101.     

茶多糖对面包粉及其淀粉糊化和老化特性的影响

为探索茶多糖作为添加剂在面包制品中应用的可行性,该文利用差示扫描量热法(DSC)、X-衍射分析了1%～5%茶多糖的添加对面包粉及其淀粉糊化、老化的影响,结果表明:随茶多糖浓度的增加,面包粉及其淀粉糊化的吸热焓(ΔH1)、峰温不断增加。面包粉及其淀粉胶在4℃下贮藏20d的老化过程中,随贮藏时间的延长,吸热焓、老化速率不断增加;随茶多糖浓度的增加,老化热焓(ΔH2)、老化速率、结晶速率不断减少,但玻璃化温度随茶多糖浓度的增加而不断提高。综合结果表明,面包粉添加1%～2%的茶多糖而面包淀粉添加2%～3%的茶多糖,具有明显抑制样品的老化热焓、老化速率和结晶速率的作用。     

Distribution of phenolic acids in different tissues of jujube and their antioxidant activity

Free, esterified, glycosided, and insoluble-bound forms of eight phenolic acids in pulp, seed, and peel of jujube are separated and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). In the whole jujube, p-hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids are the most abundant phenolic acids. All quantified phenolic acids are mainly present in jujube peel. Phenolic acids in seed and peel are present in the insoluble-bound form, while, in pulp in the glycosided form, the glycosided and insoluble-bound phenolic acid fractions in jujube pulp represent the highest total phenolic content and the strongest antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and FRAP assays. Our results show that most phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in different tissues of jujube are present as the glycosided and insoluble-bound forms.     

Effects of phenolic acids on human phenolsulfotransferases in relation to their antioxidant activity

Sulfate conjugation by phenolsulfotransferase (PST) enzyme is an important process in the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. There are two forms of PST that are specific for the sulfation of small phenols (PST-P) and monoamines (PST-M). Phenoilc acids have been reported to have important biological and pharmacological properties and may have benefits to human health. In the present study, human platelets were used as a model to investigate the influence of 13 phenolic acids on human PST activity and to evaluate the relationship to their antioxidant activity. The results showed that chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, sinapic acid, and caffeic acid significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the activities of both forms of PST by 21-30% at a concentration of 6.7 microM. The activity of PST-P was enhanced (p < 0.05) by p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid, and m-coumaric acid at a concentration of 6.7 microM, whereas the activity of PST-M was enhanced by gentisic acid, gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid. The phenolic acids exhibited antioxidant activity as determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay, especially gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, and coumaric acid, which had strong activity. The overall effect of phenolic acids tested on the activity of PST-P and PST-M was well correlated to their antioxidant activity of ORAC value (r = 0.71, p < 0.01; and r = 0.66, p < 0.01). These observations suggest that antioxidant phenolic acids might alter sulfate conjugation.     

Preventive effect of sialylglycopeptide-nondigestive polysaccharide conjugates on salmonella infection

We have previously reported that sialylglycopeptide (SGP) and its derivatives isolated from egg yolk had a preventive effect on Salmonella infection in vivo; however, their retention time in the gut was rather short. To improve on this, SGP was conjugated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or carboxymethyl dextran (CMD). The conjugates inhibited the binding of Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli to Caco-2 cells. Infection experiments with mice revealed that the SGP-CMD conjugate (SGP-CMD) had a strong protective effect against Salmonella infection. A turnover experiment in mice administered with radiolabeled SGP-CMD showed that SGP-CMD was more slowly absorbed into the blood and thus remained longer in the intestinal tract than SGP. SGP-CMD itself did not influence the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta, or nitrite ion (NO(2)(-)) by macrophages, although it suppressed that of TNF-alpha and NO(2)(-) in zymosan-treated macrophages, suggesting no causative effects of inflammation in SGP-CMD. SGP-CMD is potentially useful as a food ingredient with a preventive effect on Salmonella infection.     

Beta-lactoglobulin-dextran conjugates: effect of polysaccharide size on emulsion stability

A series of dextrans and beta-lactoglobulin were covalently conjugated and screened for their ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. Dextrans with the molecular mass of 19.6 kDa, 87 kDa, 150 kDa, 500 kDa, and 2000 kDa were attached to beta-lactoglobulin via the Maillard reaction. The conjugates were then purified and evaluated as emulsifiers under neutral conditions. The ability to stabilize emulsions was determined by monitoring oil droplet size over time. Adsorption of the conjugates to the droplet surface was characterized by determining the protein surface load. The results show that increasing polysaccharide size increases emulsion stability up to 150 kDa before leveling off. Conversely, surface protein density remains constant until 150 kDa before decreasing with polysaccharide size. A model is presented to interpret the results.     

Comparison of Swiss red wheat grain and fractions for their antioxidant properties

Swiss red wheat grain, bran, aleurone, and micronized aleurone were examined and compared for their free radical scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*), radical cation ABTS*+ and peroxide radical anion O(2)*-, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), chelating capacity, total phenolic content (TPC), and phenolic acid composition. The results showed that micronized aleurone, aleurone, bran, and grain may significantly differ in their antioxidant properties, TPC, and phenolic acid composition. Micronized aleurone had the greatest antioxidant activities, TPC, and concentrations of all identified phenolic acids, suggesting the potential of postharvesting treatment on antioxidant activities and availability of TPC and phenolic acids. Ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in Swiss red wheat and accounted for approximately 57-77% of total phenolic acids on a weight basis. Ferulic acid concentration was well correlated with scavenging activities against radical cation and superoxide anion, TPC, and other phenolic acid concentrations, suggesting the potential use of ferulic acid as a marker of wheat antioxidants. In addition, 50% acetone and ethanol were compared for their effects on wheat ORAC values. The ORAC value of 50% acetone extracts was 3-20-fold greater than that of the ethanol extracts, indicating that 50% acetone may be a better solvent system for monitoring antioxidant properties of wheat. These data suggest the possibility to improve the antioxidant release from wheat-based food ingredients through postharvesting treatment or processing.     

Determination of tea components with antioxidant activity

Levels of essential elements with antioxidant activity, as well as catechins, gallic acid, and caffeine levels, in a total of 45 samples of different teas commercialized in Spain have been evaluated. Chromium, manganese, selenium, and zinc were determined in the samples mineralized with HNO(3) and V(2)O(5), using ETAAS as the analytical technique. The reliability of the procedure was checked by analysis of a certified reference material. Large variations in the trace element composition of teas were observed. The levels ranged from 50.6 to 371.4 ng/g for Cr, from 76.1 to 987.6 microg/g for Mn, from 48.5 to 114.6 ng/g for Se, and from 56.3 to 78.6 ng/g for Zn. The four major catechins [(-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (-)-epicatechin (EC)], gallic acid (GA), and caffeine were simultaneously determined by a simple and fast HPLC method using a photodiode array detector. In all analyzed samples, EGCG ranged from 1.4 to 103.5 mg/g, EGC from 3.9 to 45.3 mg/g, ECG from 0.2 to 45.6 mg/g, and EC ranged from 0.6 to 21.2 mg/g. These results indicated that green tea has a higher content of catechins than both oolong and fermented teas (red and black teas); the fermentation process during tea manufacturing reduces the levels of catechins significantly. Gallic acid content ranged from 0.039 to 6.7 mg/g; the fermentation process also elevated remarkably gallic acid levels in black teas (mean level of 3.9 +/- 1.5 mg/g). The amount of caffeine in the analyzed samples ranged from 7.5 to 86.6 mg/g, and the lower values were detected in green and oolong teas. This study will be useful for the appraisal of trace elements and antioxidant components in various teas, and it will also be of interest for people who like drinking this beverage.     

Interaction of antioxidant biobased epicatechin conjugates with biomembrane models

(-)-Epicatechin conjugates with sulfur-containing moieties are strong free radical scavengers with cell-protecting activities, which may be in part modulated by their capacity to bind to biological membranes. We present here a study of the interaction of these conjugates with membrane models such as multilamellar vesicles and a phospholipid-coated silica column (immobilized artificial membrane), monitored by differential scanning calorimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The nonpolyphenolic moiety significantly influenced the membrane behavior of the whole molecules. Bulky and hydrophobic conjugates clearly interacted with the phospholipids and may have a tendency to penetrate into the hydrophobic core of the vesicles. In contrast, the smaller cationic 4beta-(2-aminoethylthio)epicatechin may be located at the outer interface of the lipid membrane. The outcomes from both experimental set-ups were in good agreement. The differences detected in the biological activities of the conjugates may be explained in part by their tendency to penetrate the cell membrane.     

Compositional analysis and preliminary toxicological evaluation of a tea polysaccharide conjugate

Tea polysaccharide conjugate is one of the main bioactive constituents of tea (Camellia sinensis L.). The chemical composition and preliminary toxicological evaluation of a tea polysaccharide conjugate was investigated to determine the possibility of using it for human consumption. Chemical analysis of tea polysaccharide conjugate showed that the tea polysaccharide conjugate was a nonstarch protein bounded acidic polysaccharide. The protein, neutral sugar, and uronic acid content of the tea polysaccharide conjugate was 3.5%, 44.2%, and 43.1%, respectively. The contents of iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium in the tea and its polysaccharide conjugate were measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results showed that the contents of four elements in tea polysaccharide conjugate were much higher than that of tea power. Especially, the content of iron in tea polysaccharide conjugate was increased 5.9 times. The tea polysaccharide conjugate, when fed to mice, was found to have no toxicity to the liver, kidney, heart, thymus, or spleen of the mice and none of the mice died throughout the period of the experiment. There was no significant difference between the thymus index, spleen index, and liver index of the mice from the test and control groups (P>0.05). On the basis of the study, the tea polysaccharide conjugate may be classified either as a very low toxicity substance, that is, GHS Category 5 (globally harmonized system), or as unclassified when orally administrated to mice. It might be a candidate of dietary supplements besides the bioactivities as a polysaccharide.     

Characterization and functional properties of lactosyl caseinomacropeptide conjugates

Ovine caseinomacropeptide (CMP) was modified with lactose through Maillard reaction under 44% relative humidity and 40 degrees C for various periods (0-11 days). Different lactosylated CMP forms were separated by capillary electrophoresis and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and identified by RP-HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Around 55-60% of CMP was lactosylated under the conditions assayed, with the monolactosylated form being the most abundant one, followed by the di-, tri-, and tetralactosylated species. During the first days of incubation amino acid analyses showed a decrease in lysine and NH(2)-terminal methionine, which coincided with an increase in the furosine content. However, from the ninth day of incubation, further degradation of Amadori compounds prevailed over their formation. Solubility, heat stability, and emulsifying capacity of the native and modified CMP were investigated. Lactosylation improved the emulsifying activity, but it did not modify the great solubility and heat stability of native CMP.     

Evaluation of the antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of tea catechin oxypolymers

Tea catechin oxypolymers (TCOP) were prepared by oxidizing tea catechin (TC, the content of EGCG was >85%) with H2O2. Their antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects were tested using a deoxyribose assay, a photoreduction of NBT assay, a lipoxygenase assay, a POV assay, and animal tests. The scavenging effects of TCOP to both the hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical were stronger than that of TC, and also they had no pro-oxidant effect; the rate constant for reactions of TC and TCOP for hydroxyl radical were 1.0 x 10(10) and (1.4-2.8) x 10(10) M(-1) x S(-1), respectively. TCOP can inhibit lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase effectively, and it also can activate red cell SOD and reduce the MDA content in serum of mice very significantly. These results suggested that the antioxidant activity of TCOP was not less than or even more notable than that of TC.     

Optimization of the extraction of antioxidative constituents of six barley cultivars and their antioxidant properties

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to predict the optimum conditions of extraction of barley samples (organic solvent percent in the extraction medium, temperature, and time). Antioxidant capacity in the barley meals was highest under optimum extraction conditions of 80.2% methanol and 60.5 degrees C for 38.36 min as predicted by RSM. Phenolic antioxidative compounds of six barley cultivars, namely, Falcon, AC Metcalfe, Tercel, Tyto, Phoenix, and Peregrine, were extracted under the conditions obtained by RSM after defatting with hexane, and subsequently the extracts were assessed for their antioxidant and antiradical activities and metal chelation efficacy. The potential of barley extracts in inhibiting peroxyl and hydroxyl radical induced supercoiled DNA double-strand scission was also studied. Total phenolic content as measured according to Folin-Ciocalteu's method ranged from 13.58 to 22.93 mg of ferulic acid equiv/g of defatted material, with the highest content in Peregrine. Total antioxidant activity as measured by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity ranged from 3.74 to 6.82 micromol/g of defatted material. Metal chelation capacity of the extracts as measured by 2,2'-bipyridyl competition assay varied from 1.1 to 2.1 micromol of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid equiv/g of defatted material. IC(50) values for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical as measured by electron paramagnetic resonance ranged from 1.51 to 3.33 mg/mL, whereas the corresponding values for hydroxyl radical ranged between 2.20 and 9.65 mg/mL. Inhibition of peroxyl radical induced supercoiled DNA scission ranged from 78.2 to 92.1% at the concentration of 4 mg/mL of extracts, whereas the corresponding values for hydroxyl radical induced DNA scission ranged from 53.1 to 65.3%.     

绿茶多酚提高壳聚糖包装膜的抗氧化性能

为了开发新型的抗氧化活性包装材料,该文以壳聚糖/绿茶多酚构成的复合膜为研究对象,比较分析了甘油和聚乙二醇对壳聚糖膜物理、机械、抗氧化和结构特性的影响。结果表明：未加入绿茶多酚前,壳聚糖甘油膜有着较低的水蒸汽透过系数和膨胀程度,其水蒸汽透过系数为8.84×10-11g/(m·s·Pa)。然而,聚乙二醇膜的抗拉强度和穿透力均高于甘油形成的膜。X射线衍射分析（XRD）表明应用质量分数40%的增塑剂导致11.7°和17.9°出现2个结晶峰,分别对应壳聚糖的水合结晶和无水结晶。加入绿茶多酚后,壳聚糖复合膜的抗氧化能力显著提高,1,1-二苯基-2-苦基肼（DPPH）自由基清除能力在5 min内达到83.9%。加入绿茶多酚显著降低了膜溶液的表观黏度,增加了膜的厚度、颜色和阻水性。从2种增塑剂的对比效果看,绿茶多酚对于甘油膜的机械性能影响较大,其断裂伸长率从42.02%急剧下降到9.19%,并且使膜的结晶结构从水合状态转变为非晶状态。但绿茶多酚对聚乙二醇膜的水蒸汽透过系数、膨胀程度和颜色影响较大。壳聚糖复合膜性能的这种差异与增塑剂中所含羟基的数量以及与绿茶多酚的配比有关。研究结果为绿茶多酚复合包装膜在实际中的应用提供了理论依据。     

茶多酚对淀粉酯纳米颗粒及其稳定的Pickering乳液性质的影响

为探究茶多酚（Tea Polyphenols, TPs）对辛烯基琥珀酸酐（Octenyl Succinic Anhydride, OSA）酯化淀粉纳米颗粒（Starch Nanoparticles,SNPs）及其稳定的Pickering乳液性质的影响,该研究在制备OSA-SNPs的过程中添加TPs,研究TPs对OSA-SNPs的理化性质和乳化性能的影响。结果发现,添加TPs使OSA-SNPs的平均粒径增加、表面Zeta电位绝对值下降、接触角减小（P<0.05）。通过傅立叶红外光谱扫描发现,TPs与OSA-SNPs之间存在氢键和疏水相互作用。在TP-OSA-SNPs稳定的乳液中,增加TP-OSA-SNPs的质量浓度（从0.5 g/mL至2.0 g/mL）,乳滴平均直径明显减小（P<0.05）;当TP-OSA-SNPs的质量浓度增加至2 g/mL时,乳液形成了油滴紧密堆积的界面结构,能够抑制油滴迁移。通过加速氧化试验发现,与OSA-SNPs相比,TP-OSA-SNPs稳定的乳液中氢过氧化物值（Peroxide Value, POV）相对较低（P<0.05）,说明TP-OSA-SNPs具有延缓乳液中油脂氧化的作用。结果表明,这种新型具有抗氧化功能的食品级颗粒乳化剂,对构筑淀粉基Pickering乳液载体具有潜在价值。     

Emulsifying properties of bovine serum albumin-galactomannan conjugates

Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-galactomannan conjugates were prepared through the Maillard reaction. To 1 mol of BSA was bound 2.5-7 mol of galactomannan. Conjugates could be grouped into two fractions, on the basis of the weight-average molar mass measured with a multiangle laser light-scattering detector, the main one with 220 000-250 000 Da and the other one with a very small amount of aggregates over 1 000 000 Da. Spectroscopic analysis suggested that the surface of the conjugate was covered with galactomannan and the conformation of the hydrophobic interior and the secondary structure were not significantly changed. The emulsifying activity index of the conjugates increased greatly as compared with that of BSA alone. All conjugates showed better stability than BSA, presumably due to the physical protection introduced by the viscoelastic galactomannan layer. The average particle sizes of the emulsions were similar. The interfacial properties of the BSA-galactomannan conjugates were improved, possibly due to the reduced hydrophobic interaction between the droplets and the viscoelastic interfacial properties of galactomannan.     

Quantification of fatty acids in forages by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was evaluated as a possible alternative to gas chromatography (GC) for the quantitative analysis of fatty acids in forages. Herbage samples from 11 greenhouse-grown forage species (grasses, legumes, and forbs) were collected at three stages of growth. Samples were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed by GC and NIRS techniques. Half of the 195 samples were used to develop an NIRS calibration file for each of eight fatty acids, with the remaining half used as a validation data set. Spectral data, collected over a wavelength range of 1100-2498 nm, were regressed against GC data to develop calibration equations for lauric (C12:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2), and alpha-linolenic (C18:3) acids. Calibration equations had high coefficients of determination for calibration (0.93-0.99) and cross-validation (0.89-0.98), and standard errors of calibration and cross-validation were < 20% of the respective means. Simple linear regressions of NIRS results against GC data for the validation data set had r2 values ranging from 0.86 to 0.97. Regression slopes for C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C16:1, C18:2, and C18:3 were not significantly different (P = 0.05) from 1.0. The regression slope for C18:1 was 1.1. The ratio of standard error of prediction to standard deviation was > 3.0 for all fatty acids except C12:0 (2.6) and C14:0 (2.9). Validation statistics indicate that NIRS has high prediction ability for fatty acids in forages. Calibration equations developed using data for all plant materials accurately predicted concentrations of C16:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in individual plant species. Accuracy of prediction was less, but acceptable, for fatty acids (C12:0, C14:0, C18:0, C16:1, and C18:1) that were less prevalent.     

Effect of molecular structure of phenolic families as hydroxycinnamic acids and catechins on their antioxidant effectiveness in minced fish muscle

The antioxidant effectiveness of two different families of phenolic compounds, hydroxycinnamic acids and catechins, added as a power (0.001% w/w) to chilled minced horse mackerel muscle was evaluated. Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, o-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were selected as hydroxycinnamic acids with similar molecular structures. Commercial catechins with different numbers of hydroxylic groups, including catechin, gallocatechin, catechin gallate, and gallocatechin gallate, were also tested. The effectiveness found was individually discussed for each family as a function of the molecular structure. The capacity of hydroxycinnamic acids for donating electrons seems to play the most significant role for retarding the development of rancidity in fish muscle. Conversely, the properties related to the ability for chelating metals and the distribution between oily and aqueous phases were not correlated with the inhibitory activities. Among hydroxycinnamic acids, the results highlighted the potent antioxidant activity of 10 ppm caffeic acid in inhibiting lipid oxidation in fish muscle. Its antioxidant efficacy was similar to that of propyl gallate. Among catechins, catechin showed the highest antioxidant activity. There was an increment of efficacy in fish muscle using concentrations ranging between 10 and 100 ppm of both caffeic acid and catechin.     

Phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in wheat bran

Bran samples of seven wheat varieties from four different countries were examined and compared for their phytochemical compositions and antioxidant activities. Phenolic acid composition, tocopherol content, carotenoid profile, and total phenolic content were examined for the phytochemical composition of wheat bran, whereas the measured antioxidant activities were free radical scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, radical cation 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, peroxide radical anion O(2)(.-), and oxygen radical and chelating capacities. The results showed that the tested wheat bran samples differed in their phytochemical compositions and antioxidant properties. Ferulic acid, with a concentration range of 99-231 microg/g, was the predominant phenolic acid in all of the tested bran samples and accounted for about 46-67% of total phenolic acids on a weight basis. The concentrations for alpha-, delta-, and gamma- tocopherols were 1.28-21.29, 0.23-7.0, and 0.92-6.90 microg/g, respectively. In addition, lutein and cryptoxanthin were detected in all of the tested bran samples with levels of 0.50-1.80 and 0.18-0.64 microg/g, respectively. Zeaxanthin was detected in the six bran samples, and the greatest zeaxanthin concentration of 2.19 microg/g was observed in the Australian general purpose wheat bran. Beta-carotene was detected in four of the tested bran samples at a range of 0.09-0.40 microg/g. These data suggest that wheat and wheat bran from different countries may differ in their potentials for serving as dietary sources of natural antioxidants.