A Novel Strategy to Produce a Soluble and Bioactive Wheat Bran Ingredient Rich in Ferulic Acid

Wheat bran (WB) is a byproduct from the milling industry that contains bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. The aim of this work was on the one hand, increasing extractability of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds (specifically ferulic acid, FA), through enzymatic hydrolysis combined with hydrothermal treatment (HT) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). On the other hand, enhancing the stability of final ingredient applying spray-drying (SPD) and microencapsulation (MEC). The use of HT increased FA, total phenolics (TP), and antioxidant capacity (AC) in WB hydrolysates, regardless the HT duration. However, the HT tested (30 min, HT30) produced a loss in anti-inflammatory activity (AIA). The combination of HT (15 min, HT15) with HHP increased AIA of the WB. SPD enhanced the TP yield in WB with no significant effect of inlet temperature (up to 140 degrees C) on phenolic profile mainly composed of trans-FA and smaller amounts of cis-FA and apigenin diglucosides. SPD caused a temperature-dependent increase in AC (160 degrees C > 140 degrees C > 130 degrees C). SPD inlet temperatures affected total solids yield (from 22 to 36%), with the highest values at 140 degrees C. The use of HHP in combination with HT resulted in >2-fold increase in total solids yield.

Automated summary

This study aimed to increase the extractability of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in wheat bran through enzymatic hydrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, and high hydrostatic pressure, and enhance the stability of the final ingredient using spray-drying and microencapsulation. The combination of hydrothermal treatment with high hydrostatic pressure improved the anti-inflammatory activity of wheat bran, while spray-drying increased total phenolics yield and antioxidant capacity.