The antioxidant potential of milling fractions from breadwheat and durum

The effect of primary processing, namely milling, on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of two wheat cultivars, namely Canada Western Amber Durum (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) and Canada Western Red Spring (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied. The milling products: bran, flour, shorts and feed flour fractions were examined. In addition, semolina was an end-product of durum wheat milling. Antioxidant activity of wheat phenoliocs was evaluated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity, inhibition of photochemiluminescence, the Rancimat method, and inhibition of oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and deoxyribonucleic acid. The phenolic composition of wheat extracts was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Bran showed the highest antioxidant activity whereas the endosperm possessed the lowest in both cultivars examined. The phenolic compounds are concentrated in the outermost layers namely the bran. The consumption of wheat with bran in the form of whole grain may provide beneficial health effects. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.