Affiliation:
1. Department of Food Science and Technology Federal University of Technology Minna Nigeria
2. Food Innovation Research Group, Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa
3. Africa Center of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety Federal University of Technology Minna Minna Nigeria
4. Department of Food Science and Technology Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Nigeria
5. Food Evolution Research Laboratory, Bunting Campus, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics University of Johannesburg Johannesburg South Africa
6. Food Technology and Value Addition Research Program National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, Bida Nigeria
7. Food Science and Technology Programme Bowen University Iwo Nigeria
8. Division of Engineering and Food Science, School of Applied Sciences Abertay University Dundee UK
9. Department of Food Science and Technology University of Venda Thohoyandou Limpopo South Africa
Abstract
AbstractThis study investigated the impact of bioprocessing techniques (germination, solid‐state fermentation, the combination of germination, and solid‐state fermentation) on the physicochemical properties, anti‐nutritional and bioactive constituents, in vitro digestibility, and techno‐functional properties of whole wheat grains were investigated. Bioprocessed whole wheat flour (WWF) samples and the raw flour (control) were prepared using standard procedures. Proximate, anti‐nutritional, mineral and amino acid (AA) compositions, protein digestibility, antioxidant activities, starch characteristics, and techno‐functional properties were studied using standard methods. The bioprocessing methods increased (p ≤ 0.05) the protein (13.37–16.84 g/100 g), total dietary fiber, mineral constituents, resistant starch (7.19–9.87 g/100 g), slowly digestible starch, phenolic content, antioxidant activities (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity), most AAs, and protein digestibility. Also observed were decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in rapidly digestible starch, phytic acid, tannin, and trypsin inhibitor activity. The adopted bioprocessing techniques modified the thermal, functional, color, and pasting properties of the WWF and resulted in molecular interactions in some functional groups, as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, compared to the raw flour. The combination of germination and fermentation improved the physicochemical (titratable acidity = 4.93%), protein (16.84/100 g) and starch digestibility (resistant starch = 9.87%), antioxidant (FRAP = 78.90 mg/GAE/100 g), and mineral contents (calcium = 195.28 mg/100 g), modified the pasting (peak viscosity = 90.34 RVU), thermal (peak temperature = 64.82°C), and color properties of WWF with reduced anti‐nutritional factors. The combination of these processing techniques could serve as a natural and low‐cost technique for the modification of whole wheat functionality and subsequently as an improved functional ingredient during food product development.