Exploring a maize-derived dietary fiber-phenolic acid complex with prebiotic effects

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Agricultural Chemistry

Background:

• Dietary fibers and phenolic compounds are crucial for human health.
• Maize cell wall dietary fiber-phenolic acid complexes (CWDFPCs) represent a potential source of bioactive compounds.
• Understanding the structural and functional properties of these complexes is essential for their application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural, functional, and prebiotic properties of three maize-derived cell wall dietary fiber-phenolic acid complexes (CWDFPC1, CWDFPC2, and CWDFPC3).
• To compare the phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activities, water holding capacities, and in vitro fermentation outcomes of the different CWDFPCs.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of proximate composition and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns.
• Quantification of bound phenolic compounds (BPC) and assessment of in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays).
• Evaluation of water holding capacity, nitrite ion adsorption capacity, bile adsorption capacity, and cation-exchange capacity.
• In vitro fecal fermentation for 48 hours to measure short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

Main Results:

• All CWDFPCs exhibited similar proximate composition and XRD patterns (Type I).
• Significant variations were observed in phenolic compound profiles, with CWDFPC2 having the highest BPC content (15.41 mg GAE/g) and superior antioxidant activity.
• CWDFPC1 and CWDFPC3 showed higher water holding capacities than CWDFPC2, while nitrite ion adsorption, bile adsorption, and cation-exchange capacities were similar across all three.
• CWDFPC2 produced a greater amount of SCFAs (46.33 mM) after in vitro fermentation compared to CWDFPC1 (40.26 mM) and CWDFPC3 (44.20 mM).

Conclusions:

• Maize-derived CWDFPCs possess distinct structural and functional characteristics influenced by their phenolic compound profiles.
• CWDFPC2 stands out for its higher bound phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and prebiotic potential, indicated by increased SCFA production.
• These findings highlight the potential of specific CWDFPCs as functional ingredients with varied health benefits.