Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of bioaccessible compounds from wheat fractions after gastrointestinal digestion

Wholegrain consumption is associated with several health benefits, in contrast to the consumption of refined grains. This can partly be related to the antioxidant compounds in the outer parts of the grain kernel. The bioaccessibility of these antioxidant compounds from the wholegrain matrix during gastrointestinal digestion is crucial for their absorption and bioavailability. In the current study, the bioaccessible compounds from aleurone, bran and flour were obtained from a dynamic in vitro model of the upper gastrointestinal tract. They were collected at 1 h time intervals to assess their antioxidant capacity (TEAC assay) and also their anti-inflammatory effect (TNF-α reduction in U937 macrophages stimulated with LPS). The bioaccessible compounds from aleurone had the highest antioxidant capacity and provided a prolonged anti-inflammatory effect, shown by the TNF-α reduction of a relatively late time-interval (3–4 h after start of digestion). The contribution of ferulic acid to those effects was minor due to its low bioaccessibility. Aleurone seems a promising wheat fraction for cereal products with a healthy added value.