Wheat Bran Dietary Fiber: Promising Source of Prebiotics with Antioxidant Potential

The potential of wheat bran (WB) addition as a prebiotic source were demonstrated using yogurt with probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis). Yogurts (with 4% WB) were significantly (P < 0.05) different in total bacterial counts (9.1 log CFU/mL), and total titratable acidity % (TTA, 1.4%) compared to controls during 28 days cold storage (4°C). Additionally, WB-total dietary fiber contents and their bound phenolic profiles were investigated as well as the antioxidant activity of WB-water extractable polysaccharides (WEP) was studied. HPLC analysis of alkaline hydrolyzed DF fractions showed that insoluble DF had higher phenolic acids (84.2%) content than soluble DF (15.8%). Also, crude-WEP showed stronger antioxidant activity compared to purified-WEP with an ORAC of 71.88 and 52.48 µmol TE/g, respectively. Here we demonstrate WB has potentials as a source of prebiotics, which may have the potentials for functional foods and nutraceutical applications.