Distribution of cereal phytochemicals and micronutrients in whole grains: A review of nutraceutical, industrial, and agricultural implications

Background and Objectives

There is mounting evidence that whole cereal grains are a source of many micronutrients and phytochemicals that confer several health benefits. This work aimed to investigate the distribution patterns and related implications of selected bioactive compounds from various cereal grains and discuss the techniques used to study their distribution.

Findings

Hand dissection and imaging techniques are the methods used to locate bioactive compounds in whole grains with high accuracy. Pearling and milling are methods of industrial importance. Phenolic compounds are concentrated in cereal bran, whereas the germ is rich in carotenoids and tocols (particularly tocopherols). Knowing the distribution pattern of compounds allows a better understanding of their bioaccessibility and associated bioactivity, as well as developing means to recover them and enhance their occurrence in the aleurone layer.

Conclusions

Gradient patterns exist in the distribution of phytochemicals and micronutrients derived from cereal grains. This knowledge can be translated into a number of purposeful and practical applications.

Significance and Novelty

This study employed a comparative approach to examine the repartition of various compounds in whole grains of assorted cereals with an emphasis on minor crops. The implications are relatable and applicable in diverse sectors to ultimately improve the well-being of cereal consumers.