Anti-oxidative activities of sorghum, foxtail millet and proso millet extracts

In this study, sorghum, foxtail millet and proso millet extracts were evaluated by various in vitro antioxidant assays, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power by Fe3+- Fe2+ transformation, and anti-lipid peroxidative activity by ferric thiocyanate. The sorghum extract contained high amount of phenolic compounds as well as a high level of antioxidant activity compared with foxtail millet and proso millet extracts. In addition, among the sorghum cultivar, me-susu (Sorghum dochna var. technicum, Snowden) extracts exhibited high levels of free radical scavenging activity, anti-oxidant capacity and anti-lipid peroxidative activity compared with - tocopherol. Taken together, these findings suggest that me-susu extracts can be considered good sources of natural anti-oxidants

In Vitro Fermentation of Oat Flours from Typical and High β-Glucan Oat Lines

Two publicly available oat (Avena sativa) lines, “Jim” and “Paul” (5.17 and 5.31% β-glucan, respectively), and one experimental oat line “N979” (7.70% β-glucan), were used to study the effect of β-glucan levels in oat flours during simulated in vitro digestion and fermentation with human fecal flora obtained from different individuals. The oat flours were digested by using human digestion enzymes and fermented by batch fermentation under anaerobic conditions for 24 h. The fermentation progress was monitored by measuring pH, total gas, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Significant effects of β-glucan on the formation of gas and total SCFA were observed compared to the blank without substrate (P \u3c 0.05); however, there were no differences in pH changes, total gas, and total SCFA production among oat lines (P \u3e 0.05). Acetate, propionate, and butyrate were the main SCFA produced from digested oat flours during fermentation. More propionate and less acetate were produced from digested oat flours compared to lactulose. Different human fecal floras obtained from three healthy individuals had similar patterns in the change of pH and the production of gas during fermentation. Total SCFA after 24 h of fermentation were not different, but the formation rates of total SCFA differed between individuals. In vitro fermentation of digested oat flours with β-glucan could provide favorable environmental conditions for the colon and these findings, thus, will help in developing oat-based food products with desirable health benefits