Food and Feed Research (Jan 2023)
Nutritional composition and bioactive properties of the wholegrain flour obtained from maize inbred lines
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the chemical composition and bioactive properties of the wholegrain flour obtained from eleven maize inbred lines to identify genotypes with increased potential for the development of hybrids with high nutritional and functional value, suitable for food production. The maize inbreds, including seven standard yellow, two QPM (quality protein maize) and two lines for red kernel hybrids, were grown in the experimental field of the Maize Research Institute at the location of Zemun Polje, Serbia. Wholegrain maize flour was got by grinding the maize grain in a laboratory mill. The assessment of the chemical composition and content of certain bioactive compounds, as well as the total antioxidant capacity, was conducted using standard laboratory procedures. The highest starch content (73.73%) was determined in line L8, while line L10 had the highest protein content (12.82%). Among soluble proteins, the a-zein fraction was dominant in most of the lines, ranging from 0.92% to 3.57%. The highest content of total fibres (NDF) was determined in red kernel line L9 (15.77%). Line L8 was the richest in total carotenoids (21.08 mg bCE/g d.m.), while line L7 had the highest total antioxidant capacity (34.30 mmol Trolox/kg d.m.), which can be explained by the presence of anthocyanins in the red grain. Line L1 had the highest content of total sugars (3.36%), and line L4 had the lowest (1.44%). Most of the samples of inbred lines investigated in this study showed good quality parameters regarding chemical composition and bioactive properties. The obtained results may provide some valuable guidelines needed in the following stages of maize breeding and open up various possibilities for the utilization of wholegrain maize flour in the food industry.
