Valorization of wheat bran arabinoxylan: A review on nutritional and materials perspectives

Abstract

Wheat bran, a principal byproduct of flour milling, stands as an abundant source of dietary fiber, yet its economic potential remains under-exploited in current forage applications. Arabinoxylan (AX), constituting the core of dietary fiber, emerges as a versatile compound with multifaceted functionalities. Its nutritional significance, coupled with its role in cereal food processing, has prompted a surge of studies focusing on the valorization of wheat bran AX. Moreover, the hydrolyzed derivative, arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS), demonstrates prebiotic and antioxidant properties, offering potential avenues to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge on the valorization of wheat bran AX in terms of the processing and nutritional properties of AX. Moreover, multiple novel applications of AX in the materials area, including biodegradable food packaging films, delivery of bioactive substances as nanoparticles, and the manufacture of food emulsifiers, are also highlighted to extend the utilization of AX. This review underscores the immense potential of wheat bran AX, advocating for its exploitation not only as a nutritional asset but also as a primary ingredient in advanced materials. The synthesis of nutritional and materials perspectives accentuates the multifaceted utility of wheat bran AX, thereby paving the way for sustainable valorization pathways. By unraveling the latent potential within AX, this paper advocates for the holistic and sustainable utilization of wheat bran in diverse, value-added applications.