Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)

Polysaccharides and phenols are commonly co-localized in various plant-derived foods, including highland barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L. var. <i>nudum</i> Hook. f.). The interactions between these compounds can influence multiple characteristics of food products, including...

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Main Authors: Yuanhang Ren, Yanting Yang, Mi Jiang, Wentao Gu, Yanan Cao, Liang Zou, Lianxin Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2712
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author Yuanhang Ren
Yanting Yang
Mi Jiang
Wentao Gu
Yanan Cao
Liang Zou
Lianxin Peng
author_facet Yuanhang Ren
Yanting Yang
Mi Jiang
Wentao Gu
Yanan Cao
Liang Zou
Lianxin Peng
author_sort Yuanhang Ren
collection DOAJ
description Polysaccharides and phenols are commonly co-localized in various plant-derived foods, including highland barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L. var. <i>nudum</i> Hook. f.). The interactions between these compounds can influence multiple characteristics of food products, including their physicochemical properties and functional performance, such as bioavailability, stability, and digestibility, which may support promising application of the phenol and polysaccharide complex in health food industry. In this study, two complexes with potential existence in highland barley, such as <i>β</i>-glucan-ferulic acid (GF) and <i>β</i>-glucan-quercetin (GQ), were prepared using the equilibrium dialysis method in vitro. FTIR and SEM results showed that ferulic acid and quercetin formed complexes with <i>β</i>-glucan separately, with covalent and non-covalent bonds and a dense morphological structure. The pH value, reaction temperature, and concentration of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were confirmed to have an impact on the formation and yield of the complex. Through the test of the response surface, it was found that the optimum conditions for GF and (GQ) preparations were a pH of 6.5 (6), a PBS buffer concentration of 0.08 mol/L (0.3 mol/L), and a temperature of 8 °C (20 °C). Through in vitro assays, GF and GQ were found to possess good antioxidant activity, with a greater scavenging effect of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical than the individual phenolic acids and glucans, as well as their physical mixtures. Taking GF as an example, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity ranked as GF (71.74%) > ferulic acid (49.50%) > PGF (44.43%) > <i>β</i>-glucan (43.84%). Similar trends were observed for ABTS radical scavenging (GF: 54.56%; ferulic acid: 44.37%; PGF: 44.95%; <i>β</i>-glucan: 36.42%) and hydroxyl radical elimination (GF: 39.16%; ferulic acid: 33.06%; PGF: 35.51%; <i>β</i>-glucan: 35.47%). In conclusion, the convenient preparation method and excellent antioxidant effect of the phenol–polysaccharide complexes from highland barley provide new opportunities for industrial-scale production, development, and design of healthy food based on these complexes.
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spelling doaj-art-593a006a62db42e58fbdfdc9eb980a942025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-08-011415271210.3390/foods14152712Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)Yuanhang Ren0Yanting Yang1Mi Jiang2Wentao Gu3Yanan Cao4Liang Zou5Lianxin Peng6Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaAgricultural Science Research Institute of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi Prefecture, Kangding 626099, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaPolysaccharides and phenols are commonly co-localized in various plant-derived foods, including highland barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L. var. <i>nudum</i> Hook. f.). The interactions between these compounds can influence multiple characteristics of food products, including their physicochemical properties and functional performance, such as bioavailability, stability, and digestibility, which may support promising application of the phenol and polysaccharide complex in health food industry. In this study, two complexes with potential existence in highland barley, such as <i>β</i>-glucan-ferulic acid (GF) and <i>β</i>-glucan-quercetin (GQ), were prepared using the equilibrium dialysis method in vitro. FTIR and SEM results showed that ferulic acid and quercetin formed complexes with <i>β</i>-glucan separately, with covalent and non-covalent bonds and a dense morphological structure. The pH value, reaction temperature, and concentration of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were confirmed to have an impact on the formation and yield of the complex. Through the test of the response surface, it was found that the optimum conditions for GF and (GQ) preparations were a pH of 6.5 (6), a PBS buffer concentration of 0.08 mol/L (0.3 mol/L), and a temperature of 8 °C (20 °C). Through in vitro assays, GF and GQ were found to possess good antioxidant activity, with a greater scavenging effect of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical than the individual phenolic acids and glucans, as well as their physical mixtures. Taking GF as an example, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity ranked as GF (71.74%) > ferulic acid (49.50%) > PGF (44.43%) > <i>β</i>-glucan (43.84%). Similar trends were observed for ABTS radical scavenging (GF: 54.56%; ferulic acid: 44.37%; PGF: 44.95%; <i>β</i>-glucan: 36.42%) and hydroxyl radical elimination (GF: 39.16%; ferulic acid: 33.06%; PGF: 35.51%; <i>β</i>-glucan: 35.47%). In conclusion, the convenient preparation method and excellent antioxidant effect of the phenol–polysaccharide complexes from highland barley provide new opportunities for industrial-scale production, development, and design of healthy food based on these complexes.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2712highland barleyferulic acidquercetin<i>β</i>-glucanphenol–polysaccharide complexantioxidation
spellingShingle Yuanhang Ren
Yanting Yang
Mi Jiang
Wentao Gu
Yanan Cao
Liang Zou
Lianxin Peng
Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
Foods
highland barley
ferulic acid
quercetin
<i>β</i>-glucan
phenol–polysaccharide complex
antioxidation
title Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
title_full Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
title_fullStr Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
title_short Preparation Optimization and Antioxidant Properties of the <i>β</i>-Glucan and Ferulic Acid/Quercetin Complex from Highland Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> var. <i>nudum</i>)
title_sort preparation optimization and antioxidant properties of the i β i glucan and ferulic acid quercetin complex from highland barley i hordeum vulgare i var i nudum i
topic highland barley
ferulic acid
quercetin
<i>β</i>-glucan
phenol–polysaccharide complex
antioxidation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2712
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