Volume 95, Issue 5 pp. 589-602
REVIEW ARTICLE

Cereal phenolic contents as affected by variety and environment

Shiwangni Rao

Corresponding Author

Shiwangni Rao

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Functional Grains, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence

Shiwangni Rao, ARC ITTC for Functional Grains, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Bldg. 289, Room 2006, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia

Email: [email protected]

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Lachlan J. Schwarz

Lachlan J. Schwarz

Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Functional Grains, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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Abishek B. Santhakumar

Abishek B. Santhakumar

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Functional Grains, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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Kenneth A. Chinkwo

Kenneth A. Chinkwo

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Functional Grains, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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Christopher L. Blanchard

Christopher L. Blanchard

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Functional Grains, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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First published: 10 July 2018
Citations: 23

Abstract

Background and objectives

Phenolic compounds found in cereals have been shown to possess antioxidant activity that has ensured an increased interest in their health beneficial properties. This review analyzed studies investigating the phenolic content of rice, barley, oats, and sorghum grown in different geographical locations and the effect environmental factors have on them.

Findings

From the studies reviewed, it was identified that whole grain pigmented cereals exhibited phenolic profiles with polyphenols such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and their derivatives that translated to higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Variation in phenolic content was also observed in cereal species grown in different geographical locations and when subjected to variable levels of salinity, water, and temperature.

Conclusions

Despite the increasing body of knowledge on the phenolic content of cereals, studies focusing on the effect of environment on cereal phenolic content are limited; hence, more research is warranted.

Significance and novelty

This review examines literature to provide a holistic understanding of how environment plays a role in the regulation of phenolic metabolites in cereals such as oats with a focus on pigmented varieties of rice, barley, and sorghum.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

S.Rao, Lachlan Schwarz, Abishek B Santhakumar, Kenneth A Chinkwo, and Christopher L Blanchard have no conflict of interests to declare.

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