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Increasing dietary fibre (DF) intake is an important target to improve health. An attractive strategy for this is to increase DF in wheat which is derived principally from the endosperm cell wall polysaccharide arabinoxylan (AX). The water‐extractable form of this (WE‐AX) accounts for most soluble dietary fibre (SDF), which is believed to confer particular health benefits. A region of chromosome 6B in some wheat varieties confers high SDF and here we show that the cause is an allele encoding a peroxidase family protein with a single residue change (PER1‐v) associated with high WE‐AX, compared to the more common form (PER1). Both wheat lines carrying this natural PER1‐v variant and those with an induced knockout mutation of PER1 showed reduced dimerization of endosperm ferulate consistent with a mechanism of decreased cross‐linking in the cell wall that increases WE‐AX. Transiently expressed PER1_(R)FP fusion protein driven by the native promoter in wheat endosperm was shown to localise to cell walls, whereas PER1‐v_(R)FP did not. We therefore propose that PER1‐v lacks the capacity to dimerise AX ferulate in vivo due to mis‐localisation caused by the missense single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the PER1‐v allele, so that the SNP acts as a perfect marker. This marker can be used to identify current wheat varieties with high WE‐AX to be used by processors and by breeders to ensure future varieties have high WE‐AX to make healthier wheat‐based foods.

The health benefits of fibre consumption are sound, but a more compressive understanding of the individual effects of different fibres is still needed. Arabinoxylan is a complex fibre that provides a wide range of health benefits strongly regulated by its chemical structure. Arabinoxylans can be found in various grains, such as wheat, barley, or corn. This review addresses the influence of the source of origin and extraction process on arabinoxylan structure. The health benefits related to short-chain fatty acid production, microbiota regulation, antioxidant capacity, and blood glucose response control are discussed and correlated to the arabinoxylan’s structure. However, most studies do not investigate the effect of AX as a pure ingredient on food systems, but as fibres containing AXs (such as bran). Therefore, AX’s benefit for human health deserves further investigation. The relationship between arabinoxylan structure and its physicochemical influence on cereal products (pasta, cookies, cakes, bread, and beer) is also discussed. A strong correlation between arabinoxylan’s structural properties (degree of branching, solubility, and molecular mass) and its functionalities in food systems can be observed. There is a need for further studies that address the health implications behind the consumption of arabinoxylan-rich products. Indeed, the food matrix may influence the effects of arabinoxylans in the gastrointestinal tract and determine which specific arabinoxylans can be included in cereal and non-cereal-based food products without being detrimental for product quality.

The aim of this study is to review the innovative techniques based on bioprocessing, thermal or physical treatments which have been proposed during the last few decades to convert rice bran into a valuable food ingredient. Rice bran (Oryza sativa) is the main by-product of rice grain processing. It is produced in large quantities worldwide and it contains a high amount of valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds with significant health-related properties. Despite that, its application in food industry is still scarce because of its sensitivity to oxidation processes, instability and poor technological suitability. Furthermore, the health-related effects of pretreated rice bran are also presented in this review, considering the up-to-date literature focused on both in vivo and in vitro studies. Moreover, in relation to this aspect, a brief description of rice bran arabinoxylans is provided. Finally, the application of rice bran in the food industry and the main technology aspects are concisely summarized.

Solventogenic Clostridium species can efficiently produce n -butanol and other valuable chemicals via acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation from plant-based feedstocks. For economic and ecological sustainability, cheap and abundant substrates such as lignocellulosic and hemicellulosic residues from agricultural or forestry side streams are preferable. Cereal brans, rich in hemicellulose, represent a promising substrate. However, for direct fermentation of this material, only low product titers are reported. In this study, we characterized the utilization of arabinoxylan, the main polysaccharide component of cereal bran, by the industrial ABE producer Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 T and report inefficient degradation of the substrate. Supplementation with hemicellulolytic enzyme mixtures derived from the thermophilic organism Thermoclostridium stercorarium subsp. stercorarium DSM 8532 T significantly enhanced substrate utilization. The best improvement was achieved by the addition of the arabinofuranosidase Axh43A, which reduced the residual sugar content in the fermentation broth from 48.2 to 17.8%. Analysis of the remaining oligosaccharides after growth on arabinoxylan showed that C. saccharobutylicum cannot remove O -2 and O -3 α-L-arabinofuranosyl groups from double-substituted xyloses, creating a key bottleneck in arabinoxylan degradation that is overcome by Axh43A addition. Plasmid-based expression of Axh43A in C. saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 T replicated the enzymatic supplementation effects, confirming the enzyme’s role in overcoming this limitation. This underscores the potential of genetic engineering to enhance the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass in biotechnological fermentation processes. Key Points C. saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 T insufficiently utilizes cereal arabinoxylan. Inability to cleave double-arabinosylated xylose moieties limits degradation. Heterologous expression of Axh43A strongly increases arabinoxylan utilization. Graphical Abstract

Arabinoxylan is a polysaccharide with film-forming properties, present in corn fiber, and a low-value by-product. The extract has a deep brown color, producing films of the same shade, which may not be appealing. This study addresses, for the first time, the adsorption of colored compounds present in an arabinoxylan extract using resin MN102. The resin successfully adsorbed the colored compounds from the arabinoxylan extract. After four consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles, the efficiency of the resin was similar, only decreasing from 63.3% to 52.9%. Langmuir and Freundlich models were fitted to the results of adsorption isotherm experiments, with the Freundlich model demonstrating the best fit to the experimental results. A fixed-bed column loaded with the resin was used for the removal of the colored compounds from the arabinoxylan extract, and the effect of the volumetric flow rate was investigated. The Yan and log-Gompertz models showed the best fit to the experimental breakthrough curves. This study systematically evaluated the adsorption conditions, providing a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the resin in the removal of the colored compounds. Additionally, the ability of the extract to maintain its film-forming properties after decolorization was evaluated, and some of the film’s key characteristics were evaluated, namely its color, solubility in water and mechanical properties.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides with complex structures naturally occurring in grains (i.e., barley, corn, and others), providing many health benefits, especially as prebiotics. AXs can be classified as water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) based on their solubility, with properties influenced by grain sources and extraction methods. Numerous studies show that AXs exert an important health impact, including glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and immune system enhancement, which is induced by the interactions between AXs and the gut microbiota. Recent research underscores the dependence of AX physiological effects on structure, advocating for a deeper understanding of structure-activity relationships. While systematic studies on WEAX are prevalent, knowledge gaps persist regarding WUAX, despite its higher grain abundance. Thus, this review reports recent data on WUAX structural properties (chemical structure, branching, and MW) in cereals under different treatments. It discusses WUAX applications in baking and the benefits deriving from gut fermentation.

This review article revises the sustainable practices and applications to valorize valuable components recovered from cereal processing by-products. After introducing cereal processing by-products, their healthy compounds, and corresponding functional properties, the article explores reutilization opportunities of by-products emphasizing specific sources (e.g., oat and wheat bran, distillers’ dried grains, etc.) and the biorefinery approach. Proteins and soluble dietary fibers such as arabinoxylans are of particular interest due to their content in the cereal processing by-products and their easy extraction based on conventional technologies such as enzyme-assisted extraction and membrane filtration. Non-thermal technologies have also been suggested to improve sustainability recovery approaches. Finally, the article discusses the different applications for the recovered high-added value compounds that span across biotechnology, foods, and bakery products.

Funding Information: This project was funded by the PhD Fellows grant awarded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P., with the project references 2021.08511.BD and 2020.05529.BD and DOI identifiers https://doi.org/10.54499/2021.08511.BD and https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.05529.BD. This research was also supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQV—which received financial support from the FCT/MCTES (LA/P/0008/2020 DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0008/2020, UIDP/50006/2020 DOI 10.54499/UIDP/50006/2020 and UIDB/50006/2020 DOI 10.54499/UIDB/50006/2020) using national funds. This work was also funded by national funds provided by the FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—I.P., under project UIDB/04129/2020 of the LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—Research Unit. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Arabinoxylan is a polysaccharide with film-forming properties, present in corn fiber, and a low-value by-product. The extract has a deep brown color, producing films of the same shade, which may not be appealing. This study addresses, for the first time, the adsorption of colored compounds present in an arabinoxylan extract using resin MN102. The resin successfully adsorbed the colored compounds from the arabinoxylan extract. After four consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles, the efficiency of the resin was similar, only decreasing from 63.3% to 52.9%. Langmuir and Freundlich models were fitted to the results of adsorption isotherm experiments, with the Freundlich model demonstrating the best fit to the experimental results. A fixed-bed column loaded with the resin was used for the removal of the colored compounds from the arabinoxylan extract, and the effect of the volumetric flow rate was investigated. The Yan and log-Gompertz models showed the best fit to the experimental breakthrough curves. This study systematically evaluated the adsorption conditions, providing a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the resin in the removal of the colored compounds. Additionally, the ability of the extract to maintain its film-forming properties after decolorization was evaluated, and some of the film’s key characteristics were evaluated, namely its color, solubility in water and mechanical properties.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) play a substantial role in the cell walls of cereals, contributing to their structural integrity and stability. The physicochemical and physiological properties of AX structures vary depending on the degree and pattern of substitution. AX structures are based on a linear β-(1→4)-linked d-xylopyranose backbone, being partially substituted with α-L-arabinofuranose in O 2 and/or O 3 positions of the xylopyranose units. Alkaline-extracted wheat flour AX were hydrolyzed with endo -β-1,4-xylanases of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 10 or 11. The resulting arabinoxylooligosaccharides (AXOS) were isolated and purified using various chromatographic techniques, including gel permeation chromatography, semi-preparative hydrophilic interaction chromatography, and high performance anion exchange chromatography. The isolated, purified compounds were characterized by their monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, and monomer binding positions via one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments. In addition to smaller AXOS, higher-substituted oligosaccharides with consecutive mono- and disubstituted xylose residues were identified in the hydrolysates, proving that GH10 and GH11 endo -xylanases can cleave more densely substituted regions of wheat AX, in which disubstitution is preferred. These oligosaccharides were obtained in quantities and purities sufficient for their use as standard compounds. We report complete NMR data sets for the four most complex AXOS (A 2+3 XA 2+3 XX, A 2+3 A 2+3 XX, XA 3 A 2+3 XX, A 3 A 2+3 XX) for the first time and also provide a complete NMR library for 17 (A)XOS that were either isolated here or commercially available.

Abstract Corn is a common energy source in pig diets globally; when financially warranted, industrial corn coproducts, such as corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), are also employed. The energy provided by corn stems largely from starch, with some contribution from protein, fat, and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). When corn DDGS are used in the diet, it will reduce starch within the diet; increase dietary protein, fat, and NSP levels; and alter the source profile of dietary energy. Arabinoxylans (AXs) comprise the majority of NSP in corn and its coproducts. One strategy to mitigate the antinutritive effects of NSP and improve its contribution to energy is by including carbohydrases within the diet. Xylanase is a carbohydrase that targets the β-1,4-glycosidic bonds of AX, releasing a mixture of smaller polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and pentoses that could potentially be used by the pig. Xylanase is consistently effective in poultry production and moderately consistent in wheat-based swine diets, but its efficacy in corn-based swine diets is quite variable. Xylanase has been shown to improve the digestibility of various components of swine-based diets, but this seldom translates into an improvement in growth performance. Indeed, a review of xylanase literature conducted herein suggests that xylanase improves the digestibility of dietary fiber at least 50% of the time in pigs fed corn-based diets, but only 33% and 26% of the time was there an increase in average daily gain or feed efficiency, respectively. Intriguingly, there has been an abundance of reports proposing xylanase alters intestinal barrier integrity, inflammatory responses, oxidative status, and other health markers in the pig. Notably, xylanase has shown to reduce mortality in both high and low health commercial herds. These inconsistencies in performance metrics, and unexpected health benefits, warrant a greater understanding of the in vivo mechanism(s) of action (MOA) of xylanase. While the MOA of xylanase has been postulated considerably in the literature and widely studied in in vitro settings, in wheat-based diets, and in poultry, there is a dearth of understanding of the in vivo MOA in pigs fed corn-based diets. The purpose of this review is to explore the role of xylanase in corn-based swine diets, discuss responses observed when supplemented in diets containing corn-based fiber, suggest potential MOA of xylanase, and identify critical research gaps.