Black wheat variety Heibaoshi 1 had the highest
total phenolic content (659.8 μg gallic acid equivalents g−1
), total flavonoid content
(319.3 μg rutin equivalents g−1
), and antioxidant activity, whereas light purple wheat
variety Shandongzimai 1 had the lowest total flavonoid content (236.2 μg rutin
equivalents g−1
) and antioxidant activity. Whole wheat flour and partially debranned
grain flour had significantly higher total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and
antioxidant activity than refined flour (P < 0.05). Compared with flour, total phenolic
contents, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity decreased in noodles and
steamed bread, whereas noodles had slightly higher total phenolic and flavonoid content
than steamed bread. Antioxidant activities (by ferric reducing ability of plasma assay) of
steamed bread made from whole wheat flour, partially debranned grain flour, and refined
flour were 23.5%, 21.1%, and 31.6% lower, respectively, than the corresponding values of
flour. These results suggested that black whole wheat flour and partially debranned grain
flour are beneficial to human health.