Summary The effect of microwave treatment on phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and phenolic in vitro bioaccessibility of white and red sorghum was evaluated. After microwave treatment for 40 s, the contents of free, bound, and total phenolics in white and red sorghum increased by 15.6–42.6, 4.0–23.4, and 19.7–66.0 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1 dry weight (DW), respectively, and the contents of free, bound, and total flavonoids increased by 9.4–11.2, 4.8–5.4, and 14.2–16.6 mg rutin equivalents 100 g−1 DW, respectively. With increasing microwave treatment time, the contents of phenolic acids and flavonoids in white and red sorghum first increased and then decreased. Additionally, the changes in antioxidant capacity indicated a similar trend with phenolic contents for white and red sorghum. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion indicated that microwave treatment had no effect on the phenolic bioaccessibility of white and red sorghum but increased the release amount of phenolic acid and antioxidant capacity.

Summary The effects of germination time on phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, antioxidant capacities, inhibition capacity of α‐amylase, bioaccessibility of phenolic and digestibility of starch in sorghum were evaluated in this study. The levels of total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin in germinated sorghum for 48 h increased by 39.74%, 37.28% and 52.21%, respectively. Germination also increased the composition of phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin in sorghum, and their antioxidant capacity and inhibitory rates of α‐amylase. Additionally, in vitro digestion results showed that phenolic bioaccessibility increased by 10.18%, and digestibility of starch and expected glycaemic index (eGI) decreased by 13.87% and 5.26 in germinated sorghum for 48 h compared with the ungerminated sorghum. These results indicate that germination might be a green method to improve the nutritional quality of sorghum and promote the development of germinated whole‐grain food.

BACKGROUND Jiuyao is a critical fermenting agent in traditional huangjiu brewing and it affects the quality of huangjiu. To assess and monitor the quality of jiuyao effectively we determined the differences between two common types of substandard jiuyao and normal jiuyao, with emphasis on the comparison of the main components, enzymatic activity, volatile substances, and microbial community structure. RESULTS The water and starch content, acid protease activity, and esterification capability of type I substandard jiuyao were significantly lower than those of the normal jiuyao, and the protein contents, liquefaction capability, glycation capability, and neutral protease activity were substantially higher than those of the normal jiuyao. Type II substandard jiuyao had significantly lower indices than the normal group except for the starch and free amino acid content, which were significantly higher than those of the normal jiuyao. Significant differences were observed between substandard and normal jiuyao in the content of 21 volatile compounds. 2‐Pentylfuran could be used as a marker of substandard jiuyao. Type I substandard jiuyao contained a higher abundance of aerobic Pediococcus and Marivita in comparison with the normal jiuyao. Type II substandard jiuyao consisted of a greater abundance of anaerobic Mucor and Staphylococcus. CONCLUSION The quality of jiuyao was significantly affected by the water content. Due to the different abundances of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in jiuyao, oxygen may also be an important parameter affecting the quality of jiuyao. We believe that the present study offers a theoretical basis for the evaluation and control of the quality of jiuyao. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

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