Tocol and β-glucan levels in barley varieties and in pearling by-products

In order to verify a different genotype potential in barley varieties, in terms of tocols and β-glucans, and to demonstrate that pearling by-products have interesting amounts of these bioactive compounds, their content was investigated in 36 barley varieties and in the pearling by-products of a commercial hulled barley stock. The β-glucan content ranged from 2.64 g/100 g dw (dry weight) for Vanessa to 8.05 g/100 g dw for Ludine, with an average value of 3.95 g/100 g dw and 50% of the compounds were in the range between 3.45 and 4.36 g/100 g dw. The total tocol amount ranged from 50.3 mg/kg dw (Ladoga) to 88.6 mg/kg dw (Maggiodoro), with a mean value of 69.1 mg/kg dw and with most genotypes (50%) having a content between 62 and 75 mg/kg dw. Adagio and Sabel were the best source of vitamin E activity, expressed as Tocopherol Equivalents. In the pearling by-products there was no enrichment of β-glucans, on the contrary, a seven and a fivefold increase was observed for tocopherols and tocotrienols, respectively.