Wheat bran as a brown gold: Nutritious value and its biotechnological applications

Abstract

Wheat bran, a by-product of wheat milling industry, is the outermost covering of wheat grain. It has relatively diverse application in food, feed, medicine and fermentation industries due to its richness in carbohydrates (mostly fibers), protein and fats which makes it an important dietary element. Its importance from medical view point is well documented especially in reducing blood plasma cholesterol and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, that is, colon cancer. In fermentation industry, wheat bran can be used as a substrate for production of a range of products such as biomass, enzyme, biofuel and production of other metabolites. In short wheat bran has immense applications and market value which makes it so important to be considered as brown gold.   Key words: Wheat bran, enzyme production, biofuel, food, health.