The Effect of Drought Stress on Nutraceutical Properties of Zea mays Bran

The effect of drought stress on total phenols, hydroxycinnamic acids, and antioxidant capacity in Cebú, DK2027, and DK2034 maize hybrids was evaluated. Compared to irrigation treatment, total phenols decreased in drought stress treatment by 35.34%, 5.59%, and 31.57% in Cebú, DK2027, and DK2034, respectively. In addition, the levels of t-ferulic, c-ferulic and p-coumaric acids decreased by 17.74%, 23.93%, and 29.83% in Cebú, by 8.92%, 8.62%, and 24.03% in DK2027, and by 13.66%, 11.03%, and 10.38% in DK2034, respectively. The predominant hydroxycinnamic acid from bran extracts was t-ferulic (67% to 72%), followed by c-ferulic (20% to 21%), and p-coumaric (7% to 11%) for both irrigation and drought stress treatments, while caffeic and sinapic acids were found in traces or were not detected. The antioxidant capacity decreased by 8%, 3%, and 9% in trolox equivalents and 7%, 17%, and 14% in percentage of radical scavenging activity for Cebú, DK2027, and DK2034 genotypes, respectively. The reduction of total phenols, hydroxycinnamic acids, and antioxidant capacity is due to the radical scavenging and photoprotective actions of hydroxycinnamic acids against highly reactive oxygen species generated under drought stress treatment.