Aleurone layer

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Caryopsis of the wheat grain

The aleuron layer (Greek áleuron "flour") is a surface layer of cereal grains ( caryopses ) that separates the endosperm from the outer shell. It is therefore also referred to as the “miller separating layer”. The cells of the aleurone layer are thick-walled and evenly shaped, which is why it is also called a honeycomb layer .

Importance for germination

Aleurone cells contain:

The biological task of the aleurone cells is to produce the internal endoscopic cells as the grain grows. During germination , the seedling sends messenger substances ( gibberellins ) to the aleuron cells, which then start producing α- amylase and proteinase . These enzymes are released to the flour kernel, so that the starch and protein molecules contained are broken down and brought into a soluble form that the seedling can feed on.

Importance in human nutrition

When producing light flours (wheat: type 405 to about type 812; rye type 815) the aleurone layer is mostly separated and goes into the bran . However, it is contained in darker flours.

Nutrition researchers at the University of Jena have shown in cell culture tests that substances from the aleurone layer of wheat seeds can suppress the development of colon cancer .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Waldemar Ternes , Alfred Täufel, Lieselotte Tunger, Martin Zobel (eds.): Food Lexicon . 4th, comprehensively revised edition. Behr, Hamburg 2005, ISBN 3-89947-165-2 .
  2. ↑ A. Borowicki, K. Stein, D. Scharlau, K. Scheu, G. Brenner-Weiss, U. Obst, J. Hollmann, M. Lindhauer, N. Wachter, M. Glei: Fermented wheat aleurone inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. In: Br. J. Nutr. 103 (3), 2010, pp. 360-369. PMID 19732471 .
  3. ↑ A. Borowicki, K. Stein, D. Scharlau, M. Glei: Fermentation supernatants of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) aleurone beneficially modulate cancer progression in human colon cells. In: J. Agric. Food Chem. 58 (3), 2010, pp. 2001-2007. PMID 19954215 .