Physico‐Nutritional Profiling and Assessment of Proteins as Well as Soluble and Insoluble Phenolic Acids in Gamma Irradiated Wheat Grains Through <scp>SWATH</scp> ‐ <scp>MS</scp> and <scp>HPLC</scp> Analysis and Their Functionality

ABSTRACT Wheat is an important staple agri‐commodity that incurs extensive qualitative and quantitative losses during extended storage due to insect pest infestations if not subjected to fumigation. Owing to the limited information pertaining to the impact of gamma irradiation on the storage proteins, phenolic acids and associated functionality during extended storage, the current investigation was directed towards elucidating the impact of gamma irradiation (from Cobalt‐60) on these attributes while addressing insect pest disinfestation in wheat grains. SWATH‐MS‐based proteomics affirmed the retention of prolamines including gliadins, glutenin, and globulins, the major storage proteins in wheat upon radiation treatment. A differential effect was observed on the total phenolics level (both soluble free and conjugated, and insoluble phenolics) upon irradiation. The wholesomeness in terms of functional attributes was assessed through three key assays, namely antioxidant capacity (for redox homeostasis potential), antimutagenicity (for genome stability), and anti‐proliferative activity (for evaluating potential of suppressing growth of unregulated cells). These activities were not found to be perturbed in radiation processed grains. The wheat extract exhibited anti‐proliferative activity in a cell line (A549) plausibly attributed to the redox and ROS homeostasis which further enhanced in radiation treated grains. The current findings while advocating the efficacy of gamma radiation processing to achieve pest disinfestations in wheat grains indicated the retention/enhancement of functional wholesomeness of radiation treated wheat grains during extended storage under ambient condition.