Comparative evaluation of drying methods on kinetics, biocompounds and antioxidant activity of Bacillus subtilis-fermented dehulled adlay

The effects of five drying methods on kinetics, biocompounds and antioxidant activity of Bacillus subtilis-fermented dehulled adlay (BDA) were evaluated in this study. The Page model (MR = ) was the best-fit model to describe the drying kinetics of all dried BDA. The shortest drying time and highest drying rate were observed in microwave-vacuum drying (MVD). The highest contents of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA), triterpenoids, coixol, and coixan were detected in freeze-vacuum dried samples. However, the highest levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were found in hot air-dried BDA. Moreover, higher retention ratios of TMP (71.90%), GABA (94.56%), coixol (63.38%), and coixan (94.29%), as well as the highest coixenolide content were obtained in MVD samples. In conclusion, MVD should be given first priority in large-scale industrial practice due to shorter drying time and high health-beneficial components.