The wheat flour tortilla (WFT) is a Mexican food product widely consumed in the world, despite lacking fiber and micronutrients. Ramón seed flour (RSF) is an underutilized natural resource rich in fiber, minerals and bioactive compounds that can be used to improve properties of starchy foods, such as WFT. The study evaluated the impact of partial replacement of wheat flour with RSF on the physicochemical, sensory, rheological and nutritional properties and antioxidant capacity (AC) of RSF-containing flour tortilla (RFT). Results indicated that RFT (25% RSF) had higher dietary fiber (4.5 times) and mineral (8.8%; potassium 42.8%, copper 33%) content than WFT. Two sensory attributes were significantly different between RTF and WFT, color intensity and rollability. RFT was soft and it was accepted by the consumer. Phenolic compounds (PC) and AC were higher in RFT (11.7 times, 33%–50%, respectively) than WFT. PC identification by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) showed that phenolic acids esterified with quinic acid, such as chlorogenic and other caffeoyl and coumaroyl derivatives were the major PC identified in RSF, resveratrol was also detected. These results show that RSF can be used as an ingredient to improve nutritional and antioxidant properties of traditional foods, such as the WFT.

Agro-industrial processing activities generate by-products that are discarded at high economic and environmental costs; however, many of them still contain high levels of bioactive compounds (BCs) such as dietary fiber (DF) and phenolic compounds (PCs), which, when combined, are known as antioxidant dietary fiber (ADF). These BCs have properties that are beneficial to our health, among them anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cardioprotective. Moreover, DF can regulate glucose and cholesterol levels. The mechanism of ADF action depends on its chemical structure and the interactions between the DF and PCs in it. Recent studies have reported the incorporation of several of these by-products on a diet through food products consumed worldwide, such as bread. This review describes the chemical characteristics of the ADF complex and the effect of its molecular interactions on sensory, nutritional and health-promoting properties of functional bakery goods.