Characterization of Amaranthus cruentus and Chenopodium quinoa Starch

Starches from amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) were isolated and investigated by using enzymatic assay, Rapid Visco Analysis (RVA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffractometry (XRD). Amylose content measured enzymatically was 7.8 and 11.2 % for amaranth and quinoa starch, respectively. Quinoa starch was much more viscous than amaranth starch and gelatinized at a lower temperature as determined with RVA. DSC demonstrated a wider gelatinization temperature range for amaranth starch (20.6°C) than for quinoa starch (11.1°C). SEM observation revealed polygonal shape of starch granules, and XRD suggested a typical Atype diffraction pattern for both the starches in question. A crystallinity of 45.5 % for amaranth and 35.4 % for quinoa starch, respectively, was also determined from the XRD collected data.     

Properties of extruded whole grain cereals and pseudocereals flours

Common cereals such as wheat are widely used worldwide in extruded products. Nevertheless, other locally available grains would be beneficial for local consumers regarding taste preference, nutritional needs and sustainability. Locally available cereals, that is millet, teff, sorghum and pseudocereals, that is quinoa and amaranth flours were extruded at the same processing conditions, and the resulting properties were compared to those of extruded refined wheat flour. Amaranth flour contained the highest protein content (16%). Sorghum was the highest in calories because of its high lipid content (10%). The extrusion process greatly increased a water solubility index (WSI) of amaranth from 11% to 61%, while the WSI level of quinoa was almost not affected (WSI of 4%). The expansion properties varied differently among grain types. These grains had a sectional expansion index (SEI) ranging between 11 and 13, which could not achieve the performance of the refined wheat (SEI of 22). The lowest expansion was observed for amaranth flour which contained the lowest starch content. Sorghum extrudates, interestingly, provided comparable stress at rupture value to that of wheat. For the mechanical properties, none of these local grains could fully replace refined wheat at the employed extrusion conditions.     

Anthocyanins,total polyphenols and antioxidant activity in amaranth and quinoa seeds and sprouts during their growth

Total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents (TP) and anthocyanins contents (ANT) were determined in Amaranthus cruentus and Chenopodium quinoa seeds and sprouts. Antioxidant activity of the investigated seeds decreased in the following order: quinoa, amaranth v. Rawa, amaranth v. Aztek for FRAP and quinoa, amaranth v. Aztek, amaranth v. Rawa for both ABTS and DPPH. Sprouts activity depended on the length of their growth, and the peak values were reached on the fourth day in the case of amaranth and on the sixth day in the case of quinoa. The data obtained by the three methods showed significant correlation between TP content in seeds and sprouts. In sprouts grown in the daylight and in the darkness we observed some significant changes of TP, ANT and antioxidant activity. Amaranth and quinoa seeds and sprouts can be used in food, because it is a good source of ANT and TP with high antioxidant activity.     

无麸质饼干原料及功能性添加成分的研究进展

乳糜泻是患者对面筋不耐受而引起的慢性小肠吸收不良综合征,患者需终身严格遵守无麸质饮食。无麸质食品不含面筋,口感与品质相对较差,研究者通过改进配方、技术等以达到改善的目的。本文介绍了乳糜泻、无麸质饼干的概况及其缺陷,主要对无麸质饼干所用的原料(大米粉、小米粉、藜麦粉、燕麦粉、苋菜粉及其他面粉)、功能性添加成分(亲水胶体、菊粉、酶制剂)进行综述,阐述了国内外关于无麸质饼干的一些研究进展,以期为无麸质饼干的进一步研究与应用提供参考。     

Effects of quinoa and amaranth on zinc,magnesium and calcium content in beer wort

Pseudocereals such as quinoa and amaranth can be used as partial replacements for malt in the production of new beers. Quinoa and amaranth are of interest due to their high levels of nutrients and micronutrients, including minerals which can significantly improve the performance of brewing yeast and the fermentation rate. In this study, we investigated whether the use of quinoa or amaranth as partial replacements for malt affected the concentration of ions such as zinc and magnesium in beer wort. The use of amaranth, and in particular quinoa, increased the content of both zinc and magnesium ions substantially, even when only 10% of the barley malt was replaced. With 10% quinoa, Zn²⁺ and Mg²⁺ content increased by 41% and 49%, respectively, while the ratio of Mg²⁺ to Ca²⁺ rose from 1.4:1 to 1.9:1. Use of unmalted quinoa and amaranth appears a good way of enriching wort with essential metal ions.     

Effect of quinoa,chia and millet addition on consumer acceptability of gluten-free bread

There is an increasing demand for gluten-free foods; however, standard gluten-free foods are deficient in nutrients. This study investigated the use of alternative grains (chia, millet and quinoa) in gluten-free breads to evaluate their sensory properties (fresh and following a partial bake method). A sensory trial (n = 98) asked participants to consider six fresh bread samples made from chia, millet and quinoa, using 9-point hedonic scales and check-all-that-apply. A second sensory trial (n = 89) was then completed using par-baked bread samples of the different formulations. The sensory properties and the acceptability of the bread were significantly affected by the chia and quinoa flour. The millet flour did not change the acceptability of the bread. Furthermore, the partial baking method (after 90 days of frozen storage) did not significantly affect the acceptability of the breads made with chia, millet and quinoa, but it did affect the acceptability of the control bread prepared with brown rice flour. Overall, millet flour could be incorporated into gluten-free breads made following a partial baking method without affecting consumer acceptability. Future studies should use a trained panel to evaluate how the breads differ based on the partial baking method.     

Properties of Korean Amaranth Starch Compared to Waxy Millet and Waxy Sorghum Starches

Characteristics of waxy type starches isolated from amaranth, waxy millet and waxy sorghum harvested in Korea were evaluated. Shapes of all starch granules were polygonal or slightly round and the surfaces of waxy millet and waxy sorghum starch granules showed visible pores. Amylose contents of the three starches were between 3.2–6.0% and amaranth starch showed the highest water binding capacity (WBC) (130.7%). The swelling power and solubility of amaranth starch studied at 65.0–95.0°C increased about 13.7‐ and 14.0‐fold, respectively, with increase in temperature. Swelling power of waxy sorghum starch was the highest (72.6 at 95°C) among the starches studied, while amaranth starch had a constant swelling power and its rate of solubility increasely only slowly at temperatures higher than 75°C. From RVA data, initial pasting temperatures of amaranth, waxy sorghum and waxy millet starches were 75.7, 73.3 and 75.2°C, respectively. Peak viscosity, breakdown, and setback from trough of amaranth starch were 68.3, 16.7 and 7.5 RVU, respectively, which were the lowest values among the starches investigated. Using DSC, onset temperature of gelatinization of amaranth starch was 1.5–4.0°C higher than those of waxy sorghum and millet starches, corresponding to the RVA result. The enthalpies of gelatinization of the starches studied in our laboratory were in the range of 8.5–12.7 J/g with decreasing order of waxy sorghum > amaranth > waxy millet starch.     

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the RS content of amaranth,quinoa and wheat starch

RS exerts a range of beneficial effects on human health. Therefore, ways to increase the RS content in processed food products are looked for. The effects of high hydrostatic pressure treatments on the RS content of wheat, quinoa and amaranth starch were analysed in this study. A 2³ factorial screening design of experiments was used. Experimental factors were pressure (100–600 MPa), temperature (40–60°C) and time (10–30 min). RS in wheat starch increased with increasing pressure by a factor of up to 10 to a value of 4%. In detail, RS content increased significantly at pressures higher than 100 MPa in wheat starch, whereas in quinoa starch significant changes occurred at pressures above 350 MPa (up to 3.3% RS compared to 0.2% in native quinoa starch). Contrary, in amaranth starch the RS content of all pressure treated samples (about 0.5%) was lower than that of the native starch (1.3%). Wheat starch granules swelled to a maximum of 3.67 times their original size and quinoa starch up to 3.36 times. The extent of swelling (2.90) was lowest in amaranth starch.     

Influence of repeated extrusions on some properties of non-conventional spaghetti

The influence of the re-extrusion (repeated extrusion) number on the rheological properties of non-conventional doughs, mechanical and sensorial characteristics of dry spaghetti was investigated. Moreover, the dough gelatinization degree was also evaluated. Amaranth, oat and quinoa flours were used to produce the spaghetti samples. Twelve non-conventional spaghetti samples were manufactured varying the re-extrusion number. The rheological properties of doughs were determined using a capillary rheometer, the mechanical characteristics of dry spaghetti by a dynamic mechanical analyzer and the sensorial parameters by a trained panel. The re-extrusion number affected the extensional and shears viscosity of amaranth, oat and quinoa dough samples. The breaking strength of dry non-conventional spaghetti increased with the increase of the re-extrusion number for amaranth and oat. The dough gelatinization degree of the quinoa and oat significantly increased with the re-extrusion, whereas no influence of re-extrusion was found for the amaranth dough. Moreover, the re-extrusion number improved sensorial color and homogeneity for oat and quinoa dry spaghetti and had no effects on the sensorial characteristics of all cooked spaghetti.     

Molecular Background of Technological Properties of Selected Starches

Selected starches, i.e. waxy maize, amaranth, quinoa, wheat, millet and buckwheat starches, were investigated with respect to their technological properties such as gelatinization, stability to mechanical stress, resistance to conditions and stability in continuous freeze/thaw cycles. Technological properties are correlated with molecular features such as branching characteristics in terms of iodine-complexing potential, molar mass, occupied glucan-coil volume, packing density of glucan coils and rheological properties. Waxy maize and amaranth starches were found to be amylopectin-type short-chain branched (scb) glucans with weight average molar masses M_w = 17 × 10⁶ g/mol and 12 × 10⁶ g/mol, respectively. Waxy maize starch had a high gelatinization potential, high viscosity at 95 °C (340 mPas) low stability at acidic conditions, average stability to shearing and good freeze/thaw stability. For amaranth starch a viscosity of 122 mPas at 95 °C, low resistance to acid, but high stability to applied shearing and even high freeze/thaw stability was determined. Investigated quinoa starch was classified as scb-type glucan, however, the branches are significantly longer than those of waxy maize and amaranth. With a M_w = 11 × 10⁶ g/mol and a viscosity of 187 mPas at 95 °C, this sample is comparably resistant to acidic conditions and to shearing, but instable in freeze/thaw experiments. Wheat, millet and buckwheat starches contain significant percentages of amylose-type long-chain branched (lcb) glucans (22.1, 32.1 and 24.3 %, respectively) with M_w values of 5 × 10⁶ g/mol, 12 × 10⁶ g/mol and 15 × 10⁶ g/mol, respectively. Wheat starch, with a viscosity of 107 mPas at 95 °C, shows low stability under acidic conditions, but high stability to shearing. Wheat and millet starches, but not buckwheat starch, form weak gels in the course of subsequent freeze/thaw cycles. Millet starch, with a viscosity of 101 mPas at 95 °C was found to be moderately stable under acidic conditions and to shearing. Buckwheat starch with a viscosity of 230 mPas at 95 °C shows no acid resistance and is instable upon shearing but performs very well in freeze/thaw experiments.     

Phytate and tannin content of amaranth

The phytate and tannin contents of eight varieties of amaranth were determined. The phytate content of amaranth (0·52–0·61%) was higher than that of rice and millet, but lower than that of corn and wheat. Phytate is distributed throughout kernels of amaranth. Phytate content cannot be reduced by removal of the seed coat.Tannin levels of amaranth (0·043–0·116% catechin equivalent) were small in comparison with those in sorghum and millet. Tannin levels in the seed coat of amaranth are higher than those in the starchy perisperm.     

Adaptability of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts to sourdoughs prepared from cereals, pseudocereals and cassava and use of competitive strains as starters

The adaptability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts to sourdoughs prepared from cereals, pseudocereals and cassava was investigated using PCR-DGGE and bacteriological culture combined with rRNA gene sequence analysis. Sourdoughs were prepared either from flours of the cereals wheat, rye, oat, barley, rice, maize, and millet, or from the pseudocereals amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat, or from cassava, using a starter consisting of various species of LAB and yeasts. Doughs were propagated until a stable microbiota was established. The dominant LAB and yeast species were Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paralimentarius, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pontis, Lactobacillus spicheri, Issatchenkia orientalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proportion of the species within the microbiota varied. L. paralimentarius dominated in the pseudocereal sourdoughs, L. fermentum, L. plantarum and L. spicheri in the cassava sourdough, and L. fermentum, L. helveticus and L. pontis in the cereal sourdoughs. S. cerevisiae constituted the dominating yeast, except for quinoa sourdough, where I. orientalis also reached similar counts, and buckwheat and oat sourdoughs, where no yeasts could be detected. To assess the usefulness of competitive LAB and yeasts as starters, the fermentations were repeated using flours from rice, maize, millet and the pseudocereals, and by starting the dough fermentation with selected dominant strains. At the end of fermentation, most of starter strains belonged to the dominating microbiota. For the rice, millet and quinoa sourdoughs the species composition was similar to that of the prior fermentation, whereas in the other sourdoughs, the composition differed.     

Low folate content in gluten-free cereal products and their main ingredients

Folate content in some gluten-free cereal products and their main ingredients was determined using a validated method based on reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence and diode array detection. The main folate forms found in gluten-free products were 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate. Starches and low protein flours commonly used as main components in gluten-free products appeared to be poor folate sources with folate content ?6 μg/100 g fresh weight. Folate content in gluten-free breads was higher (15.1–35.9 μg folate/100 g fresh weight) due to use of bakery yeast which is a rich folate source. Overall, folate content in gluten-free products was lower than in their gluten-containing counterparts. Therefore, fortification of gluten-free products with folic acid or enrichment of these products with nutrient-dense fractions of cereals naturally free from gluten (such as buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth or millet) can be of interest.     

Insect pest susceptibility of grains and seeds recently introduced to the Italian market: An experimental evaluation

To assess the susceptibility of pseudocereals (amaranth and quinoa), minor cereals (teff and millet), and oilseeds (chia and hemp), now commercially available on the European market, to attacks by polyphagous and cosmopolitan insect pests, laboratory tests were set up. Tests involving controlled infestation of seeds, using laboratory-bred insects (Tenebrio molitor, Tribolium confusum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Cryptolestes pusillus and Plodia interpunctella), were carried out in a climatic chamber at 23 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5% R.H.. Development time, the number of adults and the weight of these adults were evaluated. The results show that each considered foodstuff has a different susceptibility to infestation and differences both in the number of adults emerged and in their weight compared to control. Millet was the only product that allowed larval development up to the adult stage for all the species examined. No species developed on amaranth. T. confusum and O. surinamensis reached the adult stage on the greatest number of products, 5 and 4 respectively; C. pusillus and T. molitor completed their life cycles on only two commodities: millet and teff, while P. interpunctella only on millet and hemp seeds. Considering the impact of the different pests on the studied grains, T. confusum was the only species able to develop on all the grains, but the number of emerged adults was lower than on the standard diet. These results show that, even if these commodities are new in the European market, they are susceptible to the infestation of common stored product pests that could led to a removal from the market of a contaminated stock, so a continuous monitoring is needed.     

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Starch — Physico-chemical Properties and Functional Characteristics

Starch was isolated from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) for a study of physico-chemical properties, functional characteristics and a comparison with starches from wheat, barley, wild rice, amaranth and potatoes. Quinoa starch granules range in size from 0.6 to 2.0 μm and are found within the cells of the seed as single entities or as compound structures of spherical or oblong aggregates. Quinoa starch exhibited a higher Amylograph viscosity, a greater waterbinding capacity and a greater swelling power compared to wheat- or barley starch. The gelatinization temperature range of quinoa starch was slightly higher than that of wheat- or barley starch. Amylose content was lower. As a thickening agent for fillings, quinoa starch performed better than other starches in the study. However, breads and cakes baked with quinoa starch were of poor quality. Volumes were lower, the grain non-uniform with thick cell walls and the texture dense and compact. The overall performance of quinoa starch in baked goods was similar to that of other non-cereal starches (amaranth- and potato starch).     

Occurrence of saponins and sapogenols in Andean crops

Samples of bitter seeds of local ecotypes and cultivars of lupin (Lupin mutabilis), white and yellow ecotypes of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild) and a local ecotype of amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grown in the Peruvian highlands were analysed for total saponin content and sapogenol composition. Sweet cultivars of L albus and L luteus cultivated in mild-rainy lowlands of Chile were also analysed for comparison. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) of the saponin extracts and gas chromatography (GC) analysis of the sapogenols after acid hydrolysis of the crude extract-were used for the identification and quantification of saponins. It was found that L albus and amaranth had undetectable levels of saponins making them attractive for human consumption. The cultivars and ecotypes of L mutabilis contained saponin levels in the range of 229.8–390.5 mg k^?1. FAB-MS showed the presence of soya saponins I and II, whereas GC allowed the identification of soya sapogenols A and B. The same saponin composition was determined in L luteus whose total content was 55.3 mg kg^?1. Saponin composition in quinoa seeds comprised oleanolic acid and three other sapogenols identified as hederagenin, phytolaccagenic acid and deoxyphytolaccagenic acid. Oleanolic acid saponins were found to be the main class of saponin in quinoa seeds sampled for this study. The yellow ecotype of quinoa presented a significantly higher content of saponins and of oleanolic acid as compared to white ecotypes. Since only one ecotype of amaranth was analysed, the nutritional significance of no detectable saponin needs further study. It was concluded that the environmental conditions in the Peruvian highlands are determinants of the amount and composition of saponins present in bitter lupine and quinoa.     

The content of proteic and nonproteic (free and protein-bound) tryptophan in quinoa and cereal flours

The content of proteic and nonproteic (free and protein-bound) tryptophan and of proteins in quinoa, wheat, rice, maize, barley, oat, rye, spelt, sorghum and millet flours was determined. Protein content and proteic tryptophan of quinoa were similar to that of wheat and spelt, but higher than in other cereals. Free tryptophan in quinoa flour showed values similar to those of wheat, oat and sorghum Kalblank, lower than those of barley, spelt and pearl millet, but higher than in rice, maize, rye, sorghum DK 34 – Alabama hybrid. In addition, nonproteic tryptophan appears bound both to water soluble proteins and to proteins soluble at pH 8.9. The results are discussed regarding the importance of the nonprotein tryptophan fraction, the only one able to enter the brain, that is more easily absorbed, so guarantees a greater amount available for uptake by the central nervous system.     

Improving the sensory and nutritional value of gluten-free bread

Bakery products, especially breads, are important part of everyday diet. Home-made breads are all the more crucial on the gluten-free diet, as commercially available breads without gluten are often unattractive. The study presents the recipe, nutritional characteristics (fat, protein, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese), costs and consumer acceptance of four easy to make home-made gluten-free breads. Partial substitution of bread-mix based on corn and rice (control bread) with teff flour, amaranth flour or quinoa flour significantly changed the content of the most of analysed nutrients, while their price was comparable. The highest nutritional benefits were found for protein, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and manganese in bread with teff and for magnesium, potassium, zinc and manganese in bread with amaranth. The highest consumer acceptance of people on gluten-free diet was noticed for breads with quinoa and teff.     

Polyphenol composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of amaranth,quinoa buckwheat and wheat as affected by sprouting and baking

This study examined the polyphenol composition and antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat and wheat, and evaluated how these properties were affected following two types of processing: sprouting and baking. The total phenol content amongst the seed extracts were significantly higher in buckwheat (323.4 mgGAE/100 g) and decreased in the following order: buckwheat > quinoa > wheat > amaranth. Antioxidant capacity, measured by the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picylhydrazyl scavenging capacity and the ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assays was also highest for buckwheat seed extract (p < 0.01). Total phenol content and antioxidant activity was generally found to increase with sprouting, and a decrease in levels was observed following breadmaking. Analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector revealed the presence of phenolic acids, catechins, flavanol, flavone and flavonol glycosides. Overall, quinoa and buckwheat seeds and sprouts represent potential rich sources of polyphenol compounds for enhancing the nutritive properties of foods such as gluten-free breads.     

Proteins of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.), and Quinoa (Chenopodium spp.): A Food Science and Technology Perspective

There is currently much interest in the use of pseudocereals for developing nutritious food products. Amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa are the 3 major pseudocereals in terms of world production. They contain high levels of starch, proteins, dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and other bioactives. Their proteins have well‐balanced amino acid compositions, are more sustainable than those from animal sources, and can be consumed by patients suffering from celiac disease. While pseudocereal proteins mainly consist of albumins and globulins, the predominant cereal proteins are prolamins and glutelins. We here discuss the structural properties, denaturation and aggregation behaviors, and solubility, as well as the foaming, emulsifying, and gelling properties of amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa proteins. In addition, the technological impact of incorporating amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa in bread, pasta, noodles, and cookies and strategies to affect the functionality of pseudocereal flour proteins are discussed. Literature concerning pseudocereal proteins is often inconsistent and contradictory, particularly in the methods used to obtain globulins and glutelins. Also, most studies on protein denaturation and techno‐functional properties have focused on isolates obtained by alkaline extraction and subsequent isoelectric precipitation at acidic pH, even if the outcome of such studies is not necessarily relevant for understanding the role of the native proteins in food processing. Finally, even though establishing in‐depth structure–function relationships seems challenging, it would undoubtedly be of major help in the design of tailor‐made pseudocereal foods.