Effect of some traditional processing operations on the functional properties of African breadfruit seed (Treculia africana) flour

The effect of germination, fermentation, roasting and defatting on the proximate composition, water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC), foaming stability (FS), emulsion capacity (EC), emulsion stability (ES), packed bulk density (PBD), least gelation concentration (LGC) and protein solubility (PS) of breadfruit seed flour (BSF) was investigated. WAC, OAC, FC, EC, PBD and LGC obtained are 190-380%; 130.3-200.5%; 2.3-60.4%; 12.4-52.9%; 0.4-0.6 g/ml; 6-12% (w/v) and 200-420%; 176.4-320.6; 4.2-70.8%; 20.2-60.4%; 0.5-0.7 g/ml; 0.5-0.8% (w/v) in the full fat and defatted flours respectively. Foams were more stable in the untreated; least in fermented and roasted samples. Defatting improved the FC, FS and EC; roasting and fermentation reduced EC of full fat BSF; Processing and defatting had no effect on the PBD; roasting and germination increased LGC while defatting and fermentation reduced it. Full fat flours had the lowest PS at pH 4 and the highest at pH 8. Fermented full fat BS flour had the highest PS at pH 5 and 8. Defatted germinated, raw dried and roasted BSF had lowest PS at pH 4; PS of fermented BSF is lowest at pH 3 and highest at pH 2.     

Characteristics of Isolation and Functionality of Protein from Tomato Pomace Produced with Different Industrial Processing Methods

The seeds separated from tomato pomace may contain valuable protein with unique functional properties. The objectives of this research were to study the impact of industrial hot and cold break tomato processes on protein isolation from defatted tomato seed meal and determine the protein-related functional properties of defatted and non-defatted seed meals. The results showed that the high temperature of hot break process denatured the protein, resulting in the lower protein extraction yield from 9.07 % to 26.29 % for defatted hot break tomato seed (DHTS) compared to from 25.60 % to 32.56 % for defatted cold break tomato seed (DCTS) under various extraction conditions. Hot break process also significantly influenced protein-related functional properties of seed meals. Compared to DCTS, DHTS had higher water absorption capacity (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) based on the protein weight in the seed meal, but lower emulsifying ability (EA), emulsifying stability (ES), foaming capacity (FC), and foaming stability (FS) based on the whole seed sample weight. When compared to commercial soybean protein isolate (SP), the meals of hot break tomato seed (HTS), DHTS, and DCTS showed higher bulk density and WAC values. The FC and FS of tomato meals were inferior while the ES was superior to SP. High alkaline pH was beneficial to the protein extraction and achieved better EA, ES, FC and FS of all the samples. The results indicated that tomato seed meals have a great potential to be used as functional food ingredients.     

Emulsifying and foaming properties of transglutaminase-treated wheat gluten hydrolysate as influenced by pH,temperature and salt

Hydrolyzed wheat gluten (GH, 77–85% protein) was prepared by limited hydrolysis with chymotrypsin at 37 °C for 4 h (degree of hydrolysis=6.4%) and 15 h (degree of hydrolysis=10.3%). The effect of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) treatment (55 °C for 1 h, or 5 °C for 18 h) on the emulsifying and foaming properties of GH was evaluated under selected food processing conditions (pH 4.0 and 6.5, 0 and 0.6 M NaCl, and temperature 20 and 5 °C). At pH 4.0 and 0 M NaCl the MTGase treatment substantially increased foaming capacity (FC) of GH compared with their respective control GH samples, as a result of enhanced peptide adsorption to the air–water interface, but FC was similar for both control and MTGase-treated GH at pH 6.5. In contrast, foam drainage stability (FS) of MTGase-treated GH decreased at pH 4.0, but increased significantly (P<0.05) at pH 6.5 when compared with their respective control GH samples. The FC and FS were affected by 0.6 M NaCl in a pH-dependent manner. The MTGase treatments increased emulsion activity index up to 15-fold at pH 6.5, while emulsion stability index was influenced by emulsion temperature and ionic strength conditions. The MTGase-induced changes in functional properties of GH were attributed to pH-dependent solubility changes, the amphiphilic nature of gluten peptides and increased electrostatic repulsion resulting from deamidation.     

Chemical composition and functional properties of raw and roasted Nigerian benniseed (Sesamum indicum) and bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean)

Benniseed and bambara groundnut seeds were roasted at 80 and 120 °C for 10–60 min. For both flours, the effects of roasting temperature and time on selected functional properties and chemical composition were determined, as were the effects of pH on the emulsification capacity and nitrogen solubility. The chemical constituents of the raw flours were present at higher concentrations than those of the roasted flours except for fat and ash. Protein concentrates of both flours contained 80.5–81.5% crude protein as the major constituent. Nitrogen solubility was lowest at pH 4.0 for raw and roasted benniseed flour and pH 5.0 for raw and roasted bambara groundnut flour. Roasting generally lowered the nitrogen solubility and increased the water and oil absorption capacities while decreasing the foaming capacity and emulsification capacity of both flours.     

Comparative study of the functional,thermal and pasting properties of flours from different field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) cultivars

Physicochemical, functional, thermal and pasting properties of flours from field pea (LFP-48 and PG-3) and pigeon pea (AL-15 and AL-201) cultivars were determined and related to each other using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Field pea flours (FPF) were significantly (P < 0.05) different from pigeon pea flours (PPF) in their lower ash and higher fat and protein contents. FPF also exhibited higher L^∗, ΔE value, water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC) and lower a^∗, b^∗ value, water absorption index (WAI) and water absorption capacity (WAC) in comparison to PPF. FPF differed significantly from PPF in exhibiting lower transition temperatures (T_o, T_p, T_c), enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel), peak height index (PHI) and higher gelatinization temperature range (R). PCA showed that LFP-48 and PG-3 flours were located at the far left of the score plot with a large negative score, while the AL-15 and AL-201 flours had large positive scores in the first principal component. Several significant correlations between functional, thermal and pasting properties were revealed, both by Pearson correlation and PCA. Pasting properties of the flours, measured using the rapid visco analyzer (RVA), also differed significantly. PPF were observed to have higher pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), breakdown (BV), final viscosity (FV) and lower setback viscosity (SV) as compared to FPF.     

Functional Properties of Defatted and Detoxified Madhuca (Madhuca butyraceae) Seed Flour

Functional properties of defatted and detoxified Madhuca (Madhuca butyraceae) seed flours were determined and compared with those of soybean flour. Soybean and detoxified Madhuca flours had higher water absorption capacities than defatted Madhuca flour. Due to the presence of saponins, the defatted Madhuca flour showed higher foaming capacity than the soybean and detoxified Madhuca flours.     

Free and bound total phenolic concentrations,antioxidant capacities,and profiles of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins in whole grain rice (Oryza sativa L.) of different bran colours

To study the polyphenols in whole grain rice varying in bran colour, the total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant capacities of the solvent-extractable (Free) and cell-wall bound (Bound) fractions and the profiles of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins were determined. Red and purple bran rices had significantly higher total (sum of Free- and Bound-) phenolic (PC) and flavonoid (FC) concentrations and antioxidant capacities than light-coloured bran rice or other cereals (P < 0.05), due to their higher concentrations of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, respectively. The concentrations of the Bound-PC and FC accounted for approximately half of the total PC and FC in the light-coloured bran rice, but were lower than those in purple and red bran rice (P < 0.05). High correlations were found between the concentrations of total phenolics and the three antioxidant capacity assays except for those in the bound fraction when related to iron chelating capacity. The concentrations of proanthocyanidins in red bran rice was 1.27 mg/g and its composition was 6.5%, 33.5%, 30.6% and 29.4% of 1–3, 4–6, 7–10 mers, and polymer (>10 mers), respectively. Cyanidin-3-glucoside was the predominant anthocyanin and peonidin-3-glucoside was the second highest; the profiles varied between purple bran cultivars. Whole grain rice differing in bran colour contained unique polyphenol subgroups, which have been proposed to positively impact human health.     

Effect of lipoxygenase activity in defatted soybean flour on the gelling properties of soybean protein isolate

Soybean lipoxygenase was inactivated to different degrees by dry heating of defatted soybean flour for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min and soy protein isolates were prepared thereof by isoelectric precipitation of the water extract of the defatted soybean flour. The fluorescence emission intensity at 420 nm of the chloroform–methanol extract of soy protein isolates, which was indicator of the existence of peroxidized lipid, varied in parallel with the lipoxygenase residual activity in defatted soybean flours. The dispersion of soy protein isolate showed an increasing turbidity with the increase of lipoxygenase residual activity in the starting defatted soybean flour, suggesting an elevated tendency to form insoluble aggregates during the preparation of soy protein isolate. Small deformation rheological test revealed that the gelling times were shorter for those soy protein isolates derived from low lipoxygenase activity defatted soybean flours than that of high lipoxygenase activity. Frequency sweep showed that G′ of soy protein isolate derived from low lipoxygenase defatted soybean flour was independent of oscillation frequency in contrast to that of derived from non dry-heated defatted soybean flour, the latter showed a marked frequency dependence. Large deformation test revealed that the gel hardness increased about 10 times after dry heating of defatted soybean flour for 20 min. As the increase of the lipoxygenase residual activity, the gel permeability increased markedly, suggesting that soy protein isolate from high lipoxygenase defatted soybean flour produced coarser textured gel, which corresponded well with the results of scanning electron microscopy.     

Functional properties of protein concentrates and isolates produced from cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut

Protein isolates and concentrates were obtained from defatted cashew nut powder by two methods: alkaline extraction-isoelectric precipitation (IP) and alkaline extraction-methanol precipitation (MP). The functional properties of cashew nut protein isolates, concentrates and powder were significantly different (p < 0.05). Cashew nut protein isolate (CNPI) had higher water and oil absorption capacities (2.20 ml/g and 4.42 ml/g, respectively), emulsifying stability index (447%), foam capacity and stability (45% and 55%, respectively), and least gelation capacity (13.5%) than cashew nut protein concentrate (CNPC), which was also higher than that of defatted cashew nut powder (DCNP). However, emulsifying activity index (12.45%) and bulk density (0.31) of CNPI were lower than that of CNPC, which were also lower than that of DCNP. The water solubility of CNPI (95%) and CNPC (95%) was not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the samples, but was significantly different (p < 0.05) from that of DCNP (75%). The CNPI, CNPC and DCNP showed decreasing solubility with decreasing pH, with the minimum solubility being observed at a pH range of 4.0–4.5, confirming the isoelectric point of cashew proteins. However, higher water solubility, emulsifying activity, and foaming property were observed at an alkaline pH than at an acidic pH in all samples.     

Physical and functional characteristics of selected dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) flours

Many varieties of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are available with entirely different physico-chemical and sensory characteristics. Selected dry bean varieties (red kidney, small red kidney, cranberry and black) were processed into flour and analyzed for the physico-chemical and functional characteristics. The bulk density of the beans flours varied significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.515 g/ml for black bean flour to 0.556 g/ml for red kidney bean flour. The small red kidney bean flour had the highest water absorption capacity (2.65 g/g flour) while black bean flour showed the lowest at 2.23 g/g flour. Significant differences were observed for oil absorption capacities of bean flours, which ranged from 1.23 g/g for small red kidney bean flour to 1.52 g/g for red kidney bean flour. The bean flours emulsion capacity and stability and foaming capacity and stability also varied significantly and was variety-dependent. The highest apparent viscosity, 0.462 Pa.s, was recorded for small red kidney bean flour whereas black bean flour exhibited the lowest value of 0.073 Pa.s at 30 g/100 ml water content in the flour dispersions. The force-deformation curves for doughs from different bean flours showed that black bean flour had the highest peak force or hardness value of 90.7 N followed by doughs from cranberry, small red kidney and red kidney bean flours. The results of this study offer useful data on bean flours' potential uses in different food products.     

Proximate composition and functional properties of African breadfruit kernel and flour blends

African breadfruit seeds (ABS) were toasted at 80 and 120°C for varied period of times. The effects of the toasting temperature and time on selected functional properties of the seed flours were determined. Flour blends were prepared from the toasted ABS and wheat flours. The chemical composition and functional properties of the blends were determined. Toasting increased the water absorption capacity (WAC) of ABS flours with increased toasting time at both toasting temperatures. The oil absorption capacity (OAC) on the other hand, increased up to 20 min of seed toasting at both 80 and 120°C and thereafter decreased. At both 80 and 120°C, the foaming capacity (FC) of the seeds decreased with increased toasting time, with greater decreased at 120°C. The protein, fat, ash and crude fibre contents of the flour blends increased while carbohydrate and moisture contents decreased with increased levels of toasted African breadfruit flour (TABF) in the blends. The TABF showed significantly higher (P<0.05) WAC, OAC, FC and emulsion activity (EA) than wheat flour (WF). These properties increased with increased amounts of TABF in the blends. All the flour blends exhibited a least gelation concentration of 8% (W/V). The bulk density (g/cm³) and wettability values of flour blends varied from 0.74 to 0.84 and 19 to 31, respectively. Heating increased the swelling capacity of the flour blends.     

Antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of germinated and hydrolysed Brazilian soybean flours

The effect of germination in combination with Alcalase hydrolysis of Brazilian soybean cultivar BRS 133 on the production of soybean flours with bioactive peptides as modulators of oxidative stress and markers of inflammation was monitored. The electrophoretic profile showed a weak protein breakdown during germination. However, a strong breakdown of the proteins can be observed after the first hour of hydrolysis with Alcalase. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of the protein extracts showed differences in the intensity and profile of peptide mass fingerprint due to germination and hydrolysis. Germinated flour showed higher soluble protein concentration and antioxidant capacity. All soybean protein extracts and protein hydrolysates produced (G0, G18 and G72) showed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition on inflammatory markers such as nitric oxide (20.5–69.3%), iNOS (22.8–93.6%), PGE₂ (64.0–88.3%), COX-2 (36.2–76.7%), and TNF-α (93.9–99.5%) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, protein extracts of flours with 18 h of germination were more potent in inhibiting pro-inflammatory responses when compared to 72 h. It can be concluded that a combination of 72 h of soybean BRS 133 germination and 1 h Alcalase hydrolysis resulted in the formation of bioactive compounds with more potent antioxidant activity, and improvement in the reduction of some of the markers of inflammation.     

Effect of micronisation temperature (130 and 170 °C) on functional properties of cowpea flour

Functional properties of cowpea flour from seeds micronised at two different surface temperatures (130 and 170 °C) were studied. Micronisation (130 and 170 °C) significantly (P ? 0.05) increased the water absorption capacity and least gelation concentration of the flour. The treatment significantly (P ? 0.05) reduced the water solubility and swelling indices, gel strength and foaming capacity of the flour. The changes in cowpea flour functional properties, such as the loss of foaming capacity in flours from micronised (130 and 170 °C) seeds, were associated with significant (P ? 0.05) increase in the surface hydrophobicity and cross-linking of the cowpea protein. SDS–PAGE of the protein-rich fractions revealed changes in the protein subunit profile which included the formation of disulphide bonds and possibly Maillard cross-links. The flour from M-170 °C seeds was significantly (P ? 0.05) darker than was the flour from unmicronised and M-130 °C seeds.     

Gamma irradiation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) flours and pastes: Effects on functional,thermal and molecular properties of isolated proteins

In a previous study irradiation of cowpea flours and pastes at medium (10 kGy) and high (50 kGy) doses resulted in significant changes in protein-related functional properties. To understand some of the effects of gamma irradiation on cowpea proteins in particular, we isolated proteins from cowpea flours (FPC) and pastes (PPC) treated with gamma irradiation at 2, 10, and 50 kGy and analyzed their functional, thermal and molecular properties. Nitrogen solubility index of both FPC and PPC decreased, whereas oil absorption and emulsion capacities increased significantly with increasing irradiation dose. Differential scanning calorimetry showed decreases in transition temperatures (T_d) and enthalpies (ΔH), indicating a progressive denaturation of cowpea proteins with increasing irradiation. Size exclusion HPLC revealed increases in protein molecular weights, probably due to protein–protein cross-linking with irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. Reducing SDS-PAGE of FPC and PPC samples seems to suggest that the contribution of disulphide bonds to irradiation-induced cowpea protein–protein cross-linking is small.     

Functional lipid characteristics,oxidative stability,and antioxidant activity of macadamia nut (Macadamiaintegrifolia) cultivars

Phytochemical compounds (tocopherols, tocotrienols, and squalene) were measured in seven macadamia cultivars harvested from four locations on Hawaii island to establish whether these compounds enhance the oxidative stability of roasted kernels. Cultivars that had the greatest oxidative stability also had high total lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity. Tocopherols [delta (δ), gamma (γ), alpha (α)] were not detected in most macadamia nut samples, but macadamia kernels contained significant amounts of tocotrienols (31–92 μg/g oil) and squalene (72–171 μg/g oil) for all cultivars tested. This is the first report of variation for three tocotrienol homologs (δ-, γ-, α-T3) and total antioxidant capacity in macadamia nut cultivars. No statistical correlations were found between oxidative stability and tocopherol, tocotrienol, and squalene concentrations. However, two cultivars (HAES 294 and HAES 835) were identified with superior oxidative stability, suggesting that the kernel quality of these cultivars is more stable during storage.     

Effect of wheat flour protein compositions on the quality of deep-fried gluten balls

Wheat flours milled from five different varieties of wheat and collected at an extraction rate of 60% were used as raw materials in this study. The proximate compositions, dough Farinographic and Extensographic properties, and the quality indices of deep-fried gluten balls prepared from these flours were measured. The proteins of these five different wheat flours were extracted and analyzed using the electrophoretic method, and the effect of protein composition on the quality of deep-fried gluten balls prepared from these flours was investigated. In this study, the proteins in each sample were divided into six groups, and the molecular weights of the proteins in these six groups are as follows: (I) 205.0–97.4 kDa; (II) 97.4–66.2 kDa; (III) 66.2–45.0 kDa; (IV) 45.0–36.0 kDa; (V) 24.0–19.7 kDa; (VI) 14.4–6.5 kDa, respectively. The results show that the protein contents of groups I, II, and V are negatively correlated to peak force and Hunter b value of deep-fried gluten balls, but positively correlated to Hunter L value and sensory evaluation score of appearance. The above results reveal that the high-molecular weight glutenin subunits, ω-gliadins, and albumins/globulins of wheat flour have a profound effect on the quality of deep-fried gluten balls.     

Fatty acid composition,oxidative stability,antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of selected cold-pressed grape seed oils and flours

Cold-pressed chardonnay, muscadine, ruby red, and concord grape seed oils and their defatted flours were studied for their fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. The phenolic profiles of the seed flours were also measured. The most abundant fatty acid in the oils was linoleic acid, ranging from 66.0 g/100 g of total fatty acids in ruby red seed oil to 75.3 g/100 g of total fatty acids in concord seed oil. The oils were also high in oleic acid and low in saturated fat. Ruby red grape seed oil recorded the highest oxidative stability index of 40 h under the accelerated conditions. Total phenolic content (TPC) was up to 100 times lower in the oils than in the flours. Lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, and α-tocopherol levels were also measured. DPPH radical-scavenging capacity ranged from 0.07 to 2.22 mmol trolox equivalents (TE)/g of oil and 11.8 to 15.0 mmol TE/g of flour. Oxidative stability of menhaden fish oil containing extracts of the seed flours was extended by up to 137%. HPLC analysis was conducted to determine the levels of free soluble, soluble conjugated and insoluble bound phenolics in the seed flours. The phenolic compounds analyzed included catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, quercetin, gallic acid, and procyanidins B1 and B2. Antiproliferative activity was tested against HT-29 colon cancer cells. All of the seed flours and muscadine seed oil registered significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of cancer cell growth. The results from this study demonstrate the potential of developing value-added uses for these seed oils and flours as dietary sources of natural antioxidants and antiproliferative agents for optimal health.     

Carotenoid contents of extruded and non-extruded sweetpotato flours from Papua New Guinea and Australia

Carotenoid contents of extruded and non-extruded flours of Papua New Guinean and Australian sweetpotato cultivars were studied, using spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cultivars differed (p < 0.05) in their total carotenoid and β-carotene contents, and the Original Beauregard cultivar had the highest total carotenoid and β-carotene contents among the cultivars. The spectrophotometry (84–1720 μg/g solids) method generally over-estimated the total carotenoid content compared to the more specific HPLC (23–355 μg/g solids) method. Extrusion significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the ΔL^∗ Hunter colour values, while the Δa^∗, Δb^∗, total colour change (ΔE), chroma (CR), and browning indices (BI) increased. With the extruder and screw configuration used, extrusion at 40% moisture and 300 rpm screw speed retained carotenoid maximally at more than 80%. This study reports, for the first time, carotenoids of flours from south Pacific sweetpotato cultivars, and carotenoid retention during extrusion.     

Carbohydrate composition and color development during drying and roasting of macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia)

Research was conducted to determine whether variability in sugar content contributes to differences in kernel browning during processing of macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia) cultivars, Kau (HAES 344), Keaau (HAES 660), Keauhou (HAES 246), and Kakea (HAES 508). At harvest, total sugar content of fresh macadamia kernels varied from 2.9 to 5.6 g/100 g dry weight basis (db), and the average moisture content ranged from 15.6 to 23.6 g/100 g fresh weight. Cultivars differed in kernel sucrose content, but not reducing sugar content. Reducing sugars decreased during drying, and kernel centers darkened slightly. An incremental drying process limited sucrose hydrolysis, minimizing the amount of glucose and fructose available for browning reactions. Therefore, the centers of roasted kernels were not darker than dried kernels. The variability in sugar composition in fresh kernels had a minimal impact on color quality when low-temperature drying and roasting at 125 °C were used. However, when roasted kernels received from a processor were separated based on color quality, kernels with internal or external browning had higher reducing sugar concentrations (0.24-0.27 g/100 g db) than cream-colored kernels (0.03 g/100 g db). Immature kernels had higher sucrose and reducing sugar contents and more browning than mature kernels. During commercial processing, optimal conditions may not be achieved and the presence of immature nuts can contribute to kernel browning.     

The effect of heat treatment on the foaming properties of tarhana, a traditional Turkish cereal food

The effect of heat treatment (simmering for 10 min at atmospheric conditions) on the foaming capacity (FC) and foam stability (FS) of tarhana, a traditional Turkish cereal food, was investigated using response surface methodology with concentration (0.5–1.5% db) and whipping time (30–120 s) being the independent variables. Regression equations for predicting the FC and FS were developed. The results were compared with those of an untreated sample. Results suggest that concentration and whipping time had a significant effect (p≤0.01) on FC and FS. The heat treatment applied causes a reduction in the foam capacity and foam stability of tarhana when compared with an untreated sample.