α-Amylase inhibitor levels in seeds generally available in Europe

The α-amylase inhibitor (αAI) levels in 18 seeds, which are generally available throughout Europe, have been determined. Kidney beans, haricot beans, pinto beans and runner beans had high contents of αAI (2–4 g equivalent kg^?1 seed meal). Butter beans, blackeyed peas, chickpeas, field beans and sweet lupinseeds contained 0.1–0.2 g inhibitor equivalent kg^?1 seed meal. No αAI activity was detected in samples of adzuki bean, lentils, mung beans, peas, soya beans, sunflower seeds or winged beans. The αAI activity present in whole kidney beans was relatively heat-resistant. However, it could be completely abolished by aqueous heat treatment of fully imbibed beans at 100°C for 5–10 min.     

Phenols,lignans and antioxidant properties of legume and sweet chestnut flours

Total phenols (TPC) and antioxidant properties were determined in chick-pea, green and red lentils and sweet chestnut flours, in both aqueous-organic extracts and their residues, by the Folin Ciocalteau method and by the FRAP assay, respectively. Plant lignans were quantified in flours by means of HPLC. In addition, the FRAP of plant lignans (secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol, matairesinol), their mixture and enterolignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) were determined. In all flours, the highest TPC values were found in the residue. Specific and varietal significant differences were observed in all parameters. The highest TPC (737.32 and 1492.93 mg/100 g d.w.) and FRAP (140.32 and 101.25 μmol/g d.w.) values were reached by green lentils in both aqueous-organic extract and residue, respectively. Sweet chestnuts had the highest total lignans (980.03 μg/100 g d.w.). It was also found that the plant lignans standards have a higher antioxidant activity than enterolignans standards and that matairesinol has the highest activity.     

Oligosaccharides in raw and processed legumes

 Oligosaccharides from several types of raw and processed legume seeds consumed in Spain, e.g. lentils (Lens culinaris L.), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.), red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), white common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), “Judiones de la Granja” great white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.), were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. The total sugar content ranged from 6.69% to 9.99%, and oligosaccharides represented 25–46% of the total sugar, in the various dry legumes. The main oligosaccharide in raw faba beans was verbascose (3.32%), and stachyose in the remaining legumes (2.21–3.23%). Different amounts of sucrose and traces of glucose, fructose and small amounts of inulin were present in raw samples of all the legumes. After soaking in tap water the loss of oligosaccharides was lowest in red beans (1.25%) and highest in common white beans (27.6%). Pressure cooking, without previous soaking, resulted in no oligosaccharide loss in common white beans but a loss of up to 32% in chickpeas. After pressure cooking of soaked legumes, the loss of stachyose ranged from 14.2% in red beans up to 35.9% for lentils. Substantial amounts of flatus-producing factors can be eliminated by common processing methods. Received: 12 May 1997 / Revised version: 17 July 1997     

Oligosaccharides in raw and processed legumes

 Oligosaccharides from several types of raw and processed legume seeds consumed in Spain, e.g. lentils (Lens culinaris L.), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.), red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), white common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), “Judiones de la Granja” great white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.), were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. The total sugar content ranged from 6.69% to 9.99%, and oligosaccharides represented 25–46% of the total sugar, in the various dry legumes. The main oligosaccharide in raw faba beans was verbascose (3.32%), and stachyose in the remaining legumes (2.21–3.23%). Different amounts of sucrose and traces of glucose, fructose and small amounts of inulin were present in raw samples of all the legumes. After soaking in tap water the loss of oligosaccharides was lowest in red beans (1.25%) and highest in common white beans (27.6%). Pressure cooking, without previous soaking, resulted in no oligosaccharide loss in common white beans but a loss of up to 32% in chickpeas. After pressure cooking of soaked legumes, the loss of stachyose ranged from 14.2% in red beans up to 35.9% for lentils. Substantial amounts of flatus-producing factors can be eliminated by common processing methods. Received: 12 May 1997 / Revised version: 17 July 1997     

The effect of popping,soaking, boiling and roasting processes on antinutritional factors in chickpeas and red kidney beans

This study was conducted to determine the effect that a popping head (like a rice cake machine), a low-shear and low-water processing technology, has on the concentration of antinutritional factors in chickpeas and red kidney beans. Seeds were popped under several parameters (popping time, sample format and equipment type) and analysed against soaking (1:5 w/v in reverse osmosis water for 24 h), roasting (100 g at 180 °C for 20 min) and boiling (1:5 w/v in reverse osmosis water at 100 ± 1 °C for 1 h) processes. Popping and roasting significantly reduced phytic acid content in chickpeas (6%–22%) and red kidney beans (16%–39%). In contrast, phytic acid content after soaking and boiling was not significantly different to raw seeds. Condensed tannins were significantly reduced in red kidney beans after soaking (74%), boiling (100%) and 4 s popping (28%–42%) treatments and increased in both pulses after roasting (137%) and 8 s popping (21%–47%). Further analysis showed that the soluble phenolic content increased with popping, but total and bound phenolic content was reduced. These results demonstrate that the high temperatures and pressures applied during the popping process effectively reduce antinutritional factors in pulses, compared to conventional processing methods.     

Saponins and sapogenins of chick pea,haricot bean and red kidney bean

The saponins of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), chick pea (Cicer arientinum) and haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) all contain soyasapogenol B as the only aglycone. The levels of soyasapogenol B estimated were: chick pea, 0·075%; haricot bean, 0·149%; and red kidney bean, 0·102%; on a defatted, dry weight basis. HPLC separation of the saponin preparations indicates the presence of at least five saponins in red kidney bean, five in haricot bean and two in chick pea. Retention time comparison of the saponin preparations indicates the possible presence of soyasaponin I in all three legumes and soyasaponin II in haricot and red kidney beans.     

Effect of cooking on the composition of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

The effect of cooking on levels of nutrients and anti-nutritional factors in beans and chickpeas was investigated. Significant (p < 0.05) variation existed among the beans and chickpeas with respect to their crude protein, starch, soluble dietary fiber (SDF), insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), total dietary fiber (TDF), resistant starch (RS), trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), mineral, phytic acid, tannin, sucrose and oligosaccharide (raffinose, stachyose and verbascose) contents. Cooking beans and chickpeas in water significantly increased protein, starch, SDF, IDF, TDF, Mn and P contents (on a dry weight basis), whereas reduced ash, K, Mg, TIA, tannin, sucrose and oligosaccharide contents were observed. Colored beans (black, cranberry, dark red kidney, pinto and small red bean) contained tannins, whereas little tannin in white-colored beans (great northern and white pea bean) and chickpeas (Desi and Kabuli type) was detected.     

Saponin content of food plants and some prepared foods

Quantitative thin layer chromatography was used to estimate the saponin content of 20 common food plants and also of foods prepared from some of them. The food plants found to be richest in saponins were chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), soya beans (Glycine max), lucerne (alfalfa) sprouts (Medicago sativa) and varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans, haricot beans, kidney beans). Saponins were not destroyed by processing or cooking. They were present in falafels (prepared from chickpeas), canned baked beans, canned broad beans and protein isolate from faba beans. However, the saponin content of a fermented soya bean product (tempe) was only half that of whole soya beans. Guar meal (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) contains saponins but only a trace could be detected in samples of guar gum.     

印度食用豆生产、消费及贸易概况

主要介绍了印度的食用豆生产、消费及进出口贸易情况.印度是世界最大的食用豆生产国,主要品种包括鹰嘴豆、芸豆、木豆和小扁豆,主要种植省份为中央邦、马哈拉施特拉邦、北方邦、拉贾斯坦邦以及安德拉邦.印度也是世界最大的食用豆消费国.印度主要进口食用豆,进口的主要品种是豌豆、绿豆、豇豆和菜豆;出口量相对较少,主要出口品种为鹰嘴豆.     

水解工艺对苦荞提取物中槲皮素含量的影响及其药代动力学研究

目的:以苦荞提取物为研究对象,通过正交实验设计优化苦荞提取物中芦丁被酸水解为槲皮素的工艺条件,并结合药代动力学研究探讨酸水解工艺对苦荞提取物中芦丁和槲皮素吸收的影响。方法:以盐酸百分含量、水解时间、乙醇百分含量、水解温度作为因素设计四因素三水平正交实验优化苦荞提取物中芦丁酸水解为槲皮素的工艺条件,以该工艺进行苦荞提取物酸水解,并在水解第1、2、4、6 h取样得到不同槲皮素含量的水解产物1、2、3、4。分别灌胃大鼠200 mg/kg的苦荞提取物及各水解产物,并在不同时间点采血,以黄芩素为内标,高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定血浆中槲皮素的浓度,DAS 2.0计算主要药代动力学参数。结果:苦荞提取物芦丁酸水解的最佳工艺参数为盐酸百分含量0.91%、水解时间6 h、乙醇百分含量50%、水解温度70 ℃,在该工艺条件下64.11%芦丁转化为槲皮素。苦荞提取物、水解产物1、2、3、4槲皮素的AUC_0-t分别为(17.604±5.422)、(42.175±9.435)、(87.917±19.347)、(116.706±46.256)、(178.509±49.478) mg/L·h,C_max分别为(2.743±1.217)、(7.109±2.603)、(12.438±3.197)、(15.727±4.68)、(20.044±5.736) mg/L。与苦荞提取物相比,其水解产物1、2、3、4的药代动力学参数AUC_0-t、C_max具有显著性差异(p<0.05)。结论:苦荞提取物经酸水解后部分芦丁转化为槲皮素,芦丁和槲皮素在大鼠体内的累计吸收量也相应提高。     

Effect of Cooking on Soluble and Insoluble Oxalate Contents in Selected Pakistani Vegetables and Beans

The present study evaluated the effects of cooking on the total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents in six different types of locally consumed vegetables and beans (spinach, carrots, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean). The foods were cooked in water until they reached the soft consistency (12–15 min for vegetable and 2 h for beans). The raw and cooked samples were analyzed for their soluble and insoluble oxalate contents using the HPLC techniques. The total oxalate content of raw spinach, carrot, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean, were found to be 978 ± 5, 49 ± 7, 67 ± 12, 158 ± 16, 113 ± 15, and 497 ± 22 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The total oxalate contents of these foods after boiling were 477 ± 8, 16 ± 9, 52 ± 14, 47 ± 17, 72 ± 17, and 224 ± 25 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The results showed that boiling significantly (P < 0.05) reduced both soluble and insoluble oxalate contents. More losses were observed in the soluble than the insoluble oxalates. The reduction in soluble oxalate in different vegetables ranged from 16 to 66% whereas in beans ranged from 40 to 77%. The data suggests that the use of boiled vegetables can be an effective strategy for reducing the dietary intake of oxalates in individuals predisposed to the development of kidney stones.     

Acrylamide in thermal-processed carbohydrate-rich foods from Chinese market

ABSTRACT

Acrylamide content in food market in China was determined with the goal to evaluate related health concern. In this survey, products of rice, potato corn, wheat as well as dried fruit slices and instant foods were analysed. All these types of thermal-processed carbohydrate-rich foods were frequently consumed in China. They were purchased from markets in Zhejiang province and analysed using a liquid chromatography tandem/mass spectrometry method. Acrylamide was detected in 94.3% of 105 investigated samples, ranging from 10 to 3649 μg/kg with an average value of 231 μg/kg and a median of 114 μg/kg. In this study, high levels were found in potato products (564 ± 285 μg/kg), corn products (524 ± 187 μg/kg) and instant foods (180 ± 35 μg/kg) while low levels were measured in rice products (82 ± 17 μg/kg), wheat products (96 ± 29 μg/kg) and dried fruit slices (83 ± 13 μg/kg).     

Phenolic composition and comparison of antioxidant activity of alcoholic extracts of Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) has long been regarded as a food and medicinal plant. At the present work, the antioxidant activity of the methanol, ethanol and methanol/ethanol (1:1) extracts of leaf fraction through various in vitro models was investigated in Iranian peppermints for the first time. Total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents were also determined. Our results showed the alcoholic extracts had different responses with different antioxidant methods. The methanol extract had maximum phenol content (3.57 ± 0.26 g Gallic acid/100 g Peppermint powder) and showed best superoxide radical (47.05 ± 0.85 %) and hydrogen peroxide (91.05 ± 1.50 %) scavenging activities. The methanol/ethanol (1:1) extract had maximum flavonoid (3.33 ± 0.12 g quercetin/100 g Peppermint powder) and anthocyanin contents (1.74 ± 0.21 g/100 g Peppermint powder) and showed best DPPH radical scavenging activity (82.82 ± 2.57 %, IC₅₀ = 10.02 ± 0.63 mg/mL) as well as ferric reducing power (184.22 ± 14.10 μmol/100 g Peppermint powder). The ethanol extract only showed the highest nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (80.13 ± 7.12 %). Chlorogenic acid, rutin, and caffeic acid were found by HPLC analysis of the main phenolic components. These results show, Peppermint alcoholic extracts can be used as a natural antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress in human beings and as a possible food supplement or in pharmaceutical applications.     

Validation of an Electrochemical Detection–High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Simultaneous Determination of Lignans in Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Flaxseed is a major source of lignans, which are important bioactive compounds. The aims of this work were to validate a liquid chromatographic method for the rapid and simultaneous determination of the main lignans in flaxseed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection and to analyze the composition of commercial samples of flaxseed. The performance criteria of the proposed method demonstrate that the method can be used for the analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), secoisolariciresinol (SECO), matairesinol (MATA), pinoresinol (PINO), lariciresinol (LARI), hydroxymatairesinol (HYDROXY), and isolariciresinol (ISOLARI) in flaxseeds at suitable levels. Calibration curves were determined for six different concentrations of standard solutions injected in triplicate. The sensitivity of the calibration curve was evaluated considering the confidence intervals of the intercept and slope. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 7.4 and 10.9 μg/l, respectively, for LARI and 17.7 and 37.5 μg/l, respectively, for MATA. The relative standard deviation of repeatability values were lower than 2.59 %, which are acceptable because the Horwitz ratio values were 0.1 for all of the lignans. The recoveries of lignans were in the range of 74–100 % of SECO, which are consistent with the literature. The precision of the proposed method was determined by analyzing four flaxseed samples of different years and varieties. SDG was the main lignan present in all the samples, followed by ISOLARI and HYDROXY.     

In vitro fermentability and antioxidant capacity of the indigestible fraction of cooked black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lentils (Lens culinaris L.) and chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

BACKGROUND: Pulses represent an important source of protein, as well as digestible and indigestible carbohydrates. Little information is available on the indigestible carbohydrates and antioxidant capacity of legume seeds. The cooked seeds of three pulses (black bean, chickpea and lentil) were evaluated for their indigestible fraction (IF), polyphenols content, antioxidant capacity and in vitro fermentability, including short‐chain fatty acid production. RESULTS: The insoluble indigestible fraction (IIF) was higher than the soluble counterpart (soluble indigestible fraction, SIF). The SIF value was highest in black beans, while no difference was observed between chickpeas and lentils. Black beans and lentils had higher polyphenols content than chickpeas. The IF of black beans exhibited the lowest and chickpeas the highest associated polyphenols content. Condensed tannins were retained to some extent in the IF that exhibited significant antioxidant capacity. The total IF of the three pulses produced short chain fatty acids (SCFA) after 24 h of in vitro fermentation by human colonic microflora. IF from black bean and lentil were best substrates for the fermentative production of butyric acid. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the IF of pulses might be an important source of bioactive compounds. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bioaccessibility of calcium, iron and zinc from three legume samples

Legumes can be a source of mineral elements but also of antinutritional factors which can affect their absorption. An in vitro method including gastrointestinal digestion was used to estimate mineral bioavailability. Soluble (bioaccessible) and insoluble calcium, iron and zinc from white beans, chickpeas and lentils were determined after gastrointestinal digestion. The influence of the original sample weight on the soluble mineral fraction was also estimated. The results obtained show that white beans are the legumes with the highest bioaccessible calcium and iron contents. Lentils have a high iron content but its bioaccessibility is much lower than that of iron from white beans and chickpeas. An increase in sample weight increases the amount of bioaccessible element available for intake, but the increase is not always proportional.     

Assessment of dietary phytoestrogen intake via plant-derived foods in China

The potential influence of dietary phytoestrogen exposure on human health during different life phases including early childhood is a matter of scientific debate. In order to improve the risk–benefit assessment of exposure to dietary phytoestrogen, reliable and age-stratified exposure data are desirable. For contributing to the database on phytoestrogen exposure, in the present study plant-derived foods from the Chinese market were analysed by LC-MS/MS for their contents of phytoestrogens, including daidzein, genistein, secoisolariciresinol, glycitein and coumestrol. The analytical data showed the presence of phytoestrogens in a concentration range of less than 0.1 to about 50 μg g^?1. Dietary intake was assessed on the basis of average food intake data obtained from interviewing 1000 randomly selected people with the help of food frequency questionnaires. Based on the overall population sampled, the average total phytoestrogen intake was estimated at 232 μg kg^?1 day^?1. Genistein contributed to about 66%, secoisolariciresinol and glycitein to about 10% each, and daidzein to about 7% of the overall intake. Coumestrol was present only in trace amounts. Age-related exposure assessment indicated that pre-pubertal children (aged 0–14 years) were exposed at the highest level with an average total phytoestrogen intake of 621 μg kg^?1 day^?1. The substantially higher average exposure of children as compared with adults should trigger further research into the potential health effects of early life exposure to phytoestrogen.     

Composition of underexploited Indian pulses. Comparison with common legumes

There is increasing interest in finding new food sources to alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. Moth beans and horse gram are two underexploited Indian legumes growing in adverse conditions but their composition is little-known. Total and resistant starch (RS), dietary fibre (DF) and soluble sugars including oligosaccharides were determined, along with protein, fat, ash and polyphenols. They were compared with other legumes common in Asian and Western countries: black gram, green gram, haricot beans and chickpeas. No apparent differences among the proximate compositions were observed. All samples were rich in DF (18–31% d.m.), made mainly of insoluble DF, whilst RS varied between 3.4 and 8.3%. Oligosaccharides were the main soluble sugars in all legumes; haricot beans and chickpeas were rich in sucrose. All legumes had a high content of non-digestible carbohydrates (37–48% of carbohydrates). In summary, from the composition study, moth beans and horse gram are of a good nutritional quality, making them suitable for more extensive uses.     

Rhodamine B in spices determined by a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method

Rhodamine B (RhB) is a banned food additive and has been classified as illegal colourant. Therefore, the risk of RhB contamination should be strictly monitored. In this study, a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method was applied to monitor RhB in 292 various spices such as chilli, pepper and tomato products. The results showed 22.7% of chilli powder samples, 18.5% of pepper powder samples, 11.1% of chilli oil samples and 9.1% of pepper oil samples were contaminated with RhB. Chilli powder contained RhB up to 44,935 μg/kg with an average of 743 μg/kg, pepper powder up to 65.9 μg/kg with an average of 4.1 μg/kg, chilli oil up to 14.6 μg/kg with an average of 1.0 μg/kg and pepper oil up to 1.1 μg/kg with an average of 0.2 μg/kg, respectively. Considering the common consumption of chilli products and pepper products by so many consumers, RhB exposure is significant and should be decreased.     

Comparison of the functional properties of pea,chickpea and lentil protein concentrates processed using ultrafiltration and isoelectric precipitation techniques

In this study, two methods, isoelectric precipitation (IEP) and ultrafiltration (UF) were optimised for the extraction of proteins from yellow pea, desi and kabuli chickpeas, red and green lentils. For IEP, the following optimal extraction conditions were used: pH 9.5, 1/15 solid/liquid ratio, 35 °C for yellow pea, desi and kabuli chickpeas, and pH 9.0, 1/10 solid/liquid ratio, 25 °C for red and green lentils. UF experiments were performed with a 50 kDa MWCO membrane with diafiltration (4X) at pH 6.0. The initial protein content of the pulses (16.7–24.8%, w/w) was concentrated nearly 4-fold. UF process generated concentrates with slightly higher protein contents (69.1–88.6%, w/w) compared to the IEP process (63.9–81.7%, w/w). Yields for both processes on a protein basis ranged from 50.3% to 69.1% (w/w). All concentrates exhibited good functional properties. However, functional properties varied to some extent as a function of the type of pulse and manufacturing process. For pH ranging from 1 to 3 and from 7 to 10, the red and green lentil concentrates were the most soluble (70–77%) and their UF concentrates were more soluble at all pH values studied compared to the IEP samples which was not the case for the pea and chickpea samples. Water holding capacity was highest for IEP-processed yellow pea and lowest for the UF-processed desi and kabuli chickpeas. Emulsifying properties and foam expansion were generally higher for the chickpea concentrates but they had less foam stability. Protein extracts from green lentils appeared to have the best gelling properties. The results highlight the technological potential of pulse protein extracts for food applications.