Picrate paper kits for determination of total cyanogens in cassava roots and all forms of cyanogens in cassava products

The simple semiquantitative picrate method for the determination of total cyanogens in cassava flour has been modified by increasing the concentration of the picrate solution used to make up the picrate papers, such that a linear Beer's Law relation between absorbance and cyanogen content is obtained over the range 0–800 mg HCN equivalents kg⁻¹ cassava. The method has been adapted to determine the total cyanogen content of cassava roots and the results compared using the picrate method and the acid hydrolysis method for six different roots from five cultivars. The agreement between the results is satisfactory. The simple method for determination of total cyanogens in cassava roots in the field is available in kit form. The methodology has been modified to allow determination of the three different forms of cyanogens present in cassava flour, viz HCN/CN⁻, acetone cyanohydrin and linamarin. HCN/CN⁻ is determined by the picrate method in which cassava flour is reacted with 0.1 M sulphuric acid for 3 h at room temperature. HCN/CN⁻ plus acetone cyanohydrin is also determined by the picrate method after treating cassava flour with 4.2 M guanidine hydrochloride at pH 8 for 3 h at room temperature. A comparison has been made of the amounts of the three cyanogens present in six cassava flour samples using the semiquantitative picrate and the acid hydrolysis methods. The agreement between the two methods is satisfactory, which shows that the new methodology works well. The picrate method for determination of the three cyanogens in cassava flour is also available as a kit. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutritional,Functional and Physical Properties of Extrudates from Blends of Cassava Flour with Cereal and Legume Flours

Low protein and poor functionality limit the use of cassava flour in snack foods, which were modified using blends with cereal and/or legume flours. Native, malted (using alpha-amylase) as well as malted and pre-gelatinized was blended with cereal (finger millet and whole wheat flours) and/or legume (chick pea flour). Extrudates were prepared at a screw speed of 100 rpm and die temperature of 180 °C. Malted flour based extrudates had lower starch content than native flour. Gram malted cassava based blends gave products with the highest protein. In vitro starch digestibility was the highest for pre-gelatinized flour based mixes. Extrudates with low fat and energy have scope as low calorie snacks for obese and diabetic people.     

Evaluation of the quality characteristics of flour and pasta from fermented cassava roots

The study investigated the effect of fermentation of cassava roots on the quality characteristics of flour and pasta. Cassava roots were fermented under natural condition for a period of 12, 36 and 60 h. Physicochemical properties, microbial analysis, pasting properties, in vitro digestibility, X-ray diffraction analysis of cassava flour, cooking properties, texture profile analysis (TPA) and sensory properties of the pasta were examined. The moisture content, carbohydrate, water absorption capacity, swelling and solubility index of fermented flour increased with an increase in fermentation period. Also, as fermentation progressed, increase in pasting viscosities of cassava flour was observed. The resistant starch (RS) content of cassava flour decreased with increasing period of fermentation. The duration of fermentation process significantly affected textural properties and cooking loss of cassava pasta. Sensory assessment showed that cassava roots fermented for 36 h gave pasta with the most acceptable qualities.     

食用木薯块根及其制品中生氰糖苷检测方法的建立与应用

生氰糖苷含量的高低对评估食用木薯块根及其制品的食用安全性及其重要。以木薯块根和木薯粉为试材,本研究建立了亚麻苦苷和百脉根苷2种生氰糖苷（Cyanogenic Glycosides,CNGs）的快速提取和高效液相色谱-蒸发光散射（HPLC-ELSD）检测的方法,分析了不同品种木薯块根、木薯粉及其制品中CNGs含量变化。结果表明,食用木薯块根及木薯粉中CNGs提取最佳的硫酸溶液浓度分别为0.025和0.100 mol/L;HPLC-ELSD检测方法可有效分离亚麻苦苷和百脉根苷,其浓度在4.1～820.0 mg/L和2.5～250.0 mg/L范围内线性相关性较好,相关系数（r）分别达到了0.9996和0.9993,检测限（LOD）分别为2.1和0.5 mg/kg,定量限（LOQ）分别为8.2和2.0 mg/kg;该方法重复性和样品稳定性的标准偏差（RSD）都低于5.0%;木薯块根和木薯粉中2种CNGs的平均加标回收率分别在89.3%～96.3%和107.5%～114.9%之间,重复间RSD小于3.4%。样品验证结果表明:不同的木薯品种CNGs含量差异较大;种植8～9个月的木薯制备木薯粉CNGs含量较低;蒸煮加工方式可有效清除木薯食品中CNGs。本方法操作简单、稳定性较好、准确度高,在食用木薯块根及其制品中CNGs的分析与评价等研究方面具有较强的应用前景。     

Whey Protein Concentrate Fortified Baked Goods from Cassava-Based Composite Flours: Nutritional and Functional Properties

Composite flours are extensively used in the bakery industry to develop designer food products, having specific nutritional or functional properties. Though rich in carbohydrate, cassava flour has not been properly exploited for making bakery products, mainly because of its low protein content contributing to poor dough characteristics. Induced malting using amylolytic enzymes and pregelatinization through hydrothermal cooking were tried to modify the textural and functional attributes of cassava flour, which was then blended with various cereal and legume additives as well as rice bran and used for making two baked products such as muffins and biscuits. Whey protein concentrate (WPC) was added to fortify protein in all the formulations. Pseudo-malted cassava flour-based muffins and biscuits had lower starch content (36–44% and 36.5–41.2%, respectively) than similar products from unmalted cassava flour (39–46% and 43.75%, respectively). The crude protein content of the muffins and biscuits from WPC fortified composite mixes ranged from 7.96% to 14.36% and 9.63% to 11.00%, respectively, which was significantly higher than the native cassava flour (1.30%). Besides, the total dietary fiber could be enhanced to the extent of 1.54–3.10% in muffins and 1.70–2.61% in biscuits, through fortification with cereal and/or legume flours or bran sources, which is also considerable when compared to only 0.435% in native cassava flour. In vitro starch digestibility was the lowest for cassava (unmalted)-/rice bran-based muffins (25.02 units) and cassava (unmalted)-/finger millet flour-based biscuits (36.08 units), indicating the potential of these combinations for making therapeutic baked products for obese and diabetic people. Spread ratio and spread factor were the least (9.27 and 60.99, respectively) for the biscuits made with unmalted cassava/finger millet mixes, while use of Termamyl pseudo-malted cassava/finger millet raised the spread ratio to 11.11 and spread factor to 73.09.     

Impact of genotype,crop age and planting season on the breadmaking and gelatinisation properties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Flour

The breadmaking potential of cassava flour (in cassava flour/defatted soya flour/glyceryl monostearate recipes (80/20/3, w/w/w)) is not merely dependent on the age of the crop at harvest, but also on the season of planting and time of harvesting. Effects of cassava genotype are less important for determining bread quality. In flours obtained from crops harvested at different times after planting, differences in gelatinisation onset temperatures measured by Brabender visco-amylography and by differential scanning calorimetry accounted for the observed differences in breadmaking potential of cassava flour of single genotypes and planting seasons to some extent. Cassava starch produced breads with a drier crumb, with a finer structure and with a more bulged crust than cassava flour. Differentiations in baking performance between starch samples, although smaller, still existed. This showed that the breadmaking potential of cassava flour samples is determined both by the starch and by the non-starch fractions. Differentiation of cassava samples in the breadmaking process did not occur at the mixing or fermentation stage of the batter but during baking.     

Influence of enzyme active and inactive soy flours on cassava and corn starch properties

The aim of this work was to study the influence of enzyme active and inactive soy flours on the properties of cassava and corn starches. Four starch/soy flour composites were evaluated: cassava/active soy flour (Cas/AS), cassava/inactive soy flour (Cas/IS), corn/active soy flour (Corn/AS) and corn/inactive soy flour (Corn/IS). Starch gelatinization occurred at 58.67°C for Cas and at 64.19°C for corn; gelatinization occurred at higher temperatures when soy flours were present, while ΔH diminished. The presence of AS reduced 80% the retrogradation enthalpy of Cas and 40% that of corn. Cas presented lower pasting temperature than corn starch (67.8 and 76.8°C, respectively) and higher peak viscosity (427.9 and 232.8 BU, respectively). The pasting properties of both starches were drastically reduced by soy flours, and this effect was more noticeable in Cas; AS had higher effect than IS. X‐ray diffraction pattern of retrograded samples showed that both starches recrystallisation (mainly that of Cas) was reduced when AS was added. Tan δ values decreased with AS addition to corn, but they increased when added to Cas. The images obtained using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that IS was distributed as large aggregates, whereas AS distribution was more homogeneous, especially when incorporated to Cas. These results show that cassava starch interacts specifically with active soy flour (AS, mainly in native state). The delaying effect of AS on cassava starch retrogradation was clearly shown. This finding could be useful in obtaining gluten‐free breads of high quality and low retrogradation rate.     

Short‐duration cassava genotypes for crop diversification in the humid tropics: growth dynamics,biomass, yield and quality

BACKGROUND: Short‐duration (6–7 months) cassava provides opportunities to smallholder farmers for effective utilisation of resources such as land, moisture and nutrients as well as diversification of enterprise and income. The variation in biomass production and partitioning, seasonal course of growth indices, yield, quality and nutrient uptake of ten short‐duration/early‐bulking genotypes of cassava and their impact on nutrient contents in soil in a lowland situation akin to rice fallow were examined in this study. RESULTS: Triploid 2–18 gave the highest yield (38.34 t ha^?1), followed by triploid 4‐2, Sree Vijaya, Sree Jaya and Vellayani Hraswa, which were on a par (30–32 t ha^?1). Vellayani Hraswa, Sree Vijaya and triploid 4‐2 had significantly higher tuberous root dry matter content (370–380 mg g^?1) and fairly higher starch content (270–280 mg g^?1). All genotypes except triploid 4‐2, triploid 2–18 and H‐165 had low cyanogen content (29.2–43.8 µg g^?1), well within the tolerable limit. Tuberous root dry matter and total dry matter production, crop growth rate, tuberous root bulking rate and harvest index at the last phase, number of tuberous roots, mean weight of tuberous roots and nutrient uptake showed significant positive correlations with tuberous root yield. Principal component analysis also showed a similar trend. CONCLUSION: The diploids Sree Vijaya, Sree Jaya, Vellayani Hraswa and Kalpaka are ideal for cultivation in rice fallow for food use owing to their high yield, good cooking quality and low cyanogen content. The triploids are better suited for industrial use owing to their high tuberous root dry biomass production. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physicochemical properties of the starchy flour extracted from sweet potato tubers through lactic acid fermentation

The efficiency of starch extraction from sweet potato tubers was improved by lactic acid fermentation using a mixed culture inoculum. Study of the properties of the starchy flour showed that there was a significant reduction in the starch content and consequently the soluble and apparent amylose contents of fermented samples from all six varieties used. A fall in peak viscosity and viscosity breakdown was observed for fermented samples, while the pasting temperature was enhanced significantly. The fermented flour showed greater solubility and reduced swelling. Differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated a delay in gelatinisation and a fall in enthalpy of gelatinisation of the starch on fermentation. Unlike cassava, all the properties of the starch from sweet potato tubers, ie viscosity, swelling, solubility, gelatinisation temperature, amylose content and starch content, were affected by fermentation, and variation was also observed among cultivars. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rapid wetting method to reduce cyanogen content of cassava flour

In 2005 a simple wetting method was developed that reduced total cyanide content of cassava flour 3–6-fold. The method involved spreading wet flour in a thin layer and standing in the shade for five hours to allow evolution of HCN gas. We found that breakdown of linamarin catalysed by linamarase to acetone cyanohydrin, followed by its spontaneous decomposition to HCN and acetone was greatly increased by standing the wet flour in the sun. Treatment for two hours in the sun gave the same amount of total cyanide remaining as five hours in the shade. This rapid treatment in the sun may be more acceptable to rural women in Democratic Republic of Congo, than five hours in the shade. The two methods are offered as alternatives for use in rural Africa. With adequate linamarase present the residual cyanogen remaining after the wetting treatment was acetone cyanohydrin.     

The effect of pre‐harvest pruning of cassava upon root deterioration and quality characteristics

One of the major constraints of cassava as a crop is its perishability. Physiological deterioration, parenchymal blue–black vascular streaking, often starts within 24 h after harvest. This paper presents the results of a detailed study of the effects of pre‐harvest pruning upon post‐harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) and some other quality characteristics. Six cultivars, grown at CIAT (Centro International de Agricultura Tropical), with varying intrinsic susceptibility to PPD, were assessed at pruning–harvest intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28 and 39 days. After harvesting, the roots were analysed. For the unpruned plants a low susceptibility was found to coincide with a low dry matter content and a high sugar content. After pruning, the susceptibility for all cultivars was drastically reduced, reaching a minimum of around 25% of the original value for a pruning–harvest interval of up to 25 days. Beyond this interval the plants slowly develop new leaf canopy, normal assimilation sets in again and the starch content increases. Analysis of the cassava roots revealed a relationship between the combined sugar and starch contents and the interval duration, and that sugar and starch contents were inversely related to each other. The sugar content increased with the interval period, probably as a result of starch hydrolysis. Other properties such as the contents of dry matter, cyanogen, scopoletin, amylose and reducing sugars and the starch pasting properties were not affected by pruning to a comparable, interval‐dependent, extent. It is concluded that the sugar content, ie the sugar/starch ratio, of cassava roots is positively related to their resistance to post‐harvest physiological deterioration. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical,functional and physicochemical properties of flour from cassava stored under freezing

Cassava root spoils rapidly after harvest but can be well preserved by storing under freezing. This study investigated the functional, chemical and physicochemical properties of flour produced from frozen cassava roots. Freezing period did not significantly (p < 0.05) alter the moisture, ash, fat and fibre, but had slight effect on the carbohydrate and protein contents of the flour. Lightness, yellowness index and bulk densities of the flour samples reduced with freezing period. While freezing did not significantly (p < 0.05) change the ability of the flour samples to absorb oil, a slight but significant increase in the water absorption capacity was observed. Potassium (1.29–3.46 mg/kg), sodium (1.24–1.28 mg/kg), and calcium (0.94–1.34 mg/kg) were the major minerals in the cassava flour samples. The cyanide content (10.80–22.95 mg/kg) reduced as freezing days increased but peak, setback, breakdown and final viscosities did not follow a particular pattern. The information from this study is important to further determine the industrial potentials of flour from stored cassava roots.     

木薯全粉面条配方的优化

以华南9号木薯全粉替代小麦面粉为原料,辅以谷朊粉、黄原胶、乙酰化二淀粉磷酸酯等改良剂制备木薯全粉面条,通过单因素和正交实验优化木薯全粉面条配方,考察指标包括感官评价、断条率及蒸煮损失率。确定木薯全粉面条的最佳配方为:谷朊粉用量6%(g/100 g木薯全粉),黄原胶用量1.5%,乙酰化二淀粉磷酸酯用量9%,食盐用量1%,热水(95±2) ℃用量为56%(g/100 g总原料粉)。用最佳配方制作面条,氢氰酸未检出,食用安全;熟断条率为0%,蒸煮损失率为7.8%,均符合挂面行业标准(LS/T 3212-2014)指标要求,表明使用木薯全粉制作面条技术是可行的。     

Total cyanide determination of plants and foods using the picrate and acid hydrolysis methods

A general method has been developed for determination of the total cyanide content of all cyanogenic plants and foods. Ten cyanogenic substrates (cassava, flax seed, sorghum and giant taro leaves, stones of peach, plum, nectarine and apricot, apple seeds and bamboo shoot) were chosen, as well as various model compounds, and the total cyanide contents determined by the acid hydrolysis and picrate kit methods. The hydrolysis of cyanoglucosides in 2 M sulfuric acid at 100^oC in a glass stoppered test tube causes some loss of HCN which is corrected for by extrapolation to zero time. However, using model compounds including replicate analyses on amygdalin, the picrate method is found to be more accurate and reproducible than the acid hydrolysis method. The picrate kit method is available free of charge to workers in developing countries for determination of cyanide in cassava roots and cassava products, flax seed, bamboo shoots and cyanide containing leaves. For eleven different samples of flax seed and flax seed meal the total cyanide content was 140–370 ppm. Bamboo shoots contained up to 1600 ppm total cyanide in the tip reducing to 110 ppm in the base. The total cyanide content of sorghum leaves was 740 ppm 1 week after germination but reduced to 60 ppm 3 weeks later. The acid hydrolysis method is generally applicable to all plants, but is much more difficult to use and is less accurate and reproducible than the picrate method, which is the method of choice for plants of importance for human food.     

细度对食用木薯粉理化品质和消化特性的影响

以食用木薯粉为主要研究对象,研究不同细度食用木薯粉理化品质、加工特性、消化和热分解特性。结果表明:不同细度食用木薯粉的淀粉含量和粗蛋白含量达显著差异,其中80目的蛋白质含量最高;而溶胀度、可溶性分别与细度呈负相关和正相关关系;从热分解特性看,不同细度食用木薯粉DSC曲线具有两个峰值温度,而80目食用木薯粉焓变最大,达到-882.88 kJ/kg,热稳定性差。进一步研究其消化特性发现,食用木薯粉细度越大,其快速消化淀粉(RDS)含量越高,但慢消化淀粉(SDS)含量则相反。相关分析表明,粗蛋白含量分别与RDS、SDS呈极显著负相关(-0.740 71)和正相关(0.866 28)。细度不仅显著影响木薯粉的稳定性,还决定木薯粉的消化性能。     

Development of a sensitive picrate method to determine total cyanide and acetone cyanohydrin contents of gari from cassava

The sensitivity of the normal picrate method for determination of total cyanide in cassava was increased tenfold using a small 1 cm² picrate paper, eluted using 0.5 mL instead of 5 mL of water as in the normal method. The absorbance was measured in a 2 mm cuvette in the spectrophotometer. The sensitive method was calibrated against the normal picrate method. The total cyanide content in mg HCN equivalents/kg sample = ppm, is calculated from the absorbance (A) by the equation ppm = A × 45.7 which is applicable from 0.1 to 50 ppm. A new method to determine acetone cyanohydrin was developed based on irreversible denaturation of linamarase in 0.1 M HCl at 30 °C for 1 h. Five gari samples from Mozambique gave a mean total cyanide content of 12 ppm (range 6–15 ppm) and mean acetone cyanohydrin content of 11 ppm (range 5–14 ppm). Acetone cyanohydrin liberates cyanide quantitatively in the human intestine.     

Amaranth flour,cassava starch and cassava bagasse in the production of gluten‐free pasta: technological and sensory aspects

The objective of the present research was to analyse the combined effect of pregelatinised cassava starch and bagasse (70:30) flour, cassava starch and amaranth flour on the cooking properties of pasta, verify the acceptance and buying intention of the product with the best technological characteristics, and finally compare them with commercial products made with regular and whole wheat flour. The vermicelli‐type pasta obtained in this study in the proportion of 10:60:30 (pre‐gelatinised flour:cassava starch:amaranth flour) showed the best results in the quality tests, with a cooking time of 3 min, mass increase of 101.5% and 0.6% solids loss to the cooking water, superior to the commercial pasta. Acceptance testing showed that this was a very good pasta (score of 7.2 on a 9‐point scale) and obtained 42% buying intention amongst the consumers. The elaboration of pasta containing pregelatinised cassava starch and bagasse (70:30) flour, cassava starch and amaranth flour was shown to be a feasible alternative with respect to the technological and sensory aspects, and could be consumed by those suffering from gluten intolerance.     

Effect of steam-hydrothermal treatment (SHTT) on the physico-chemical properties of cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz)

Effect of steam-hydrothermal treatment (SHTT) on functional properties of cassava was studied using fresh tubers of cultivar Malayan-4 (M-4). Fresh slices were steam-processed for 5, 10 and 20 min at atmospheric pressure. Plain-dried samples were also prepared for comparison. SHTT samples were found to have higher rehydration capacity, equilibrium moisture content by soaking (EMC-S), and sedimentation volume at room temperature (28–30° C). These samples also showed a lower amylose content than plain-dried samples. Electrolytes like sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and sodium phosphate at 1–0 N concentration changed the sedimentation volume, especially of SHTT sample:. Paste stability of steam-processed samples at cooking temperature (95° C) was relatively higher than plain-dried ones. Among the three SHTT samples, that steam-processed for 10 min showed the highest paste consistency and set-back ratio. X-ray diffraction pattern of flour prepared from SHTT samples indicated a clear shift from crystalline to a partially amorphous state. Infra-red spectra of cassava starch and flour samples were generally identical.     

A comparison of simple methods for estimating starch content of cassava roots

A comparison of simple methods for estimating starch content of cassava roots showed a strong relationship between root specific gravity and root dry matter content. In the absence of drying facilities a specific gravity balance appears adequate to separate root samples according to dry matter content. A strong relationship between root specific gravity and starch content was observed using a maceration/sieving technique. This relationship was close to a published relationship based on chemical analysis. Root dry matter content may be used as an indication of starch content but care should be exercised in using linear conversions until more information becomes available. Existing conversion tables from root specific gravity to starch content and the starch content calibrations on the Reimann balance used, grossly underestimated starch content of the samples analysed.     

New opportunities for gluten-free diet:teff (Eragrostis tef) as fibre source in baking products

This study assessed physicochemical parameters of high fibre and gluten-free breads made with teff and associated flours. Four breads samples were developed: wheat flour (T1), teff flour (T2), teff flour + cassava starch + rice flour (T3 and T4). Hedonic evaluation of sensory attributes characterising the samples was performed by coeliac and non-coeliac subjects. Breads made with different percentages of teff flour showed huge amount of total and insoluble fibres. The wheat bread presented the highest values for pH and the texture parameters analysed, except for crumb hardness and elasticity. The sensory analysis showed that all samples made with teff were well accepted by coeliac and non-coeliac subjects. Purchase intention and the acceptability index suggested a potential market success for the developed products. Teff flour showed promising use for its technological and nutritional values as well as sensory properties, supporting the hypothesis that it is possible to develop new gluten-free bakery products without decreasing consumers’ satisfaction.