The Effects of Protein‐Rich Fraction and Defatting on Pasting Behavior of Chickpea Starch

Starch and protein‐rich fractions were isolated from both defatted and undefatted chickpea flour. Starch with a high purity was obtained by the isolation method used. Each of the protein‐rich fractions was added to the respective starch fraction at different levels to obtain mixtures with a range of protein contents. The viscosities of these mixtures were analyzed using the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). Increased protein content of the starch and protein‐rich fraction mixtures, obtained from defatted chickpea flour, resulted in distinctive resistance to shear thinning. The same behavior was not observed in case of starch and protein‐rich fraction mixtures obtained from undefatted chickpea flour. Undefatted samples exhibited a sharp pasting peak in RVA curves as generally expected from starch‐based systems, but unexpectedly, a sharp peak was not observed in defatted samples having protein content up to 4.8%. Peak, breakdown and cold‐stage viscosity values of the mixtures obtained from undefatted chickpea flour were higher than those of defatted ones at the corresponding protein levels. The results implied that the lipids and their interaction with starch played an effective role in the gelatinization, pasting and cooling stage viscosity values of the RVA curves.     

Air Classification and Extrusion of Navy Bean Fractions

Pilot plant air classification or raw beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) produced high-protein fractions (HPF) containing 51.4% protein and high-starch fractions (HSF) having about 50% starch. Particle size distribution analyses and scanning electron micrographs confinned the fractionation of starchy and proteinaceous materials. Extruded corn/HSF blends had lower water absorption and water solubility indices, higher protein content, and a better balanced amino acid pattern than pure corn extrudates. Extrusion-texturized vegetable proteins obtained by substituting HPF for defatted soy flour at levels of 10, 20 and 30% had similar functional properties as the 100% texturized soy. Air classification followed by extrusion-cooking is a feasible alternative for dry-processing of beans into products for human consumption.     

Quantification of monomeric and polymeric wheat proteins and the relationship of protein fractions to wheat quality

Wheat protein composition is important for understanding the biochemical basis of wheat quality. The objective of this study was to design a simple protein fractionation protocol with low cross‐contamination and to show that these protein fractions were associated with wheat quality. The protocol consists of three sequential extractions from 100 mg of flour with 7.5% propan‐1‐ol and 0.3 M sodium iodide (monomeric‐rich protein), 50% propan‐1‐ol (soluble glutenin‐rich protein) and 40% propan‐1‐ol and 0.2% dithiothreitol (insoluble glutenin‐rich protein). Nitrogen content of protein solubility groups was determined from dry residues using an automated combustion nitrogen analyser. About 90% of the total protein in the flour was solubilised. Cross‐contamination of protein fractions was evaluated by SDS‐PAGE, SE‐HPLC and RP‐HPLC. Variation in nitrogen content of the protein solubility fractions was lowest for monomeric‐rich protein (<2%) and insoluble glutenin‐rich protein (<4%). Three wheats with similar high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition, Alpha 16, Glenlea and Roblin, varied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the proportion of monomeric‐rich and insoluble glutenin‐rich protein in the flour. Dough rheological properties were directly related to the proportion of insoluble glutenin‐rich protein and inversely related to the proportion of monomeric‐rich protein. The protocol was validated using an expanded set of 11 wheats which also showed that inter‐cultivar differences in the proportion of monomeric‐rich, insoluble glutenin‐rich protein and glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio in the flour governed dough rheological properties such as mixograph, farinograph and microextension tests. The protocol has merit for quality screening in wheat‐breeding programmes when the sample size is too small or when time constraints limit the ability to perform traditional rheological tests. For the Department of Agriculture and Agri‐Food, Government of Canada, Copyright © Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2003. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular characteristics of native sago starch and isolated fractions determined using asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation

The apparent average molar masses (M_w,app), apparent average radii of gyration (R_g,app), of native sago starch and fractions were determined using asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation coupled with multi‐angle light scattering and refractive index detectors (AF4/MALS/RI). Amylose‐type (Fraction A) and amylopectin‐type (Fraction B) were chemically separated from native sago starch. Native sago starch and Fractions (A–B) were dissolved in 1M KSCN using a high pressure microwave vessel. The effect of varying cross flow rates at a fixed channel flow rate upon the M_w,app and R_g,app distributions of native sago starch and Fractions (A–B) were investigated. The average M_w,app values of native sago starch, Fraction (A) and Fraction (B) were 60 × 10⁶, 1.5 × 10⁶ and 60 × 10⁶ g/mol, respectively, with average R_g,app values of 142, 75 and 127 nm, respectively. The sphere‐equivalent hydrodynamic radii (R_h) values for native sago starch and fractions were determined from AF4 experimental parameters.     

Rapid small‐scale starch isolation using a combination of ultrasonic sonication and sucrose density separation

The proposed rapid small‐scale starch isolation technique in the laboratory was a combination of dry grinding of grain, suspension of the resulting flour in extraction buffer, application of ultrasonic sonication, then separation by sucrose density centrifugation. Light microscopy of separated fractions showed intact starch granules in the pellet and proteins and damaged starch in the top layer. The extraction method yielded 61% starch from sorghum and 63% from maize. The isolated starch showed lower starch damage and proteins content than by the conventional method. The gelatinization enthalpy of isolated starch was slightly higher than by wet grinding conventional method. In addition to low amount of starting flour (100 mg) the new starch isolation method was performed in less than 2 h from dry grinded seed to dried starch. Thus, it could be a useful method for cereal chemists and plant genetists.     

Effect of seed treatments on the chemical composition and properties of two amaranth species: starch and protein

The seeds of two Amaranth species were studied. The starch contents were 543 and 623 g kg^?1 while crude protein contents were 154 and 169 g kg^?1 for Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus seeds, respectively. The effect of several treatments, including cooking, popping and germination and flour air classification on the protein and starch properties were studied. Air classification decreased the starch content and increased the protein content, while heating increased the protein but did not affect the starch content. Germination decreased both starch and protein contents. Amylose content was increased by air classification and heating, but was not affected by germination. It was found that all treatments increased the starch swelling power and reduced the falling number. The resistant starch content was increased in the high protein flour (HPF) fraction and germinated flour compared with the raw flour, while its content decreased in the heat treated seed flours. These processes also affected the starch gelatinization temperature and peak viscosity. The thermal properties of the starch flour were not affected by air classification while gelatinization energy was decreased significantly (by 52.0 and 90.0% and by 70.0 and 95.0%) in cooked and popped A caudatus and A cruentus seed flours, respectively. The gelatinization energy was highest in germinated seeds dried at 90 °C with values of 2.67 and 3.87 J g^?1. Air classification reduced the level of all protein fractions. Thermal treatment decreased the water‐soluble fraction (albumins + globulins) and alcohol‐soluble fraction (prolamins) in both species. The levels of all fractions except the water‐soluble fraction (albumins + globulins) were reduced significantly in both species by germination, which mainly increased the amount of aspartic acid, serine and alanine, while the amounts of threonine, arginine and tyrosine decreased in both species. The polypeptide bands of the HPF in both species were unchanged compared with the raw seed flours, but more intensive coloured bands were observed. Thermal treatments eliminated major and minor bands above 35.0 KDa in both species. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Analysis of Starch in Food Systems by High‐Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography

Starch has unique physicochemical characteristics among food carbohydrates. Starch contributes to the physicochemical attributes of food products made from roots, legumes, cereals, and fruits. It occurs naturally as distinct particles, called granules. Most starch granules are a mixture of 2 sugar polymers: a highly branched polysaccharide named amylopectin and a basically linear polysaccharide named amylose. The starch contained in food products undergoes changes during processing, which causes changes in the starch molecular weight and amylose to amylopectin ratio. The objective of this study was to develop a new, simple, 1‐step, and accurate method for simultaneous determination of amylose and amylopectin ratio as well as weight‐averaged molecular weights of starch in food products. Starch from bread flour, canned peas, corn flake cereal, snack crackers, canned kidney beans, pasta, potato chips, and white bread was extracted by dissolving in KOH, urea, and precipitation with ethanol. Starch samples were solubilized and analyzed on a high‐performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) system. To verify the identity of the peaks, fractions were collected and soluble starch and beta‐glucan assays were performed additional to gas chromatography analysis. We found that all the fractions contain only glucose and soluble starch assay is correlated to the HPSEC fractionation. This new method can be used to determine amylose amylopectin ratio and weight‐averaged molecular weight of starch from various food products using as low as 25 mg dry samples.     

Wet separation of wheat flours into starch and gluten fractions: the combined effects of water to flour ratio–dough maturation time and the effects of flour aging and ascorbic acid addition

The process of making a dough, allowing time for maturation, dispersing the dough in water and wet sieving/washing to obtain a protein fraction and starch milk was studied using response surface methodology by changing the water to flour ratio in dough making (400–710 g kg^?1), maturation time (45–660 s) and the type of flour. Two grades of bread wheat flour and durum clear flour were studied. The effects of aging at ambient temperature for up to 29 days and the addition of ascorbic acid at 100 or 500 mg kg^?1 flour on separation behaviour were also studied for freshly milled high‐grade (65% extraction) bread wheat flours at constant maturation time, 600 s, and at optimum farinograph water absorption value. The quantities and dry matter contents of the protein fraction and starch milk were measured; a sample of starch milk was centrifuged to obtain decantate, tailings and prime starch fractions, and the dry matter contents of each were determined. All the dried samples were also analysed for protein content. The fractional recoveries of dry matter and protein in the protein fraction, prime starch, tailings and decantate were calculated for each experiment. The acid values of flour oils were also determined on some aged flour samples. The results indicated superior separation characteristics in high‐grade wheat flour compared with lower‐grade flours. The water to flour ratio was more influential than maturation time within the range studied. Contrary to the initial expectation, no statistically significant effect of flour aging was observed in the studies with no additive, and ascorbic acid addition was not found to improve the wet separation behaviour, the separation behaviour becoming even worse at the 100 mg kg^?1 level. Acid value showed a slight increase with time. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Microbiological and physico‐chemical characteristics of fufu analogue from breadfruit (Altocarpus altilis F)

Breadfruit was processed into a novel form analogous to retted cassava or fufu. The fruits and cassava tubers were each peeled, comminuted and fermented for 5 days. The slurries obtained were dewatered, oven‐dried at 50?C and then milled to flour. Microbial and physico‐chemical analyses of the flour samples were evaluated. During fermentation, total viable count, lactic acid bacteria count and yeast/mould count of breadfruit increased from 2.9 × 10⁴ to 64 × 10⁵, 24.8 × 10⁵ to 11.9 and 6.7 × 10⁵ to 2.6 × 10⁶, respectively. Corresponding increases were recorded for cassava. The ?Brix of the steep waters increased steadily while the pH decreased over the fermentation period. Pasting characteristics of breadfruit recorded for unfermented breadfruit starch were higher than those of fermented starch (P < 0.05). Processing of breadfruit into a culturally familiar form analogous to fufu will increase the utilisation of breadfruit, especially in several food deficit countries where fermented cassava products are already accepted as staple foods.     

Investigation of Dry‐Heated Hard and Soft Wheat Flour

The Amylograph profile of dry‐heated (120°C, 120 min) wheat flour showed a drastic change, i.e. an earlier onset time and higher peak viscosity than that of a control. However, no difference in the size of the starch granules was observed between dry‐heated and normal starch at every temperature. Wheat flour was fractionated with acetic acid, and the separated prime starch (PS) and tailings (T) fractions were dry‐heated at 120°C for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, respectively. There was almost no difference in the RVA and DSC profiles between PS and dry‐heated PS, and T and dry‐heated T fractions, i.e., dry heating of wheat flour did not change the structures of starch that would be related to onset time and peak viscosity in the Amylograph profile. We thus excluded the water solubles (WS) fractions from control and dry‐heated wheat flour, but the effect of dry heating on the Amylograph profile was not lost. Next, the gluten (G) fraction was excluded following WS fraction from these wheat flours, and Amylograph tests were performed. The Amylograph profiles in both wheat flours were almost coincidental, which showed that the G fraction in dry‐heated wheat flour caused the earlier onset time and higher peak viscosity.     

Determination of the mass‐specific distribution of the substituents in cationic starch derivatives

The mass‐specific charge distribution in molar mass fractions of cationic starch derivatives was investigated. The molar mass fractions were produced by semi‐preparative SEC (SP‐SEC). The derivatives were cut into an amylopectin‐rich fraction F1, an intermediate fraction F2, containing low molar mass amylopectin and high molar mass amylose, and an amylose‐rich fraction F3. The weight‐average molar mass (M_w) and molar mass distribution (MMD) of the fractions were determined by SEC with multi‐angle laser light scattering (SEC‐MALLS). The mass‐specific charge of each fraction was calculated from the consumption of anionic titrant solution using polyelectrolyte titration (PET) in combination with particle charge detection (PCD). The difference in substituent distribution between the fractions was tested by the Student's t‐test. The weight‐average molar mass of the starch derivatives was not dependent on the degree of substitution (DS) or the derivatization process. Depending on the DS value or derivatization process, different substituent distributions were observed. The results for the mass‐specific charge distribution in different molar mass fractions of cationic starch derivatives with graded DS between 0.015 and 0.130 from the slurry process were discussed. The heterogeneity of substituent distribution decreased with increasing DS of the starch derivative. This was the case for samples from both the slurry and semi‐dry processes. The heterogeneity of derivatization was highest for low DS samples up to DS 0.03, with the amylopectin‐rich fraction incorporating more charges than the amylose‐rich fraction. This was more pronounced for the sample from the slurry process than from the semi‐dry process.     

Characterization of Physical Properties of Flour and Starch Obtained from Gamma‐Irradiated White Rice

Physical and structural characteristics of rice flour and starch obtained from gamma‐irradiated white rice were determined. Pasting viscosities of the rice flour and starch, analyzed by using a Rapid Visco Analyser, decreased continuously with the increase in irradiation dosage. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that gelatinization onset, peak and conclusion temperatures of rice flour and starch changed slightly but the enthalpy change decreased significantly with increase of irradiation dosage. All irradiated starch displayed an A‐type X‐ray diffraction pattern like the native starch. Gel permeation chromatography showed that the blue value ratio of the first peak (amylopectin) to the second one (amylose) decreased with the increase of the irradiation dosage. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) and gyration radius (R_z) of amylopectin analyzed by using HPSEC‐MALLS‐RI (high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography equipped with multiangle laser‐light scattering and refractive index detector) decreased gradually from 1.48×10⁹ (M_w) and 384.1 nm (R_z) of native rice starch to 2.36×10⁸ (M_w) and 236.8 nm of 9 kGy‐irradiated starch. The branch chain‐length distribution of amylopectins determined by HPAEC‐ENZ‐PAD (high‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography with amyloglucosidase post‐column on‐line reactor and pulsed amperometric detector) showed that gamma irradiation had no significant effect on the amylopectin branch chains with 13≤DP≤24 and 37≤DP, but produced more branch chains with 6≤DP≤12 when the irradiation dosage was less than 9 kGy. It might be deduced that gamma irradiation caused the breakage of the amylopectin chains at the amorphous regions, but had little effects on the crystalline regions of starch granules, especially at low dosage irradiation.     

Characterisation of normal corn starch using asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation

The apparent average molar masses (M_w,app), apparent average radii of gyration (R_g,app), diffusion co‐efficients (D_T), and hydrodynamic radii (R_h) of normal corn (maize) starch and fractions were determined using asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation coupled with multi‐angle light scattering and refractive index detectors (AF4/MALS/RI). AM‐type (Fraction A) and AP‐type (Fraction B) were chemically separated from normal corn starch. Normal corn starch and Fractions (A–B) were dissolved in 1 M KSCN using a high pressure microwave vessel. The effect of varying cross flow rates at a fixed channel flow rate upon the M_w,app and R_g,app distributions of normal corn starch and Fractions (A–B) were investigated. The average M_w,app of normal corn starch, Fractions (A) and Fraction (B) were 41 × 10⁶, 1.4 × 10⁶ and 39 × 10⁶ g/mol, respectively, with R_g,app values of 129, 60 and 129 nm, respectively.     

Dynamic rheology of wheat flour dough. I. Non‐linear viscoelastic behaviour

Controlled stress rheometry was used to investigate the effects of starch and gluten fractions on the non‐linearity of wheat flour dough. Flour–water dough showed non‐linear viscoelastic behaviour over all stress values in a cyclic stress sweep. The amplitude‐dependent behaviour of the starch and amplitude‐independent nature of the gluten revealed that starch is responsible for the non‐linearity of the flour–water dough system. Adding starch to gluten caused a substantial narrowing of its linear viscoelastic range. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibition of amylases present in ruminal particle‐associated micro‐organisms

The effect of different substances potentially inhibitory of ruminal amylase activity in sheep was assessed using biochemical and electrophoretic assays. Most amylase activity was detected in the particle‐associated fraction (70%) of the ruminal contents (which was selected for the assays) in comparison with the bacterial (21%) and extracellular (9%) fractions. Salts of divalent ions such as Sn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ produced 90, 82, 65 and 44% inhibition of amylase activity respectively when assayed at a relative concentration of 5 × 10^?3 mol l^?1. Organic acids such as tannic, formic, ascorbic and benzoic acid produced 79, 48, 43 and 37% inhibition respectively, whereas chelators such as EDTA, EGTA and 1,10‐phenanthroline produced an inhibition ranging from 32 to 37%. Substrate SDS‐PAGE zymograms allowed the identification of different amylase‐active bands in ruminal extracts, showing a wide range of relative molecular masses (from 36 to more than 100 kDa). Such zymograms also confirmed the effect of some inhibitors. The reversibility of the inhibitory effect of some of the assayed substances was assessed. ZnSO₄ was the most persistent inhibitory substance even at low concentrations and, owing to its low toxicity, appears to be an adequate substance to reduce the high in vitro ruminal degradation of starch. Implications for the process of enzymatic digestion of starch are discussed. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro gas production profile and the formation of end products from non‐ washable,insoluble washable and soluble washable fractions in some concentrate ingredients

A procedure that mimics washing in the in situ incubation technique, combined with an in vitro gas and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production technique, was used to verify the assumption that rumen degradation behaviour of material washed out of nylon bags is instantaneous and complete. In a 6 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments with three replicates, fractions of maize, barley, milo, yellow peas, lupins (a mixture of white and spotted lupins) and round‐seeded brown faba beans were subjected to an in vitro incubation technique. Fractions were whole (WHO), non‐washable (NWF), insoluble washable (ISWF) and soluble washable (SWF). In a manually operated in vitro fermentation system, another 24 samples of the same substrates were fermented for VFA and ammonia analysis. Except in lupins, ISWF in the concentrate ingredients was very rich in starch. SWF was relatively rich in ash, crude protein, soluble sugars, and a residual unknown fraction but contained only a negligible quantity of starch. Thus, the fermentation characteristics of ISWF were more like WHO and NWF than SWF. Total gas production of SWF was considerably lower than the other fractions. A very rapidly degradable fraction was seen in the first phase of degradation of SWF. The pattern of fermentation end‐product formation for SWF differed from that of the other fractions. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Improving wheat for bread and tortilla production by manipulating glutenin‐to‐gliadin ratio

Gluten, starch, water soluble material, and glutenin‐rich and gliadin‐rich proteins were extracted from three Canadian wheat cultivars representing the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) (cv Roblin), Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES) (cv Glenlea) and Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) (cv AC Crystal) classes having glutenin‐to‐gliadin (Glu:Gli) ratios of 0.70, 0.75 and 0.85 respectively, all giving the same high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunit score (Glu‐1 score) of 10. The resulting fractions were reconstituted to produce 18 mixtures of flour components, representing all combinations of Glu:Gli ratio and protein content observed in the original three flours. Dough rheological properties and baking (bread and tortilla) performance were determined using small‐scale techniques. Within any of the cultivars, increasing the Glu:Gli ratio in a reconstituted dough system had significant effects on dough and end‐use properties, causing increases in mixograph development time (MDT), maximum resistance (Rmax), pan bread loaf volume, tortilla dough maximum resistance and cooked tortilla puncture force. The CWRS wheat Roblin, proved to be best suited for pan bread at higher protein content and higher Glu:Gli ratio, and also produced a high protein tortilla of large diameter at a Glu:Gli ratio of 0.70. The CPS flour, AC Crystal, was good for making tortillas at protein contents of 110–130 g kg⁻¹ and at its original ratio of 0.85. The CWES wheat Glenlea, did not perform as well in bread or tortilla‐making but in its role as a blending wheat, altering the Glu:Gli ratio of Glenlea to 0.70 may have an advantage by lowering mixing time without compromising baking properties. Manipulating the Glu:Gli ratio may make a wheat cultivar suitable for a particular end‐product. For the Department of Agriculture and Agri‐Food, Government of Canada, © Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2005. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The enrichment of Asian noodles with fiber‐rich fractions derived from roller milling of hull‐less barley

Fiber‐rich fractions (FRF) derived from roller milling of waxy (W) and high amylose (HA) starch hull‐less barley genotypes were evaluated for suitability as functional ingredients in fresh and dried white salted (WSN) and fresh yellow alkaline (YAN) noodles. FRF‐W and FRF‐HA both contained over 300 g kg⁻¹ dietary fiber, and over 200 g kg⁻¹ of β‐glucans. Replacement of 250 g kg⁻¹ Canada Prairie Spring White (cv AC Vista) wheat patent flour with the FRF posed no problems in noodle processing, although water absorption had to be substantially increased. All three noodle types enriched with the FRF were significantly darker and contained more brown specks than the wheat flour control noodles. The presence of the FRF reduced cooking time of fresh YAN and WSN by ∼50%. The addition of FRF improved cooked YAN texture, as evidenced by increased firmness and resistance to compression. FRF‐enriched fresh WSN were comparable to the wheat flour control noodles for those parameters, whereas enrichment of dry WSN by FRF imparted less firmness and less chewiness. FRF‐enriched fresh YAN and WSN offer consumer convenience due to shorter cooking time, improved nutritional quality and acceptable cooking quality. These features might make FRF‐enriched noodles sufficiently attractive to health‐conscious consumers to overcome the negative effects of color and appearance Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of endogenous flour lipids on the quality of short‐dough biscuits

Fractionation and reconstitution techniques were used to study the contribution of endogenous flour lipids to the quality of short‐dough (shortcake type) biscuits. Biscuit flour was defatted with chloroform and baked with bakery fat, but without endogenous lipid. Short‐dough biscuits baked from defatted flour had smaller diameters, and were flatter, denser and harder than control biscuits. Defatted flour shortcake doughs exhibited different rheological behaviour from the control samples, showing higher storage and loss moduli (G′ and G″ values), ie higher viscoelasticity. Functionality was restored when total non‐starch flour lipids were added back to defatted flour. The polar lipid fraction had a positive effect in restoring flour quality whereas the non‐polar lipid fraction had no effect. Both fractions were needed for complete restoration of both biscuit quality and dough rheological characteristics. A study of the microstructure of defatted biscuits revealed that their gluten protein was more hydrated and developed than the gluten of the control biscuits. This conclusion was supported by the higher water absorption of the defatted gluten. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry