Improved light and ultraviolet stability of curcumin encapsulated in emulsion gels prepared with corn starch, OSA-starch and whey protein isolate.

The objective of this study was to enhance the bioavailability and stability of curcumin (Cur) by encapsulating it in corn starch (CS)/octenylsuccinic acid modified (OSA)-starch-whey protein isolate (WPI) emulsion gels (EGs). As the volume fraction of the oil phase increased, the droplet size and ζ- potential of the EGs decreased. The encapsulation efficiency and bioavailability of Cur in CS/OSA-starch-WPI EGs with a 60% oil ratio were 96.0% and 67.3%, respectively. The release rate of free fatty acid and the bioavailability of Cur from the EGs after digestion were significantly higher compared to Cur dissolved in oil. EGs with an oil phase volume fraction of 75% and 80% demonstrated greater protection against light irradiation but were less effective against UV irradiation compared to EGs with a 60% oil phase volume fraction. Encapsulation in EGs proved to be an effective method for enhancing the bioavailability and stability of Cur.

Effects of Endogenous Non-Starch Nutrients in Acorn (Quercus wutaishanica Blume) Kernels on the Physicochemical Properties and In Vitro Digestibility of Starch.

The present study investigated the multi-scale structure of starch derived from acorn kernels and the effects of the non-starch nutrients on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starch. The average polymerization degree of acorn starch was 27.3, and the apparent amylose content was 31.4%. The crystal structure remained as C-type but the relative crystallinity of acorn flour decreased from 26.55% to 25.13%, 25.86% and 26.29% after the treatments of degreasing, deproteinization, and the removal of ß-glucan, respectively. After the above treatments, the conclusion temperature of acorn flour decreased and had a significant positive correlation with the decrease in the crystallinity. The aggregation between starch granules, and the interactions between starch granules and both proteins and lipids, reduced significantly after degreasing and deproteinization treatments. The endogenous protein, fat, and ß-glucan played key roles in reducing the digestibility of acorn starch relative to other compounds, which was dictated by the ability for these compounds to form complexes with starch and inhibit hydrolysis.

Effect of cold plasma on blueberry juice quality.

This work focusses on the effects of cold plasma, a novel, non-thermal technology, on the quality of blueberry juice, such as inactivation of Bacillus, anthocyanins, phenolics, vitamin C, antioxidant activity and color change. Oxygen concentration (0, 0.5% and 1%) of ionized gas was firstly confirmed to be the main factors for CP treatment, besides treatment time (2, 4 and 6 min). The increment of treatment time and oxygen concentration significantly promoted an increasing trend of death for Bacillus. Compared with thermal treatment, the content of phenolics was significantly increased by CP treatment, and also CP treatment could better keep the original color of blueberry juice. In terms of anthocyanin and vitamin C, relatively shorter exposure time to CP was more suggested. In antioxidant tests, increment of oxygen concentration resulted in the increasing trends of antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS assays.