Vacuum impregnation as a sustainable technology to obtain iron-fortified broad bean (Vicia faba) flours.

Iron-fortified broad bean flours were obtained by vacuum impregnation during soaking. The impact of vacuum impregnation and iron fortification on the hydration kinetics of broad beans, as well as the processing (soaking, autoclaving, and dehulling) on the iron-absorption inhibitors (phytic acid and tannins), iron content, iron bioaccessibility, and physicochemical and techno-functional properties of flours was investigated. Results showed that the use of vacuum impregnation during soaking reduced the broad beans' soaking time by 77%, and using iron solution instead of water did not affect the hydration kinetics. After soaking, iron-fortified broad bean flours increased twice (without hull) or more (with hull) the iron and bioaccessible iron content regarding non-fortified flours. Cooking broad beans by autoclaving modified the tannin content, the iron content and its bioaccessible fraction, and the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of the flours. Autoclaving increased the water holding capacity and absorption rate, swelling capacity, bulk density, and particle size, while decreased the solubility index, whiteness index, emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, and gelling capacity. Finally, dehulling did not practically affect the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of flours, but showed a decrease in iron content, although increased iron bioaccessibility was observed, occurred mainly due to the reduction in tannin concentrations. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that vacuum impregnation is a useful technology for obtaining iron-fortified broad bean flours with different physicochemical and techno-functional properties depending on the production process used.

Impact of thermal treatments and simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the α-amylase inhibitory activity of different legumes.

Legumes are excellent sources of proteins that can be hydrolysed to generate antidiabetic peptides, which inhibit carbohydrate digestive enzymes. The degree of protein hydrolysis depends on the thermal treatment applied and how it impacts protein denaturation and thus accessibility to enzymes. In this study, α-amylase inhibitory activities of cooked (conventional, pressure, and microwave cooking) and digested (simulated gastrointestinal digestion, GID) green pea, chickpea, and navy beans were evaluated, together with the impact of thermal treatments on peptide profiles after GID. All peptides extracts inhibited α-amylase after cooking and GID, and the peptide fraction <3 kDa was responsible for main activity. In green peas and navy beans, microwave cooking showed the highest impact whereas none thermal treatment highlighted in chickpeas. The peptidomics analysis of the fractions <3 kDa identified a total of 205 peptides, 43 of which were found to be potentially bioactive according to in silico analysis. Also quantitative results evidenced differences in the peptide profile between the type of legume and thermal treatment.

Effect of Gelatin Coating Enriched with Antioxidant Tomato By-Products on the Quality of Pork Meat.

The use of edible biopolymers and natural additives obtained from food processing by-products is a sustainable strategy for food packaging applications. Gelatin is a biopolymer with great potential as a coating due to its low cost, high availability, and technological and functional properties. Among them, gelatin can be used as a carrier of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, which can retard oxidation processes and thus extend the shelf-life of highly-perishable products. This study evaluated the effect of gelatin coating enriched with antioxidant tomato by-products hydrolysate (TBPH) on the quality of pork meat during cold storage. Results showed that TBPH obtained from Alcalase hydrolysis presented antioxidant activity with good stability against cooking. Additionally, chromatographic and mass spectrometry techniques, as well as in silico analysis, were used for the peptidomic characterisation of TBPH. The application of enriched gelatin coating on meat led to some physicochemical changes including increased weight loss and colour differences; however, the pH and water activity, which control meat spoilage, were maintained during storage. Moreover, coating prevented lipid oxidation of meat, and enriched-coated meat presented high antioxidant activity after cooking. These results suggest the positive role of gelatin coating enriched with TBPH in extending the shelf-life of meat during storage.