Bio-preservatives and essential oils as an alternative to chemical preservatives in the baking industry: a concurrent review.

The use of chemical preservatives in the baking industry is a common practice to extend the shelf life of baked goods However, there is growing interest in natural alternatives due to worries about the security and potential health risks of these chemicals. The purpose of this concurrent review is to investigate the potential of using essential oils and bio-preservatives in place of chemical preservatives in the baking industry. With a focus on their efficiency in extending the shelf life of baked goods, the review includes a thorough analysis of the most recent research on the use of bio-preservatives and essential oils in food preservation. The findings suggest that bio-preservatives and essential oils can be effective in preserving baked goods and may offer a safer and more natural alternative to chemical preservatives. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential of these natural alternatives and to optimize their use in the baking industry.

Optimization of soy protein isolate, microbial transglutaminase and glucono-δ-lactone in gluten-free rice noodles.

BACKGROUND: Rice flour does not contain gluten and lacks cohesion and extensibility, which is responsible for the poor texture of rice noodles. Different technologies have been used to mitigate this challenge, including hydrothermal treatments of rice flour, direct addition of protein in noodles, use of additives such as hydrocolloids and alginates, and microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Recently, the inclusion of soy protein isolate (SPI), MTG, and glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) in the rice noodles system yielded rice noodles with improved texture and more compact microstructure, hence the need to optimize the addition of SPI, MTG, and GDL to make quality rice noodles. RESULTS: Numerical optimization showed that rice noodles prepared with SPI, 68.32 (g kg-1 of rice flour), MTG, 5.06 (g kg-1 of rice flour) and GDL, 5.0 (g kg-1 of rice flour) gave the best response variables; hardness (53.19 N), springiness (0.76), chewiness (20.28 J), tensile strength (60.35 kPa), and cooking time (5.15 min). The pH, sensory, and microstructure results showed that the optimized rice noodles had a more compact microstructure with fewer hollows, optimum pH for MTG action, and overall sensory panelists also showed the highest preference for the optimized formulation, compared to other samples selected from the numerical optimization and desirability tests. CONCLUSION: Optimization of the levels of SPI, MTG, and GDL yielded quality noodles with improved textural, mechanical, sensory, and microstructural properties. This was partly due to the favourable pH value of the optimized noodles that provided the most suitable conditions for MTG crosslinking and balanced electrostatic interaction of proteins. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quality characteristics of green Tea's infusion as influenced by brands and types of brewing water.

The influences of four types of brewing waters including tap water (TAP), alkaline ionized water (ALK), magnetized water (MAG) and mineral water (MIN), and two brands of commercial green tea (L and T) on quality characteristics of tea infusions were studied. The Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) values of the brewing waters was TAP > MAG, MIN > ALK. After brewing, all infusions showed a significant drop (p < 0.05) in pH values. The pH of original brewing waters of ALK (8.64) was the highest as compared to other waters, whereas L-MIN (pH 6.63) and T-MIN (pH 5.82) showed the highest pH values after brewing. Overall, the quality characteristics of green tea infusions were influenced by the brands of tea and the types of brewing water used. MAG was the most superior brewing water in extracting the green tea. Evidenced by total phenolic and flavonoids contents, both L-MAG and T-MAG infusions were superior in extracting antioxidative compounds as compared to other tea infusions. In addition, T-MAG infusion was the least astringent (P < 0.05) and scored the highest (P < 0.05) overall acceptability ( 5.40 ) by sensory panelists.

Improvement of cooking and textural properties of rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles stabilised with microbial transglutaminase and glucono-δ-lactone and dried using superheated steam.

In a bid to produce rice flour noodles with improved texture and reduced cooking time, rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles (RNS) were structurally enhanced by a combined treatment (COM) of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). The RNS-COM was either dried using superheated steam (SHS) to yield RNS-COM-SHS or steamed for 10 min (S10) before air drying to produce RNS-COM-S10 noodles. Control samples were SHS-dried rice flour (RN-SHS) and air-dried RN-S10 noodles. In general, textural and microstructural properties indicated higher textural properties and a more robust network in RNS-COM-SHS and RNS-COM-S10 than in other noodles. However, optimum cooking time (P < 0.5) was in the order; RN-SHS, RNS-COM-SHS < RN-S10 < RNS-COM-S10. As a result of the COM treatment, structurally enhanced noodles were more resistant to cooking. As applied in RNS-COM-SHS noodles, SHS was able to improve cooking quality, probably through the formation of bigger and evenly spread pores that had promoted faster gelatinisation of starch, with a high order of relative starch crystallinity.

Flour nutritional profile, and soxhlet-extracted oil physicochemical breakdown-storage performance of white melon (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin) seed varieties from Southeast Nigeria.

White melon (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin), is among common and yet underutilized oil seed crop within the West African region, does not have sufficient information specific to its nutrient composition for foreign consumers. To supplement existing information, therefore, we investigated the nutritional profile of defatted and full-fat flour, alongside physicochemical breakdown and storage performance of soxhlet-extracted oil from two white melon (C. mannii) seed varieties found in Southeast Nigeria. Nutritional profile involved the determinations of proximate composition, minerals, vitamins, functional properties as well as amino acid profile. Physicochemical breakdown involved the determinations of fatty acid profile, lipid breakdown parameters, as well as associated physical attributes. Results showed defatting of flours increased the protein (69.04%), carbohydrates (16.26%), crude fiber (2.68%), ash (11.9%), mineral (Na ranging from 223.92-246.99 mg/100g), and vitamin contents (Vit B1 ranging from 0.453-0.712 mg/100g). Total amino acid differed slightly when comparing miniature (30.36 g/100g) and large (22.36 g/100g) seeds. Soxhlet-extracted oil possessed low thiobarbituric acid, acid, and peroxide values (0.030 and 0.038 mg MDA/kg, 1.08 and 1.27 mg KOH/g, and 2.95 and 3,94 mEqO2/kg, for large and miniature seeds respectively), and peak linoleic acid (5 and 6.45 mg/ml, for miniature and large seeds respectively). During storage, the thiobarbituric acid and peroxide values of soxhlet-extracted oil increased yet within acceptable limits.

Hydrogen Peroxide Effects on Natural-Sourced Polysacchrides: Free Radical Formation/Production, Degradation Process, and Reaction Mechanism-A Critical Synopsis.

Numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) entities exist, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is very key among them as it is well known to possess a stable but poor reactivity capable of generating free radicals. Considered among reactive atoms, molecules, and compounds with electron-rich sites, free radicals emerging from metabolic reactions during cellular respirations can induce oxidative stress and cause cellular structure damage, resulting in diverse life-threatening diseases when produced in excess. Therefore, an antioxidant is needed to curb the overproduction of free radicals especially in biological systems (in vivo and in vitro). Despite the inherent properties limiting its bioactivities, polysaccharides from natural sources increasingly gain research attention given their position as a functional ingredient. Improving the functionality and bioactivity of polysaccharides have been established through degradation of their molecular integrity. In this critical synopsis; we articulate the effects of H2O2 on the degradation of polysaccharides from natural sources. Specifically, the synopsis focused on free radical formation/production, polysaccharide degradation processes with H2O2, the effects of polysaccharide degradation on the structural characteristics; physicochemical properties; and bioactivities; in addition to the antioxidant capability. The degradation mechanisms involving polysaccharide's antioxidative property; with some examples and their respective sources are briefly summarised.

Cooking, textural, and mechanical properties of rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles prepared using combined treatments of microbial transglutaminase and glucono-δ-lactone.

A process for enhancing textural and cooking properties of fresh rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles (RNS) to match those of yellow alkaline noodles (YAN) was developed by incorporating microbial transglutaminase (RNS-MTG), glucono-δ-lactone (RNS-GDL), and both MTG and GDL into the RNS noodles (RNS-COM). The formation of γ-glutamyl-lysine bonds in RNS-COM and RNS-MTG was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Scanning electron microscope showed that compared to others, the structure of RNS-COM was denser, smoother with extensive apparent interconnectivity of aggregates. The optimum cooking time was in the order: YAN > RNS-COM > RNS-MTG > RNS-GDL > RN (rice flour noodles); tensile strength was in the order: YAN > RNS-COM > RNS-MTG > RNS-GDL > RN; and elasticity were in the order: YAN > RNS-COM > RNS-MTG, RNS-GDL > RN. Overall, RNS-COM showed similar textural and structural breakdown parameters as compared to those of YAN. Changes in microstructures and improvement of RNS-COM in certain properties were likely due to enhanced crosslinking of proteins attributed to MTG- and GDL-induced cold gelation of proteins at reduced pH value. It is possible to use the combination of MTG and GDL to improve textural and mechanical properties of RNS comparable to those of YAN. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Combined MTG and GDL yield rice flour noodles with improved textural properties. The restructured rice flour noodles have the potential to replace yellow alkaline noodles.

Functional properties of syrup from malted and unmalted rice of different varieties: A comparative study.

The continued increase in Nigeria's rice production makes product diversification very fitting, even to underutilized indigenous/local varieties. Further, rice converted to malt can bring about useful products like syrup with enhanced characteristics. In this context, a comparative study involving some functional properties of syrup from malted and unmalted rice of different varieties was carried out. Syrup from either filtered or centrifuged starch hydrolysates of enzyme hydrolyzed rice (malted/unmalted) flours gave rise to filtered unmalted (FUHR), filtered malted (FMHR), centrifuged unmalted (CUHR), and centrifuged malted hydrolyzed rice (CMHR) groups. From these, functional properties, that is, pH, total soluble proteins (TSP), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), dextrose equivalent (DE), titratable acidity (TA), apparent brix (°B), specific gravity (SG), syrup yield (SY), and some minerals [calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn)] were determined. Results showed syrup from malted with significantly higher (P < 0.05) SY, Brix, pH, SG, TS, TDS, and TSP, but significantly lower (P < 0.05) TA, DE, and mineral contents (Ca, Zn, Fe, and Mg) over the unmalted group. Some significant interactions (P < 0.05) were found, between rice variety, treatment and separation method (TS, TDS, DE, Brix, SY, and Ca), rice variety and treatment (TSP, Zn, Mg, and Fe), as well as rice variety and separation method (TSP, pH). In addition, some positive and negative significant (P < 0.05) correlations between the studied functional properties were found. Overall, malting and processing methods can influence the functional properties of rice syrup-an acceptable specialty ingredient for brewing/beverage production. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Through the application of exogenous enzymes, rice syrup has been successfully produced from locally bred/improved rice varieties commercially available in Nigeria. By comparing some functional properties of syrup from malted and/or unmalted rice, the current research provides useful evidence that locally available rice varieties are potential candidates for product diversification to the food/brewing, pharmaceuticals, and other industries, not only in Nigeria but also in the West Africa subregion.