Nutritional, Physico-Chemical, Phytochemical, and Rheological Characteristics of Composite Flour Substituted by Baobab Pulp Flour (Adansonia digitata L.) for Bread Making.

The aim of this paper is to improve the nutritional quality of bakery products by replacing wheat flour (WF) with different proportions (10%, 20%, and 30%) of baobab flour (BF). The composite flours and bread obtained were evaluated from nutritional, physical-chemical, phytochemical, organoleptic, and rheological points of view. The results obtained show that BF is a rich source of minerals (K: 13,276.47 ± 174 mg/kg; Ca: 1570.67 ± 29.67 mg/kg; Mg: 1066.73 ± 9.97 mg/kg; Fe: 155.14 ± 2.95 mg/kg; Na: 143.19 ± 5.22 mg/kg; and Zn: 14.90 ± 0.01 mg/kg), lipids (1.56 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), and carbohydrates (76.34 ± 0. 06 mg/100 g) as well as for the phytochemical profile. In this regard, the maximum contents for the total polyphenols content (TPC) were recorded in the case of bread with 30% BF (297.63 ± 1.75 mg GAE/100 g), a total flavonoids content (TFC) of 208.06 ± 0.002 mg QE/100 g, and 66.72 ± 0.07% for antioxidant activity (AA). Regarding the physical-chemical, rheological, and organoleptic analysis, the bread sample with 10% BF (BWB1) was the best among the samples with different proportions of BF. It presented a smooth, porous appearance (73.50 ± 0.67% porosity) and an elastic core (85 ± 0.27% elasticity) with a volume of 155.04 ± 0.95 cm3/100 g. It had better water absorption (76.7%) than WF (55.8%), a stability of 5.82 min, and a zero-gluten index. The scores obtained by BWB1 for the organoleptic test were as follows: Appearance: 4.81; color: 4.85; texture: 4.78; taste: 4.56; flavor: 4.37; and overall acceptability: 4.7. This study shows that BF improved the nutritional quality of the product, organoleptic properties, α-amylase activity, viscosity, and phytochemical profile, resulting in composite flour suitable for the production of functional bread.

FTIR-PCA Approach on Raw and Thermally Processed Chicken Lipids Stabilized by Nano-Encapsulation in ß-Cyclodextrin.

This study evaluated similarities/dissimilarities of raw and processed chicken breast and thigh lipids that were complexed by ß-cyclodextrin, using a combined FTIR-PCA technique. Lipid fractions were analyzed as non-complexed and ß-cyclodextrin-complexed samples via thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and ATR-FTIR. The lipid complexation reduced the water content to 7.67-8.33%, in comparison with the ß-cyclodextrin hydrate (~14%). The stabilities of the complexes and ß-cyclodextrin were almost the same. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the presence of important bands that corresponded to the C=O groups (1743-1744 cm-1) in both the non-complexed and nano-encapsulated lipids. Furthermore, the bands that corresponded to the vibrations of double bonds corresponding to the natural/degraded (cis/trans) fatty acids in lipids appeared at 3008-3011 and 938-946 cm-1, respectively. The main FTIR bands that were involved in the discrimination of raw and processed chicken lipids, and of non-complexed and complexed lipids, were evaluated with PCA. The shifting of specific FTIR band wavenumbers had the highest influence, especially vibrations of the α(1→4) glucosidic bond in ß-cyclodextrin for PC1, and CH2/3 groups from lipids for PC2. This first approach on ß-cyclodextrin nano-encapsulation of chicken lipids revealed the possibility to stabilize poultry fatty components for further applications in various ingredients for the food industry.

Exploring the Potential of Grape Pomace Extract to Inhibit Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Sunflower Oil: From Routine Tests to ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy.

Exploring new sources of natural antioxidants is of great interest to edible oil producers, in line with the toxicological problems generated by the use of synthetic antioxidants. This study assesses the potential of lyophilized Pinot Noir grape pomace extract (GPE) to enhance the sunflower oil stability against thermo-oxidative damage compared to BHT during a prolonged exposure to convective heat at 185 °C. Oil thermo-oxidation was monitored based on specific indices such as peroxide value (PV), para-anisidine value (p-AV), inhibition of oil oxidation (IO), total oxidation (TOTOX) value, conjugated dienes and trienes (CDs, CTs), but also by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), where absorbance ratios A 3009 cm-1/A 2922 cm-1 (RI), A 3009 cm-1/A 2853 cm-1 (RII), A 3009 cm-1/A 1744 cm-1 (RIII) and RIV = A 1744 cm-1/A 2922 cm-1 (RIV) were investigated. GPE showed a significant inhibitory effect on oil thermo-oxidation and this response was concentration-dependent. Substantial decreases in the investigated indices, compared to the control without added antioxidants, were obtained after 4 h and 8 h of heat exposure of the 800 ppm GPE sample: PV (47%; 42%), p-AV (38%; 33%), IO (54%; 46%), TOTOX (41%; 37%), CDs (46%; 39%), CTs (44%; 29%). Oil exposure to heat resulted in changes in RI-RIV attributed to the reduction in the degree of unsaturation, in response to primary and secondary lipid oxidation. FTIR spectroscopy can be used to differentiate untreated and heat-treated oils based on the absorbance ratios. An inhibitory effect close to that of BHT was achieved by 500 ppm GPE, while a dose of 800 ppm provided greater protection against thermo-oxidation. Our results promote GPE as a natural additive to limit the thermo-oxidative damage of plant oils.

Basic surface-active properties in the homologous series of ß-alkyl (C12H25/C18H37) polyethyleneoxy (n = 0-20) propionamides.

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneous ß-Alkyl (C12H25/C18H37) polyethyleneoxy (n = 0-20) propionamides [R(EO)nPD] represent new "hybrid" nonionic-ionic colloidal structures in the field of surface-active products (technical products). These "niche" compounds have three structural and compositional characteristics that also define their basic colloidal properties: mixture of R and PEO chain homologues; specific conformations due to the PEO chains; and the presence of side products from the addition of higher alcohols, polyethyleneglycols and traces of water to acrylamide. The proposed major objective of this paper is the basic informative colloidal characterization (functional classification, HLB balance, surface tension, critical micelle concentration) in direct correlation with the structural changes in the homologous series of LM(EO)nPD and CS(EO)nPD. The structures were obtained either indirectly by cyanoethylation followed by partial acid hydrolysis of the corresponding ß-propionitriles, or directly by the nucleophilic addition under alkaline catalysis of linear higher alcohols C12H25/C14H29 (7/3) (LM) and C16H33/C18H37 (CS) as such and heterogeneous polyethoxylated (n = 3-20) to acrylamide monomer, through an adapted classic reaction scheme. RESULTS: In the series of basic colloidal characteristics investigated the structure-surface activity dependence is confirmed. Their indicative character for R(EO)nPD is based on the assumption that the structures studied are not unitary (heterogeneous) because: a) the hydrophobic chains C12H25/C18H37 have been grouped in two variants, C12H25/C14H29 (LM); C16H33/C18H37 (CS), each with an internal mass ratio of 7/3; b) the hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chains (n = 3-20) have polydisperse character; the meaning and value the oligomerization degree, n, is that of weighted average. In these conditions the surface tension increases proportionally with the oligomerization degree of the polyoxyethylene chain, while the critical micelle concentration decreases in the same homologous series as well as with the increase of the hydrophobic chain in the C12H25 to C18H37 series. A mechanism of micellization is proposed, consistent with the experimental data recorded and the hypotheses known from the consulted literature. CONCLUSIONS: The idea of the obtaining and basic colloidal characterization of heterogeneous R(EO)nPD is justified. The knowledge and constructive approach of the heterogeneous character confirm the basic surface-active potential of R(EO)nPD, the structure-colloidal characteristics dependence and justifies further, more extensive research.

Titanocene / cyclodextrin supramolecular systems: a theoretical approach.

BACKGROUND: Recently, various metallocenes were synthesized and analyzed by biological activity point of view (such as antiproliferative properties): ruthenocenes, cobaltoceniums, titanocenes, zirconocenes, vanadocenes, niobocenes, molibdocenes etc. Two main disadvantages of metallocenes are the poor hydrosolubility and the hydrolytic instability. These problems could be resolved in two ways: synthetically modifying the structure or finding new formulations with enhanced properties. The aqueous solubility of metallocenes with cytostatic activities could be enhanced by molecular encapsulation in cyclodextrins, as well as the hydrolytic instability of these compounds could be reduced. RESULTS: This study presents a theoretical approach on the nanoencapsulation of a series of titanocenes with cytotoxic activity in α-, ß-, and γ-cyclodextrin. The HyperChem 5.11 package was used for building and molecular modelling of titanocene and cyclodextrin structures, as well as for titanocene/cyclodextrin complex optimization. For titanocene/cyclodextrin complex optimization experiments, the titanocene and cyclodextrin structures in minimal energy conformations were set up at various distances and positions between molecules (molecular mechanics functionality, MM+). The best interaction between titanocene structures and cyclodextrins was obtained in the case of ß- and γ-cyclodextrin, having the hydrophobic moieties oriented to the secondary face of cyclodextrin. The hydrophobicity of titanocenes (logP) correlate with the titanocene-cyclodextrin interaction parameters, especially with the titanocene-cyclodextrin interaction energy; the compatible geometry and the interaction energy denote that the titanocene/ß- and γ-cyclodextrin complex can be achieved. Valuable quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were also obtained in the titanocene class by using the same logP as the main parameter for the in vitro cytotoxic activity against HeLa, K562, and Fem-x cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: According to our theoretical study, the titanocene/cyclodextrin inclusion compounds can be obtained (high interaction energy; the encapsulation is energetically favourable). Further, the most hydrophobic compounds are better encapsulated in ß- and γ-cyclodextrin molecules and are more stable (from energetically point of view) in comparison with α-cyclodextrin case. This study suggests that the titanocene / ß- and γ-cyclodextrin complexes (or synthetically modified cyclodextrins with higher water solubility) could be experimentally synthesized and could have enhanced cytotoxic activity and even lower toxicity.