Optimization and multivariate accelerated shelf life testing (MASLT) of a low glycemic whole jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) confection with tailored quality and functional attributes.

An optimization and multivariate accelerated shelf-life testing (MASLT) was demonstrated to develop a low glycemic (GI) whole jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) confection (WJC) with soft texture and fruity hedonics targeted for diabetic strata. The hydrocolloids viz., agar (1-3 g), pectin (1-3 g), and polydextrose (24-28 g) were optimized [mixture design (MD)] to obtain hydrocolloid mix (HM) with a soft texture. Next, whole jamun ingredients viz, jamun pulp (JP) (20-30 g), seed powder (JSP) (1-5 g), and HM (25-35 g) were optimized (MD + PCA) for satisfactory texture, total polyphenolic content (TPC), and fruity hedonics. The optimized WJC was assayed for GI and modelled by univariate kinetics and MASLT (10-45 °C/75% humidity/120 days). Using MASLT, the collated effects of quality attributes (anthocyanin content, TPC, moisture, hardness, and total color change) were extracted as principal components to estimate new stability parameters viz, multivariate rate constants (k m), acceleration factors ( α m T ), activation energy (E am), and cut-off criterion. The optimized WJC contains 2.3 g agar, 1.9 g pectin, 27.2 g polydextrose, 26.4 g JP, and 2 g JSP and had satisfactory hardness (1007 g), TPC (2.8 mg gallic acid equivalents/g), and low GI value (48.6). The zero-order kinetic fitting of univariate versus MASLT resulted in α ( 45 , 10 ) T , E a, and shelf life (10 °C) of 7.8 versus 6.2, 43.81 versus 39.22 kJ/mol and 175 versus 186 days, respectively. MASLT simplified the kinetic interpretations to a single variable by collating the useful information from critical quality parameters and predicted shelf life precisely than univariate kinetics.

Effect of freeze, microwave-convective hot air, vacuum and dehumidified air drying on total phenolics content, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) pulp.

Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) pulp-skin paste was dried using four drying methods viz., microwave-convective hot air drying (MCD), freeze drying (FD), vacuum drying (VD), and dehumidified air drying (DAD) at different conditions. Except for FD, the drying temperatures of MCD (1, 2 and 3 W/g power density), VD (60, 160 and 260 mm Hg pressure) and DAD (1, 1.5 and 2 m/s of air velocity; 20% RH) were varied from 40 to 70 °C. The dried pulp-skin flakes were analysed for total phenolics content [TPC, gallic acid equivalent (GAE)], monomeric anthocyanin content [MAC, malvidin-3-glucoside (M3G)] and antioxidant activity [AA, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)]. This study aimed on selection of the best drying method based on the retention of the above functionalities. Compared to the fresh sample, TPC and AA of the dried samples increased for all the methods, whereas MAC showed mixed response. With the retention of 31.52 mg GAE, 11.99 mg M3G and 28.63 mg BHA per gram of dried sample (on dry basis), MCD (70 °C, 1 W/g) was selected as the most suitable method based on statistical analyses.

Composition and functionality of whole jamun based functional confection.

Whole jamun based functional confection (WJFC) was developed from an optimized blend (through response surface methodology) containing 26.585 % paste of jamun pulp with adhering skin, 2 % jamun seed powder, hydrocolloid mixture (2.289 % agar, 1.890 % pectin and 27.236 % polydextrose), antimicrobials (0.022 % benzoic acid and 0.085 % sorbic acid), and 40 % added water. The confection also contained 0.08 % sucralose, 0.06 % citric acid and 100 mg CaCl2.2H2O/g pectin. The confection was found to be rich in minerals like Ca, Mg, K, Na and P, with prebiotic activity and low glycemic index (48.1). Additionally, WJFC had reduced calorie (1.48 kcal/g) and high dietary fiber content (15.49 ± 0.058 g/100 g (db)). The antioxidant potential measured as DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP with different extraction solvents was found to range between 0.26 ± 0.01 and 0.98 ± 0.04 mg BHA/g and 2.57 ± 0.97 and 18.17 ± 1.30 µM Fe(2+)/g, respectively, with highest yield obtained for 50 % aq. ethanolic extract. Moreover, the antioxidant potential was observed to be dose dependent with IC50 values as 9.89 and 2.75 mg (db) against DPPH and superoxide anion radicals, respectively. WJFC was found to suppress α-amylase activity and retard glucose dialysis depicting the antidiabetic effect.

Nutritional and functional characterization of barley flaxseed based functional dry soup mix.

Barley flaxseed based functional dry soup mix (BFSM) was developed from whole barely flour (46.296%), roasted flaxseed powder (23.148%) and the seasoning (30.555%) comprising several flavoring compounds and anticaking agent, using simple processing technique. Developed BFSM was nutritious. On dry matter basis it contained: protein (14.31%), carbohydrate excluding crude fiber (54.70%), fat (8.70%), ash (17.45%) and crude fiber (4.84%). It was low glycemic soup, free of antinutritional risk and had calorific value of 319.77 kcal/100 g (wet or sample basis, sb) estimated from its composition. 100 g (sb) of BFSM contained 4.36 g ß-glucans and 8.08 g total lipid of which 25.6% was ω-3 fatty acids. Different extracts of BFSM revealed the presence of total phenols (0.57-1.86 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, sb) with antioxidants equivalence of DPPH (20.69-39.07%) and FRAP (120-331 µm Fe (II)/g, sb).