Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Polysaccharides from Volvariella volvacea: Process Optimization and Structural Characterization.

The aims of the present study were to optimize the operational parameters to maximize the yield of ultrasound-assisted polysaccharide extraction from Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) fruiting bodies by using for the first time one-factor-at-a-time and three-level Box-Behnken factorial designs. A maximum polysaccharide yield of 8.28 ± 0.23% was obtained under the optimized conditions of ultrasound power of 175 W, extraction temperature of 57 °C, extraction time of 33 min, and the ratio of liquid to raw material of 25:1, respectively. Compared to the hot-water extraction, the ultrasound-assistance favored the extraction of polysaccharides from V. volvacea for its higher polysaccharide yield and efficiency. Further preliminary polysaccharide structural characterization indicated that ultrasound treatment affected the monosaccharide compositions and ratios, and molecular weight range of polysaccharides extracted from V. volvacea.

Emulsifiers and thickeners on extrusion-cooked instant rice product.

Extrusion-cooked instant rice was prepared by optimizing the formulation with emulsifiers, glycerol monostearate (GMS), soybean lecithin (LC), and sodiumstearoyl lactylate (SSL), and thickeners, gum Arabic (GA), sodium alginate (SA), and sticky rice (SR). The emulsifiers addition caused increase of degree of gelatinization (DG), and decrease of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), α-amylase sensitivity, water soluble index (WAI) and adhesive for extrudates, while the thickeners addition increased extrudates DG, bulk density (BD), WSC, α-amylase sensitivity, WAI, hydration rate (HR) and adhesiveness. Based on the data generated by a single additive at various levels, optimum formulation was obtained employing orthogonal matrix system with combination of the selected additives for extrusion cooking. Extrudates were evaluated for optimum hydration time followed by drying to prepare the finished product. Texture profile analysis and sensory evaluation indicate that quality of the finished product is equivalent to that of the round shaped rice and superior to a commercial instant rice product. This study also demonstrates possibility of value-added and versatile instant rice product development using broken rice.