RESUMO
In this study, a controlled Maillard reaction was carried out to conjugate gum Arabic (GA) polymer to pomegranate protein isolate (PPI). The Maillard conjugates (MCs) were visualized by SEM and authenticity of the conjugates was assessed by NMR, FTIR, and XRD. To reveal the effect of the Maillard conjugation on the quality attributes of PPI, functional properties, thermal stability, and emulsifying behaviors of PPI and MCs were investigated. The oil binding capacity of conjugated protein (370.52%) was higher than that of protein alone (208.19%). While GA and PPI were completely degraded or decomposed at a temperature of 1000 °C, the MCs retained approximately half of the initial mass. MCs displayed higher emulsifying activity (42.71 m2/g) and emulsifying stability (90.17 (ESI30)), compared to PPI (32.61 m2/g) and (72.25 (ESI30)). Stability coefficient was significantly improved and reached from 0.64 R to 0.95 R with the usage of MCs in the emulsions. A lower centrifugal precipitation rate was determined in MCs emulsions (28.26%) compared to PPI emulsions (45.42%). Utilization of MCs instead of protein alone as a stabilizer in the oil-in-water emulsions was a logical approach for increasing their stability against environmental degradations including freeze-thaw cycle, pH, ionic, and temperature stress.