Plant-Based Antioxidants in Gluten-Free Bread Production: Sources, Technological and Sensory Aspects, Enhancing Strategies and Constraints.

The recognized contribution of antioxidant compounds to overall health maintenance and spotted deficiencies in celiac patients' diets has driven more intensive research regarding antioxidant compounds' inclusion in gluten-free bread (GFB) production during the last decade. The presented review gathered information that provided insights into plant-based antioxidant sources which are applicable in GFB production through the resulting changes in the technological, sensory, and nutritional quality of the resulting antioxidant-enriched GFB. The influence of the bread-making process on the antioxidant compounds' content alteration and applied methods for their quantification in GFB matrices were also discussed, together with strategies for enhancing the antioxidant compounds' content, their bioaccessibility, and their bioavailability, highlighting the existing contradictions and constraints. The addition of plant-based antioxidant compounds generally improved the antioxidant content and activity of GFB, without a profound detrimental effect on its technological quality and sensory acceptability, and with the extent of the improvement being dependent on the source richness and the amount added. The determination of a pertinent amount and source of plant-based antioxidant material that will result in the production of GFB with desirable nutritional, sensory, and technological quality, as well as biological activity, remains a challenge to be combated by elucidation of the potential mechanism of action and by the standardization of quantification methods for antioxidant compounds.

Assessing Antioxidant Properties, Phenolic Compound Profiles, Organic Acids, and Sugars in Conventional Apple Cultivars (Malus domestica): A Chemometric Approach.

This study analyzed the phenolic compounds, organic acids, sugars, and antioxidant activity in different conventional apple cultivars (Malus domestica) from the Serbian market. Polyphenol profiles, sugars, and organic acid contents were analyzed by HPLC, and antioxidant activity was examined by DPPH and FRAP. Notable findings included variations in phenolic compound presence, with certain compounds detected only in specific cultivars. 'Red Jonaprince' exhibited the highest arbutin (0.86 mg/kg FW) and quercetin-3-rhamnoside content (22.90 mg/kg FW), while 'Idared' stood out for its gallic acid content (0.22 mg/kg FW) and 'Granny Smith' for its catechin levels (21.19 mg/kg FW). Additionally, malic acid dominated among organic acids, with 'Granny Smith' showing the highest content (6958.48 mg/kg FW). Fructose was the predominant sugar across all cultivars. Chemometric analysis revealed distinct groupings based on phenolic and organic acid profiles, with 'Granny Smith' and 'Golden Delicious' exhibiting unique characteristics. Artificial neural network modeling effectively predicted antioxidant activity based on the input parameters. Global sensitivity analysis highlighted the significant influence of certain phenolic compounds and organic acids on antioxidant activity.

Processing of alfalfa seeds by convective hot air drying, vacuum drying and germination: Proximate composition, techno-functional, thermal and structural properties evaluation.

The effect of convective hot air and vacuum drying alone and combined with germination on alfalfa seeds' proximate composition, techno-functional, thermal and structural properties was investigated. Corresponding properties of treated alfalfa samples were compared with those of commercially available alfalfa sprouts. Both drying and combined germination and drying treatments resulted in increased carbohydrates (41.99-48.82 %), TDF (10.51-12.51 %) and Mg contents (789.49-2119.24 mg/kg), while the reduction in ash, lipid and Fe content compared to raw alfalfa seeds was observed. Alfalfa seeds subjected to combined germination and drying treatment exhibited higher water and oil binding capacities, as well as emulsions with smaller volume mean droplet diameters compared to the raw and dried samples. Conducted treatments resulted in greater thermal stability of globulins and a slight decrease in crystallinity index, although alfalfa seeds' structure did not change significantly according to FTIR analysis. Differences in applied drying techniques on alfalfa seeds' properties were not observed.

Sugar beet and apple fibres coupled with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose as functional ingredients in gluten-free formulations: Rheological, technological and sensory aspects.

The presented study examined the influence of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), sugar beet fibre (SBF) and apple fibre (AF) incorporation coupled with adequate water levels on gluten-free (GF) batter rheology, bread quality and sensory characteristics. A Box-Behnken experimental design with independent variables: HPMC quantity (2-4 g/100 g), SBF and AF quantity (3-7 g/100 g) and water quantity (180-230 g/100 g depending on the fibre type) based on a maize flour/starch mixture was applied. GF breads with 4 g/100 g HPMC coupled with 3 g/100 g SBF and 7 g/100 g AF reached the highest specific volumes (2.44 cm3/g and 3.97 cm3/g) accompanied with the lowest crumb hardness (2.29 and 2.10 N, respectively). Appealing crust and crumb colour and good sensory characteristics were achieved in GF breads with 4 g/100 g HPMC and 3, 5 and 7 g/100 g SBF or AF. The corresponding GF breads showed enhanced fibre content (4.56-6.07 g/100 g).