Structure, morphology, and assembly behavior of kafirin

Physicochemical properties of kafirin protein and its applications as building blocks of functional delivery systems

The unique physicochemical properties of kafirin highlight its potential as an attractive resource for gluten-free products and building blocks for functional delivery systems.

The potential of rapid visco-analysis starch pasting profiles to gauge the quality of sorghum as a feed grain for chicken-meat production

Thirteen extensively characterised grain sorghum varieties were evaluated in a series of 7 broiler bioassays. The efficiency of energy utilisation of broiler chickens offered sorghum-based diets is problematic and the bulk of dietary energy is derived from sorghum starch. For this reason, rapid visco-analysis (RVA) starch pasting profiles were determined as they may have the potential to assess the quality of sorghum as a feed grain for chicken-meat production. In review, it was found that concentrations of kafirin and total phenolic compounds were negatively correlated with peak and holding RVA viscosities to significant extents across 13 sorghums. In a meta-analysis of 5 broiler bioassays it was found that peak, holding, breakdown and final RVA viscosities were positively correlated with ME:GE ratios and peak and breakdown RVA viscosities with apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) to significant extents. In a sixth study involving 10 sorghum-based diets peak, holding and breakdown RVA viscosities were positively correlated with ME:GE ratios and AMEn. Therefore, it emerged that RVA starch pasting profiles do hold promise as a relatively rapid means to assess sorghum quality as a feed grain for chicken-meat production. This potential appears to be linked to quantities of kafirin and total phenolic compounds present in sorghum and it would seem that both factors depress RVA starch viscosities in vitro and, in turn, also depress energy utilisation in birds offered sorghum-based diets. Given that other feed grains do not contain kafirin and possess considerably lower concentrations of phenolic compounds, their RVA starch pasting profiles may not be equally indicative.

Kafirin Protein Based Electrospun Fibers with Tunable Mechanical Property, Wettability, and Release Profile

Kafirin (KAF), the prolamine protein from sorghum grain, is a promising resource for fabricating renewable and biodegradable materials. However, research efforts in fulfilling its potentials are still lacking. In this work, electrospun kafirin fibers from acetic acid/dichloromethane solutions are reported for the first time. Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was blended with kafirin to obtain hybrid KAF/PCL fiber mats with desirable physical properties. Hydrogen bonding between the N-H group of kafirin and the C═O group of PCL was detected in each blended formulation. Our small-angle X-ray scattering results indicated that the long spacing decreased and the average spacing between crystalline lamellae of PCL increased with the increase of kafirin content. Compared to the hydrophobic surface of neat PCL fiber mat, KAF/PCL fiber mats under most of the blend ratios showed hydrophilic surface character, and the swelling property was composition-dependent. The fiber mats evolved from brittle ones to flexible ones with the increase of relative content of PCL. The most desirable mechanical performance was obtained at a kafirin/PCL mass blend ratio of 1:2. To simulate the nutraceutical release in body fluid, carnosic acid (CA) was selected as a nutraceutical model, and release behaviors in selected KAF/PCL fiber mats were found to be diffusion controlled. Whereas the amorphous region of kafirin dominated the release rate, PCL functioned as a hydrophobic skeleton to maintain the 3D scaffold of the fiber matrix. The fabricated KAF/PCL fiber mats open up new applications of underutilized cereal protein in nutraceutical delivery.

Kafirin Nanoparticle-Stabilized Pickering Emulsions as Oral Delivery Vehicles: Physicochemical Stability and in Vitro Digestion Profile

Kafirin nanoparticle-stabilized Pickering emulsions (KPEs) were used to encapsulate curcumin. The stability of KPEs under processing conditions and their protective effects against photo-oxidation of curcumin and lipid oxidation of oil in emulsions, as well as the digestion profiles in gastrointestinal tract, were investigated. KPEs were found to be more stable under acidic than basic environment, and elevated temperature induced their structural instability. The protective effect of KPEs on the chemical stability of curcumin was manifested when subjected to UV radiation as compared to other comparable formulations, such as bulk oil or Tween 80 stabilized emulsions (TEs). Meanwhile, the lipid oxidation rate was retarded in KPEs as compared to those of TEs. Due to hydrolysis of pepsin, KPEs could not survive through the gastric digestion process. After the intestinal digestion process, the extent of lipolysis of KPEs and the curcumin bioaccessibility fell between those of TEs and bulk oil. These results will fill the gap between the physicochemical properties of protein particle-based Pickering emulsions and their realistic applications in the oral delivery of functional food ingredients.

Influence of Sorghum Kafirin on Serum Lipid Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Hyperlipidemic Rats (In Vitro and In Vivo Studies)

The aim of this study was to compare in vitro the antioxidant potential of sorghum kafirin and sorghum flour and their influence on lipids and antioxidant capacity in rats. The antioxidant activity in sorghum kafirin extract measured by the DPPH and TEAC methods was increased 30 and 65 times, respectively, compared to that of its counterpart, sorghum flour. According to electrophoresis assay, the kafirins tert-butanol extract showed a high proportion of α-kafirin monomers, and its amino acid composition revealed higher hydrophobic amino acid content such as alanine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine than sorghum flour extract. Diets supplemented with sorghum kafirin extract have improved lipid metabolism and increased the serum antioxidant potential (67%) especially in rats fed with added cholesterol. The bioactive peptides generated from kafirin in vivo hydrolysis appear to be associated with the positive effect on serum lipids and antioxidant activity. According to these results, sorghum kafirin extract at the levels used in this study apparently could be used for prevention of atherosclerosis and other chronic diseases.