Synergistic interactions between yellow mustard polysaccharides and galactomannans

Physicochemical and thermomechanical characterization of tara gum edible films: effect of polyols as plasticizers

The aim of this study was to evaluate tara gum as edible film material as well as the influence of polyols as plasticizers on the properties of the films. Thermomechanical, physicochemical and barrier properties were determined as a function of plasticizer type and concentration. Glycerol, sorbitol and PEG 400 were used in the range of 0.075-0.3g/tarag. Glycerol was the best plasticizer in terms of mechanical properties with the highest elongation (16-44%) and resistance (45-90 MPa). Sorbitol presented the best barrier properties with the lowest hydrophilicity and water vapour permeability (0.24-0.34 g mm m(-2)h(-1) kPa(-1)). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed no significant effect on the structure of the polysaccharide. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that incorporation of plasticizers increased the mobility of the polymer chains and reduced the glass transition and melting temperature by 30 and 100 °C respectively.

Novel mucilage fraction of Sinapis alba L. (mustard) reduces azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci formation in F344 and Zucker obese rats

Seeds of Sinapis alba Linn. (commonly called yellow or white mustard) and their components have been reported to possess anticancer properties. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a novel mucilaginous fraction of mustard seeds in inhibiting colonic preneoplastic changes in animal models of sporadic and obesity-associated colon cancer. In two separate studies, male Sprague-Dawley or female Zucker obese rats, injected with azoxymethane (15 or 10 mg/kg body wt. once a week for 2 weeks, respectively), were fed AIN-93G diets with or without 5% mustard mucilage (MM) (w/w) for 8 weeks. Our aim was to measure the ability to modulate the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions of the colon. The data were classified into total numbers of ACF and large ACF (crypt multiplicity of 4 or more). We report here that 5% MM significantly (p<0.05) decreased the number of total (approximately 21% inhibition) and large (approximately 50% inhibition) ACF in the colons of Sprague-Dawley rats compared to that in untreated controls. In addition, 5% MM supplemented diet significantly lowered (p<0.05) the number of total (approximately 63% inhibition) and large (approximately 60% inhibition) colonic ACF in Zucker obese rats compared to untreated obese rats, and had no effect on fasting plasma cholesterol or triglyceride levels. These results demonstrate the possible role of MM as a functional food against sporadic and obesity-associated colon cancer, and provide impetus to conduct research to understand the underlying mechanism(s) of action.

Synergisms between yellow mustard mucilage and galactomannans and applications in food products--a mini review

Yellow or white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) is unique in the mustard family by containing large amounts of mucilaginous material in the seed coat. This material was shown to exhibit similar rheological properties to xanthan gum such as shear thinning flow behavior and weak gel structure. This review will discuss the synergistic interactions between yellow mustard mucilage (YMM) and galactomannans, particularly locust bean gum (LBG), and its potential food applications. In addition, synergistic interactions between YMM, with or without LBG, on starch paste viscosity and syneresis will also be reviewed. The thickening, texturizing and stabilizing properties of YMM, and its ability to form gels at very low concentration in the presence of LBG, could lead to many food and industrial applications.