Structural and technological characteristics of starch isolated from sorghum as a function of drying temperature and storage time

A preparation of debranched waxy maize starch derivatives: Effect of drying temperatures on crystallization and digestibility

The impact of recrystallization conditions and drying temperatures on the crystallization and digestibility of native waxy maize (Zea mays L.) starch (NWMS) was explored. This study involved subjecting NWMS to concurrent debranching and crystallization at 50 °C for up to 7 days. Samples were collected by oven-drying at 40, 60, and 80 °C for 24 h. This simultaneous debranching and crystallization process increased the resistant starch (RS) content by approximately 48 % compared to the native starch. The drying temperatures significantly influenced the RS content, with samples dried at 60 °C exhibiting the lowest digestibility. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that most crystals demonstrated a characteristic A-type arrangement. Debranching and crystallization processes enhanced the crystallinity of the samples. The specific crystal arrangement (A- or B-type) depended on the crystallization conditions. A 15 min heating of NWMS in a boiling water bath increased the digestible fraction to over 90 %, while the samples subjected to debranching and crystallization showed an increase to only about 45 %. A linear correlation between starch fractions and enthalpy was also observed.

The combined effect of thermal-acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, and iodine species removal on the properties of native tapioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) starch

Through a four-step top-down approach, native tapioca starch (NTS) was thermally acid-hydrolyzed, periodate-oxidized with subsequent removal of iodine species (i.e., IO₄(-), IO₃(-), I(-), and I₂), and dialdehyde tapioca starch (DTS) alcohol-precipitation. The percent yield was ∼91%. Analyses confirmed the presence of aldehydic functionalities (∼71%), effectual iodine species removal (∼98%), and enhanced water-solubility (∼96.57%). Besides, the combined treatment significantly reduced the M_w (∼57.81 kDa) and ameliorated homogeneity as well as thermal stability (T_max ∼ 667.15 °C). Structural-spectral characterization also confirmed the presence of aldehydic functionality, polymorphic transition (C- to A-type), and a higher degree of crystallinity (∼91.77%), the latter further corroborated by thermal analysis. The morphological study revealed that the combined treatment reduced size (∼393.55-nm-diameter and ∼5.22-μm-length) and changed shape into rod-like crystals. DTS showed considerably and significantly low cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells in vitro at the concentrations assayed over the test period (24 h). DTS's conformation was most stable at -289 kcal/mol and -151.7 au heat formation and minimum potential energies, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrated that the combined treatment had no deleterious effects on NTS's properties, thus yielded DTS with ideal properties for multifarious uses.

Comparison of structural and physicochemical properties of starches from five coarse grains

Starch, one of the most important components of coarse grains, has received widespread attention because of its prominent potential health benefits. In the present study, we isolated starches from the grains of sorghum, tartary buckwheat, common buckwheat, mungbean, and pea and studied their structural and physicochemical properties. These five starches all showed the distinctive "Maltese cross" effect (birefringence) but significantly differed in morphology, size, and complexity of granules. Sorghum starch exhibited the lowest amylose content and highest weight-average molar mass. Mungbean contained more short amylopectin [degree of polymerization (DP) 6-12 = 23.4%]. Pea starch exhibited the highest amylose content, highest amylopectin average chain length, and lowest weight-average molar mass. The starches of sorghum, tartary buckwheat, and common buckwheat showed A-type crystallinity, whereas those of mungbean and pea showed C-type crystallinity. Our results provide useful information for the application of coarse grain starches in diverse industries.