Influence of xanthan and agar-agar on thermo-functional, morphological, pasting and rheological properties of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) starch

Starch-based biodegradable films amended with nano-starch and tannic acid-coated nano-starch exhibit enhanced mechanical and functional attributes with antimicrobial activity

Starch-based biofilms are biodegradable, but their application is limited by lower mechanical strength and absence of antimicrobial properties. In this context, the present study attempted to unleash the potential of nanotechnology for synthesizing nano-starch (NS) and tannic acid-coated nano-starch (T-NS) for augmenting the tensile strength and antimicrobial properties of starch-based biofilms. Moreover, this study reports one of the first such attempts to improve the commercial viability of starch extracted from the corms of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius. In this study, NS and T-NS samples were first synthesized by the physical and chemical modification of the native starch (S) molecules. The NS and T-NS samples showed significantly smaller granule size, lower moisture content, and swelling power. Further, amendments with NS and T-NS samples (25 % and 50 %) to the native starch molecules were performed to obtain biofilm samples. The NSB (NS amended) and T-NSB (T-NS amended) biofilms showed comparatively higher tensile strength than SB films (100 % starch-based). The T-NSB showed greater antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. All the biofilms showed almost complete biodegradation in soil (in 10 days). Therefore, it can be concluded that additives like NS and T-NS can improve starch-based biofilms' mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties with considerable biodegradability.

Unveiling the impact of additives on structural integrity, thermal and color stability of C-phycocyanin - Agar hydrocolloid

C-Phycocyanin and sugar (C-PC/S) blended agar hydrocolloid was prepared and its rheological, thermo-functional and morphological properties were examined based on the fluorescence excitation-emission matrix profile. Sucrose (40%, w/v) determined as a superior preservative, maintaining the native conformation of C-PC effectively. C-PC/S exhibited enhanced structural integrity with high storage modulus (G') and 86.4% swelling index. FT-IR demonstrated strong intramolecular bonding. TGA revealed that the presence of sucrose prolonged the devolatilization peak up to 325 °C, with a degradation rate of -2.273 mg/min, it the thermal stability. C-PC/S fortified hydrocolloid in ice cream (5.0% w/w), reduced melting rate up to five times. In conclusion, sucrose as a promising enhancer of color stability and structural integrity for C-PC, and this combination effectively improves the functional and rheological properties. Further, the findings exposed the agar hydrocolloid as a potential enhancer of color retention and improved performance for various food and cosmetic products.

Tuber crops could be a potential food component for lowering starch digestibility and estimated glycemic index in rice

BACKGROUND

Rice is considered a high estimated glycemic index (eGI) food because of its higher starch digestibility, which leads to type II diabetes and obesity as a result of a sedentary life style. Furthermore, the incresaing diabetes cases in rice-consuming populations worldwide need alternative methods to reduce the glycemic impact of rice, with dietary prescriptions based on the eGI value of food being an attractive and practical concept. Rice is often paired with vegetables, pulses, tubers and roots, a staple food group in Africa, Latin America and Asia, which are rich in fibre and health-promoting compounds.

RESULTS

Rice from four categories (high protein, scented, general and pigmented) was analyzed for eGI and resistant starch (RS) content. Among the genotypes, Improved Lalat had the lowest eGI (53.12) with a relatively higher RS content (2.17%), whereas Hue showed the lowest RS (0.19%) with the highest eGI (76.3) value. The addition of tuber crops to rice caused a significant lowering of eGI where the maximum beneficial effect was shown by elephant foot yam (49.37) followed by yam bean (53.07) and taro (54.43).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that combining rice with suitable tuber crops can significantly reduce its eGI value, potentially reducing the burden of diet-associated lifestyle diseases particularly diabetics. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Construction and application of nano ZnO/eugenol@yam starch/microcrystalline cellulose active antibacterial film

The goal of this study was to develop new biocomposite films that can better protect and prolong the shelf life of food. Here, a ZnO: eugenol@yam starch/microcrystalline cellulose (ZnO:Eu@SC) antibacterial active film was constructed. Because of the advantages of metal oxides and plant essential oils, codoping with these can effectively improve the physicochemical and functional properties of composite films. The addition of an appropriate amount of nano-ZnO improved the compactness and thermostability, reduced the moisture sensitivity, and enhanced the mechanical and barrier properties of the film. ZnO:Eu@SC exhibited good controlled release of nano-ZnO and Eu in food simulants. Nano-ZnO and Eu release was controlled by two mechanisms: diffusion (primary) and swelling (secondary). After loading Eu, the antimicrobial activity of ZnO:Eu@SC was significantly enhanced, resulting in a synergistic antibacterial effect. Z₄:Eu@SC film extended the pork shelf life by 100 % (25 °C). In humus, the ZnO:Eu@SC film was effectively degraded into fragments. Therefore, the ZnO:Eu@SC film has excellent potential in food active packaging.

Insight into the effect of garlic peptides on the physicochemical and anti-staling properties of wheat starch

The staling of wheat starch in storage seriously damages the quality of starch-based foods, and how to delay the staling has become a topic focus. To solve the problem, this study analyzed the effect of garlic peptides on the physical and retrogradation behaviors of wheat starch during storage. The rheological, pasting, swelling properties, molecular order, water migration, and microstructure of wheat starch gels were evaluated. Our results showed that garlic peptides effectively reduced the storage and loss modulus of wheat starch. The physical properties indicated that garlic peptides suppressed the swelling and gelatinization of starch, which exhibited higher water holding capacity and lower water migration. In addition, garlic peptides incorporated wheat starch exhibited the lowest gel hardness during storage. X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis indicated that garlic peptides could reduce the crystallinity and inhibit the formation of ordered structures in wheat starch gel. The microstructure observation showed that the gel with garlic peptides maintained the integrity of the network structure. Consequently, garlic peptides are expected to be an effective natural additive to inhibit starch staling and provide new insights for starch-based foods.

Effect of xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose on structure, functional and sensorial properties of yam balls

Yam and its products can be modified during processing to reduce losses and ensure food security in the developing world. Xanthan gum (XG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were added at different concentrations to yam balls and their effect on the structural, functional, and sensory properties of frozen yam balls were investigated in this study. Freeze-thaw stability and oil absorption capacity of yam ball mix were determined. Sensory evaluation and instrumental texture profile analysis (TPA) were done on samples of deep-fried yam balls using TA-XT Texture Analyser. Yam balls mixture containing XG and CMC had significantly (p < 0.05) lower oil uptake and water migration rates of 0.19 g/g and 4.10% as compared to control products 0.25 g/g and 11.05% respectively. Deep-fried yam balls samples containing 1 g of both XG and CMC obtained higher scores for their sensory attributes, while samples containing 2 g of both hydrocolloids were the chewiest. The findings suggest that the addition of hydrocolloids; XG and CMC enhances the freeze-thaw stability and reduces the oil absorption potential of the yam balls mix, and improve the sensory and texture properties of deep-fried yam balls.

Effects of different modified starches and gums on the physicochemical, functional, and microstructural properties of tapioca pearls

The effects of different modified starch and gums on the physicochemical, functional, and microstructural properties of tapioca pearls were investigated. The addition of starch acetate (SA) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) improved the springiness, hardness, cooking properties, and overall acceptability of pearls. Samples added with CMC presented higher peak viscosities, breakdown viscosities, onset gelatinization temperature, and lower enthalpy of gelatinization values compared to control pearls. Furthermore, Rheology and LF-NMR results indicated that all five kinds of modifiers promoted the formation of tighter network structures in products. SEM showed that the addition of SA and hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (HDP) could fill the voids in the internal gel network of the pearls, thus promoting the formation of a continuous phase network. This study proved SA, HDP, and CMC as modifiers could have tremendous potential to improve the quality of pearls before and after cooking.

Quality characteristics of sand, pan and microwave roasted pigmented wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Present study investigated the effect of sand, pan and microwave roasting on physico-chemical, functional and rheological properties of yellow (YW), purple (PW), and black wheat (BW). All roasting methods enhanced the browning index (BI), water absorption capacity (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) roasted wheat flour. Microwave roasting showed significantly higher impact on BI (58.61% for YW, 131% for BW and 83.85% for PW) and WAC (47.93% for YW, 44.63% for BW and 32.09% for PW). However, the decrease in density, emulsifying capacity (EC), foaming capacity (FC), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity was observed on roasted wheat flour. Roasting also affected the pasting properties of wheat flours and peak, trough, breakdown and final viscosity decreased.

Plasticized Starch/Agar Composite Films: Processing, Morphology, Structure, Mechanical Properties and Surface Hydrophilicity

Natural biopolymers, which are renewable, widely available, biodegradable, and biocompatible, have attracted huge interest in the development of biocomposite materials. Herein, formulation–property relationships for starch/agar composite films were investigated. First, rapid visco analysis was used to confirm the conditions needed for their gelation and to prepare filmogenic solutions. All the original crystalline and/or lamellar structures of starch and agar were destroyed, and films with cohesive and compact structures were formed, as shown by SEM, XRD, and SAXS. All the plasticized films were predominantly amorphous, and the polymorphs of the composite films were closer to that of the agar-only film. FTIR results suggest that the incorporation of agar restricted starch chain interaction and rearrangement. The addition of agar to starch increased both tensile strength and elongation at break, but the improvements were insignificant after the agar content was over 50 wt.%. Contact angle results indicate that compared with the other samples, the 4:6 (wt./wt.) starch/agar film was less hydrophilic. Thus, this work shows that agar dominates the structure and properties of starch/agar composites, and the best properties can be obtained with a certain starch/agar ratio. Such composite polysaccharide films with tailored mechanical properties and surface hydrophilicity could be useful in biodegradable packaging and biomedical applications (wound dressing and tissue scaffolding).

The Influence of Konjac Glucomannan on the Physicochemical and Rheological Properties and Microstructure of Canna Starch

The addition of hydrocolloid is an effective method to improve the properties of native starch. However, few studies have investigated the effects of konjac glucomannan (KGM) on canna starch (CS). In this study, the effects of various KGM concentration on the pasting, rheological, textural, and morphological properties of CS were investigated. The addition of KGM significantly increased CS’s pasting viscosities. Incorporation of KGM in CS at a relatively high level (1.2% w/w) exerted a significant influence on the pasting properties of CS. The consistency coefficient of CS was notably increased by KGM (from 43.6 to 143.3 Pa·sⁿ) and positively correlated positive with KGM concentration. KGM concentration at a relatively high level (1.2% w/w) increased the elasticities and cohesiveness of CS by 53.3% and 88.0%, respectively, in texture profile analysis. The polarized optical microscope images indicated that KGM played an important part in protecting the crystalline structure of CS during heating. A denser porous microstructure with a filamentous network was observed in gelatinized KGM/CS mixtures as compared with the CS control. This research advances the knowledge of interactions between KGM and CS and opens possibilities to improve rheological properties of CS and to develop its new functionalities with KGM addition.

Multiscale structural changes and retrogradation effects of addition of sodium alginate to fermented and native wheat starch

This work investigated the changes in multi-scale structure and retrogradation properties of native wheat starches (NS) modified by sodium alginate (AG) with and without fermentation. AG adhered on the surface of NS granules and fermentation promoted the adhesions. Compared with the addition of AG alone, dual modification by fermentation and AG together showed a greater effect to increase the weight-average molecular weight and reduce the relative crystallinity and double helix degree of NS. Small angle X-ray diffraction results showed a significant increase in amorphous region with dual modification compared with AG alone. Additionally, dual modification greatly slowed the increase of relative crystallinity and the enthalpy (ΔH) of NS paste during storage. The results of this study suggest that dual modification is a more effective approach to modify structures and properties of wheat starch than single AG treatment, and suggest its potential industrial application in starch-based foods.

Surface Morphology Formation of Edible Holographic Marker on Potato Starch with Gelatin or Agar Thin Coatings

Edible films and coatings based on biopolymers to protect and extend the shelf life of food and medicine can be functionalized, by applying a holographic marker on the coating surface for marking products or sensing storage conditions. In this work, holographic markers were prepared on the surface of thin biopolymer coatings based on starch, gelatin, agar and also starch/gelatin and starch/agar blends by the nanoimprint method from a film-forming solution. The morphology of the surface of holographic markers using optical microscopy in reflection mode was examined, as well as the reasons for its formation using an analysis of the flow curves of film-forming solutions. It was found that the surface morphology of the marker strongly depends on the composition, consistency index of film-forming solution and miscibility of the components. It was shown that the starch/agar film-forming solution at the ratio of 70/30 wt.% has a low consistency index value of 21.38 Pa·s^0.88, compared to 64.56 Pa·s^0.67 for pure starch at a drying temperature of 30 °C, and the components are well compatible. Thus, an isotropic morphology of the holographic marker surface was formed and the value of diffraction efficiency of 3% was achieved, compared to 1.5% for the marker made of pure starch. Coatings without holographic markers were analyzed by tensile strength and water contact angle, and their properties are highly dependent on their composition.

Development and characterization of elephant foot yam starch-hydrocolloids based edible packaging film: physical, optical, thermal and barrier properties

The study aimed at the development of elephant foot yam starch (EFYS) based edible film through blending of Xanthan (XG) and agar-agar (AA). Film thickness and density increased with increase in concentration of hydrocolloids and the respective highest value 0.199 mm and 2.02 g/cm³ were found for the film possessing 2% AA. The film barrier properties varied with hydrocolloids and the lowest value of water vapour transmission rate (1494.54 g/m²) and oxygen transmission rate (0.020 cm³/m²) was observed for the film with 1% XG and 1.5% AA, respectively. Mechanical and thermal properties also improved upon addition of hydrocolloid. Highest tensile strength (20.14 MPa) and glass transition temperature (150.6 °C) was observed for film containing 2% AA. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of -OH, C-H, and C=O groups. The change in crystallinity was observed through peak in X-ray diffraction analysis, which increased with increase in the hydrocolloids' concentration.