Novel strategy to raise the content of aglycone isoflavones in soymilk and gel: Effect of germination on the physicochemical properties

Germination holds the key to nutritional equilibrium in plant grains. In this study, the effect of soybean germination on the processing of soymilk (SM) and glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) induced soymilk gel (SG) was investigated. Germination promoted soybean sprout (SS) growth by activating the energy metabolism system. The energy metabolism was high during the three-day germination and was the most vigorous on the second day of germination. After germination, protein dissolution was improved in SM, and endogenous enzymes produced small molecule proteins. Small molecule proteins were more likely to aggregate to produce SM protein particles. Germination increased the water-holding capacity of SG induced by GDL but weakened the strength. Furthermore, the dynamic fluctuations in isoflavone content were closely monitored throughout the processing of soybean products, including SS, SM, and SG. Although the total amount of isoflavones in SM and SG processed from germinated soybeans decreased, a significant enrichment in the content of aglycone isoflavones was observed. The content of aglycone isoflavones in SG processed from germinated soybeans on the second day of germination was 736.17 ± 28.49 µg/g DW, which was 83.19 % higher than that of the control group. This study demonstrates that germination can enhance the nutritional value of soybean products, providing innovative opportunities for the development of health-promoting soybean-based products.

Fermented camel milk influenced by soy extract: Apparent viscosity, viscoelastic properties, thixotropic behavior, and biological activities

During fermentation, camel milk forms a fragile, acid-induced gel, which is less stable compared with the gel formed by bovine milk. In this study, camel milk was supplemented with different levels of soy extract, and the obtained blends were fermented with 2 different starter culture strains (a high acidic culture and a low acidic culture). The camel milk-soy extract yogurt treatments were evaluated for pH value, acidity, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities, degree of hydrolysis, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, antiproliferative activities, and rheological properties after 1 and 21 d of storage at 4°C. The results revealed that some of the investigated parameters were significantly affected by the starter culture strain and storage period. For instance, the effect of starter cultures was evident for the degree of hydrolysis, antioxidant capacities, proliferation inhibition, and rheological properties because these treatments led to different responses. Furthermore, the characteristics of camel milk-soy extract yogurt were also influenced by the supplementation level of soy extract, particularly after 21 d of storage. This study could provide valuable knowledge to the dairy industry because it highlighted the characteristics of camel milk-soy yogurt prepared with 2 different starter culture strains.

Ingredients, Processing, and Fermentation: Addressing the Organoleptic Boundaries of Plant-Based Dairy Analogues

Consumer interest and research in plant-based dairy analogues has been growing in recent years because of increasingly negative implications of animal-derived products on human health, animal wellbeing, and the environment. However, plant-based dairy analogues face many challenges in mimicking the organoleptic properties of dairy products due to their undesirable off-flavours and textures. This article thus reviews fermentation as a viable pathway to developing clean-label plant-based dairy analogues with satisfactory consumer acceptability. Discussions on complementary strategies such as raw material selection and extraction technologies are also included. An overview of plant raw materials with the potential to be applied in dairy analogues is first discussed, followed by a review of the processing steps and innovative techniques required to transform these plant raw materials into functional ingredients such as plant-based aqueous extracts or flours for subsequent fermentation. Finally, the various fermentation (bacterial, yeast, and fungal) methodologies applied for the improvement of texture and other sensory qualities of plant-based dairy analogues are covered. Concerted research efforts would be required in the future to tailor and optimise the presented wide diversity of options to produce plant-based fermented dairy analogues that are both delicious and nutritionally adequate.