Cyanide, haematology and histopathology profiles of albino rats fed with 'Fufu'-based diets produced from mixed starter cultures

The cyanide, haematology and histopathology profiles of white albino rats fed with ‘fufu’-based diets were monitored. The cassava tubers were subjected into different processing operations: spontaneous-soaked traditional method (SWI), grated before spontaneously-fermented without starter culture (CWI) and those grated, blanched at 65 °C for 15 min before fermented with microorganisms isolated, purified and identified from spontaneously fermented ‘fufu’ categorized into Bacteria only (BAP), Bacteria and Yeast (BYP), Yeast only (YAP), Bacteria and Mould (BMP), Mould and Yeast (MYP) and Mould only (MAP) and were oven dried and milled. The commercial ready-to-eat ‘Fufu’ (CWF) was served as control for laboratory processed samples. Albino rats of the wister strain with four (4) rats per group were fed with 50 % of Commercial vital feed (CVF) and 50% each of the remaining nine (9) “Fufu” samples in ratio 1:1 before haematology and histopathology profile of the animals were investigated. It was found out that Samples BMP and MAP had abnormal high Neutrophil (58–60; 41–42 %) lower Lymphocyte (40–43; 58–61 %), lower Packed cell volume (46–48; 45–47 %) and higher cyanide in the blood (0.004–0.006 mg/L) with sample BMP highest white blood cell (23–24 × 10⁹/L) and sample MAP least white blood cell (6.5–6.6 × 10⁹/L) when compared with other samples which were within the acceptable recommended values for animal studied for haematology and histopathology profiles. The “fufu” samples had reduced cyanide levels ranging from 0.001 mg/L to 0.006 mg/L in the blood of the animals assayed due to the processing operations used. Therefore, combined use of bacteria isolated as starter cultures in the production of odourless “Fufu” have acceptable haematology, histopathology and reduced cyanide level which suggests the suitability in terms of safety for human consumption.

Effect of blanching and ripening on functional properties of plantain (Musa aab) flour

Flours were prepared from raw and blanched samples of unripe and ripe mature plantain Musa aab and examined for their proximate composition, physical characteristics and functional properties. The plantain flours contained 3.5 g crude protein, 2.5-3.5 g crude fat, 5.7-7.1 g moisture, 1.33-2.0 g crude fiber, 1.66-2.0 g ash, and 82.25-86.07 g carbohydrate per 100 g sample. The flours had bulk densities between 0.42-0.72 g/ml, emulsion capacities of 4.7-14.7%, water absorption capacities of 250-338%, oil absorption capacities of 214-371%, foaming capacities of 1.90-5.79%, least gelation concentrations of 6-8%, and viscosities of 23.7-46.7 CP at 2% slurry concentration. Foaming capacity increased with increasing flour concentration. Blanching considerably reduced the emulsion capacity and viscosity, while bulk density, water and oil absorption capacities were increased by blanching. Ripening was found to have a negative effect on all the functional properties examined except the bulk density, and gelation property. Unripe plantain could be used as an emulsifier and thickener in a food system.