Explore the vast range of titles available.

Abstract Objectives This study investigated the effects of curdlan on the physical and sensory properties of pineapple jam, addressing the limitations of pectin such as high cost and low gelling efficiency in pineapple-based formulations. Materials and Methods Pineapple jams were prepared with three concentrations of curdlan (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%). The samples were assessed for cooking time, syneresis, water activity, pH, moisture content, colour, texture, microstructure, and sensory acceptability. Results Incorporating curdlan into pineapple jam shortened the cooking time, with 1.5% curdlan reducing it from 3 to 1 h. Curdlan also decreased syneresis and water activity while increasing the moisture content, pH, and colour attributes (lightness, redness, and yellowness) of the jam. Texture analysis revealed increased hardness and reduced adhesiveness with increasing curdlan concentration. Microstructural observations indicated more heterogeneous structures and greater particle aggregation as curdlan concentration increased. Sensory evaluations showed no significant differences in colour, taste, or overall acceptability, though the formulation containing 0.5% curdlan demonstrated superior spreadability. Conclusion Curdlan effectively improved the physical and functional properties of pineapple jam and reduced cooking time, suggesting its potential as a functional, cost-effective gelling agent. Further studies are needed to assess its scalability, shelf-life, and industrial feasibility. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

IntroductionIndustrial applications of lentil (LP) and quinoa (QP) proteins are limited due to their relatively poor water solubility. In this study, a combination of protein-protein interaction (PPI) and fermentation was used to improve the functionality and nutritional value of LP by conjugating them with QP. The reaction conditions between LP and QP for producing these conjugates were established.MethodsThe ratio of LP to QP was equal (50:50), and complexation was carried out at 25°C for 60 min. Fermentation of the solubilized LP-QP complexes (1%, w/v) for 5 days at 25°C with water kefir (5%, v/v) was carried out to enhance the protein quality and functionality of the LP-QP complexes.ResultsThe combined technique significantly enhanced protein digestibility, decreased the proportion of α-helices in the protein structure in favor of random coil components, and improved the phenolic content of the LP-QP complexes. Digestibility increased to 87%, up from 76% for unfermented LP-QP. Moreover, the LP-QP complexes produced using the combined technique generated a highly nutritional protein with a reduced saponin content.ConclusionThis research revealed that a combination of PPI and water kefir fermentation significantly enhances the nutritional and functional quality of LP, creating new opportunities for leveraging the growing popularity of plant-based proteins into high-value industrial applications.

Protein digestibility, secondary protein structure components, sugars, and phenolic compounds were analysed to investigate the effect of fermentation on the quality, structure, digestibility, and nonnutritive contents of lentil (Lens culinaris) proteins (LPs). Fermentation was carried out using water kefir seed. The initial pH of the unfermented LPs (6.8) decreased to pH 3.4 at the end of the fermentation on day 5. Protein digestibility increased from 76.4 to 84.1% over the 5 days of fermentation. Total phenolic content increased from 443.4 to 792.6 mg of GAE/100 g after 2 days of fermentation, with the sums of the detected phenolic compounds from HPLC analysis reaching almost 500 mg/100 g. The predominant phenolic compounds detected in fermented LPs include chlorogenic and epicatechin, while traces of rutin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were observed. Fermentation played a major role in the changes of the components in the secondary protein structure, especially the percentage of α-helices and random coils. In addition, the reduction in α-helix: β-sheet ratio with the increase in protein digestibility was related to the prolongation of the fermentation time. The model used in this research could be a robust tool for improving protein quality, protein degradation, and nonnutritive nutrients using water kefir seed fermentation.

Purpose - The aim of this study is to develop a soy-based cream cheese (SCC) with textural characteristics comparable to that of commercial dairy cream cheese (DCC) via the addition of microbial transglutaminase (MTG), soy protein isolate (SPI) and maltodextrin (MD).Design methodology approach - Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed in this study to determine the effects of MTG, MD and SPI on firmness of SCC.Findings - The second-order model generated via RSM was significant with only a 9.76 per cent variation not explained by the model. The coefficient of regression revealed that MTG, MD and SPI showed significant linear effects (P<0.0001) on the firmness of SCC, while MTG and SPI showed significant quadratic effects. The model successfully predicted and developed a SCC model with similar firmness as that of DCC; via the combination of 2.57 per cent (w w) of MTG, 19.69 per cent (w w) of SPI and 19.69 per cent (w w) of MD. Physicochemical analyses revealed that SCC possessed lower fat content, reduced saturated fatty acid and zero trans fat. Further rheological measurements revealed that SCC was more solid-like at room temperature, but less elastic at refrigerated temperature compared to DCC. SEM and SDS-PAGE analyses affirmed that the textural changes of SCC were attributed to MTG-induced cross-linking.Originality value - The research demonstrated that a non-dairy cream cheese could be developed using soy. In addition, the SCC also contained better nutritional properties compared to its dairy counterpart.

Highly nutritious lentil proteins (LP) have recently attracted interest in the food industry. However, due to their low solubility, extensive application of LP is severely limited. This study describes a new and successful method for overcoming this challenge by improving the nutritional–functional properties of LP, particularly their solubility and protein quality. By combining protein complexation with water kefir-assisted fermentation, the water solubility of native LP (~58%) increases to over 86% upon the formation of lentil–casein protein complexes (LCPC). Meanwhile, the surface charge increases to over −40 mV, accompanied by alterations in secondary and tertiary structures, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared and UV-vis spectra, respectively. In addition, subjecting the novel LCPC to fermentation increases the protein digestibility from 76% to over 86%, due to the reduction in micronutrients that have some degree of restriction with respect to protein digestibility. This approach could be an effective and practical way of altering plant-based proteins.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing a distinguished alternative to human consumption of animal-based proteins. The application of lentil proteins in the food industry is typically limited due to their poor solubility and digestibility. An innovative method of balancing lentil-whey protein (LP-WP) complexes with higher-quality protein properties was established to address this issue, which coupled a pH-shifting approach with fermentation treatment. The results showed that microorganisms in the water kefir influenced the quality of protein structures and enhanced the nutritional values, including increasing the total phenolic compounds and improving the flavor of fermented LP-WP complexes. The protein digestibility, pH values, microbial growth, total soluble solids, and total saponin and phenolic contents were hydrolyzed for 5 days at 25 °C. The FTIR spectrophotometer scans indicated significant ( P  < 0.05) changes to the secondary protein structure components (random coil and α-helix). This study showed that combining pH-shifting with fermentation treatment improves lentil and whey proteins’ structure, protein quality, and nutritional benefits.

Time and temperature parameters of superheated steam (SHS) treatment were optimised using response surface methodology (RSM) for specific lipoxygenase (LOX) activity in soya beans and crude protein content in soya milk. The optimal SHS treatment was obtained at 9.3 min and 119 °C. The predicted values of specific LOX activity and crude protein content by RSM were 0.0098 μmol/(min mg protein) and 3.2%, respectively. These values were experimentally verified to be 0.0081 ± 0.0002 μmol/(min mg protein) and 3.0 ± 0.1%, respectively. Sensory evaluation showed that the beany flavour of soya milk produced from SHS treated soya beans was significantly weaker (P < 0.05) than that of untreated soya beans. The results showed that the optimised SHS treatment could reduce the beany flavour in the soya milk significantly (P < 0.05) by reducing the specific LOX activity in the soybean, while ensuring the crude protein content in the soya milk complied with Malaysian Food Regulations 1985.

Salt reduction in food has been employed to improve public health. The effects of salt coatings on sodium content, sensory properties, structural breakdown, microstructure, salt release properties, and shelf life of yellow alkaline noodles (YAN) were evaluated. 15 g/dL resistant starch HYLON™ VII (HC) or 5% (v/v) Semperfresh™ (SC) with 10, 20, and 30 g/dL sodium chloride (NaCl) were used. HC-Na30 and SC-Na30 had the highest sodium content and came closest to commercial YAN in taste and saltiness perception. Structural improvement was demonstrated with HC-Na10 and SC-Na10 as both noodles required maximum work to be broken down. Moreover, SEM micrographs of these noodles showed a more compact and dense appearance with increased continuity of the matrix and fewer voids and hollows. However, ruptured surfaces were observed in noodles coated with 20 and 30% salt. The enhanced salt release from the coatings was demonstrated in an in vivo analysis, with the released salt occurring rapidly from HC and SC coatings. HC-Na10 and SC-Na10 noodles had a shelf life of more than 8 days when stored at 4 °C, which is longer than HC-Na0 and SC-Na0 noodles. Storage at 4 °C decelerated the microbiological growth, changes in pH and CIE L* values in salt-coated noodles than storage at 25 °. Thus, HC-Na10 and SC-Na10 could be suitable formulations to replace commercial YAN.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of producing Nigella sativa powder under a foam mat drying technique. A central, composite design of experiments was used to optimize the drying condition and compare the solubility, the antioxidant and mineral content of roasted Nigella sativa, and the foam mat dried Nigella sativa powder. Foams were prepared from Nigella sativa solution by adding different concentrations of egg albumen (2.5%, 8.75%, and 15% w/w) and methyl cellulose (0, 0.5% and 1% w/w), using whipping times of 2, 5, and 8 min. The drying temperature was set at 50–70 °C, with a foam thickness of 1, 2, and 3 mm. The optimum recorded conditions for the foaming process were 15% of egg albumen concentration, 0.69% of methyl cellulose concentration, and a whipping time of 8 min. Thus, the optimum conditions for the drying process were 60 °C, with 2 mm of foam thickness. The results showed that there were significant differences in DPPH inhibition, the total phenolic content, and mineral content, whereas no significant differences were recorded in the water solubility index between the roasted Nigella sativa and the foam mat dried Nigella sativa powder.