Ultrasound Treatment Enhanced Semidry-Milled Rice Flour Properties and Gluten-Free Rice Bread Quality

The structural and functional properties of physical modified rice flour, including ultrasound treated rice flour (US), microwave treated rice flour (MW) and hydrothermal treated rice flour (HT) were investigated with wet-milled rice flour (WF) used as a positive control. The results showed the presence of small dents and pores on the rice flour granules of US and MW while more fragments and cracks were showed in HT. XRD and FTIR revealed that moderate ultrasonic treatment promoted the orderly arrangement of starch while hydrothermal treatment destroyed the crystalline structure of rice flour. In addition, the significant decrease of gelatinization enthalpy and the narrowing gelatinization temperature were observed in US. Compared to that of SF, adding physical modified rice flour led to a batter with higher viscoelasticity and lower tan δ. However, the batter added HT exhibited highest G′ and G″ values and lowest tan δ, which led to a harder texture of bread. Texture analysis demonstrated that physical modified rice flour (except HT) reduced the hardness, cohesion, and gumminess of rice bread. Especially, the specific volume of bread with US increased by 15.6% and the hardness decreased by 17.6%. This study suggested that ultrasound treatment of rice flour could improve texture properties and appearance of rice bread.     

Effect of Coconut and Chestnut Flour Supplementations on Texture,Nutritional and Sensory Properties of Baked Wheat Based Bread

Wheat bread, produced by the single-phase method, is a common food consumed all over the world. Due to changes in lifestyle and nutritional trends, alternative raw materials are sought to increase the nutritional value and improve the taste of daily consumed products. Additionally, customers seek a wide variety of foods, especially when it comes to basic foods. Nuts, such as coconuts or chestnuts, might provide an attractive flavour with benefits to the nutritional quality. In this study, the effect of substituting wheat flour with coconut or chestnut flour (flour contribution level: 5, 10, 15, 30, 50% w/w), was evaluated in terms of the breads specific volume, texture, colour, nutritional composition, and dietary fibre fraction contents. Moreover, a sensory evaluation was conducted to assess potential consumer acceptance. Based on the consumer’s perception, the overall acceptance of bread with 15% w/w of coconut and chestnut flour was in privilege compared to the control sample. As a result, taking all of the tested parameters into account, the breads with 5, 10, and 15% supplementation of chestnut or coconut flour were still of good quality compared to the wheat bread and their fibre content was significantly higher.     

Physicochemical Properties of Bread Partially Substituted with Unripe Green Banana (Cavendish spp.) Flour

This study aimed to utilize unripe green bananas obtained from those that were graded as unacceptable for export. Bread was selected as the product model for the application of banana flour. As carbohydrates and other functional active compounds make up the main composition of green bananas, unripe banana flour (UBF) was prepared and characterized. The chemical composition, physico-chemical properties, and functional properties of UBF, as well as its application in bread for wheat flour (WF) substitution at different levels, were investigated. Quality attributes of the bread were determined. High carbohydrate (89%), total dietary fiber (7%), ash (2%), potassium content and radical scavenging activity were found in UBF bread, while protein (15%) and fat contents (0.9%) were higher in WF bread (p < 0.05). Starch granules of different sizes and shapes (round, long and oblong) were observed in the starch from UBF bread. Solubility, swelling power, and the water absorption capacity of WF bread were greater than UBF bread (p < 0.05). The gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) was 0.69 and 5.00 J/g for WF and UBF, respectively. The rapid viscoanalyzer (RVA) pasting profile showed that UBF bread had a higher pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity than WF bread (p < 0.05). Increasing the level of UBF caused an increase in bread hardness and a decrease in loaf volume (p < 0.05). We show that UBF can be considered a value-added product with health-promoting properties. The utilization of UBF as a functional food ingredient will benefit the consumer.     

Novel Gluten-Free Bread with an Extract from Flaxseed By-Product: The Relationship between Water Replacement Level and Nutritional Value,Antioxidant Properties,and Sensory Quality

The food industry generates a great amount of food waste and by-products, which in many cases are not fully valorized. Press cakes, deriving from oilseeds extraction, represent interesting co-products due to their nutritional value, high biopolymers content, and the presence of bioactive phytochemicals. Gluten-free breads (GFBs) are products that have disadvantages such as unsatisfactory texture, low nutritional value, and short shelf life, so natural additives containing proteins and hydrocolloids are in demand to increase GFBs value. In this study, extract from flaxseed by-product (FOCE—Flaxseed Oil Cake Extract) was used to replace water (25–100%) in GFBs formulations and their nutritional value, antioxidant properties, and sensory features were investigated. The results showed that GFBs with FOCE had an elevated nutritional and nutraceutical profile (up to 60% more proteins, significantly increased K, Mg, and P levels). Moreover, the addition of FOCE improved the technological parameters (increased specific volume, number of cells and height/width ratio, reduced density, average size, and perimeter of cells), antioxidant potential, and overall sensory quality of GFBs. This study showed an encouraging way of using a by-product that, due to its high content of proteins, polysaccharides, minerals, and antioxidants, can add value to GFBs.     

Physicochemical Properties,Antioxidant Capacity,Prebiotic Activity and Anticancer Potential in Human Cells of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Seed Flour

The general aim of this study was to evaluate physicochemical properties, prebiotic activity and anticancer potential of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed flour. The drying processes of jackfruit seeds were performed at 50, 60 and 70 °C in order to choose the optimal temperature for obtaining the flour based on drying time, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. The experimental values of the moisture ratio during jackfruit seed drying at different temperatures were obtained using Page’s equation to establish the drying time for the required moisture between 5 and 7% in the flour. The temperature of 60 °C was considered adequate for obtaining good flour and for performing its characterization. The chemical composition, total dietary fiber, functional properties and antioxidant capacity were then examined in the flour. The seed flour contains carbohydrates (73.87 g/100 g), dietary fiber (31 g/100 g), protein (14 g/100 g) and lipids (1 g/100 g). The lipid profile showed that the flour contained monounsaturated (4 g/100 g) and polyunsaturated (46 g/100 g) fatty acids. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose were found to be the predominant soluble sugars, and non-digestible oligosaccharides like 1-kestose were also found. The total polyphenol content was 2.42 mg of gallic acid/g of the sample; furthermore, the antioxidant capacity obtained by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was 901.45 µmol Trolox/100 g and 1607.87 µmol Trolox/100 g, respectively. The obtained flour exhibited good functional properties, such as water and oil absorption capacity, swelling power and emulsifier capacity. Additionally, this flour had a protective and preventive effect which is associated with the potential prebiotic activity in Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum. These results demonstrate that jackfruit seed flour has good nutritional value and antioxidant and prebiotic activity, as well as potential protective effects and functional properties, making it an attractive food or ingredient in developing innovative functional products.     

Liposomal Bilayer as a Carrier of Rosa canina L. Seed Oil: Physicochemical Characterization,Stability, and Biological Potential

Rosa canina L. seeds are rich in bioactive components that can add value to the various formulations. The focus of the study was the development of liposomes for R. canina oil to protect its sensitive compounds and prolong their shelf-life. Oil-loaded liposomes were characterized via the determination of the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, mobility, density, surface tension, viscosity, and stability. Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy were employed to investigate the chemical composition of the non-treated and UV-treated samples, and the presence of different interactions. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were examined as well. The liposome size was 970.4 ± 37.4 nm, the PDI 0.438 ± 0.038, the zeta potential −32.9 ± 0.8 mV, the conductivity 0.068 ± 0.002 mS/cm, the mobility −2.58 ± 0.06 µmcm/Vs, the density 0.974 ± 0.004 g/cm³, the surface tension 17.2 ± 1.4 mN/m, and the viscosity 13.5 ± 0.2 mPa•s. The Raman and FT-IR spectra showed the presence of lipids, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids. It was approved that the oil compounds were distributed inside the phospholipid bilayer and were combined with the membrane interface of the bilayer. The UV irradiation did not cause any chemical changes. However, neither the pure oil nor the oil-loaded liposomes showed any antimicrobial potential, while the antioxidant capacity of the oil-loaded liposomes was significantly low. The sizes of the liposomes did not change significantly during 60 days of storage. Due to the proven stability of the oil-loaded liposomes, as well as the liposome’s ability to protect the sensitive oil compounds, their potential application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations could be investigated with a focus on the skin regeneration effects.     

White Chocolate with Resistant Starch: Impact on Physical Properties,Dietary Fiber Content and Sensory Characteristics

Resistant starch (RS) is a part of insoluble dietary fiber, and it could be recognized as a functional food ingredient in some types of confectionery products that lack dietary fiber. Unlike dark and milk chocolate, white chocolate does not contain fat-free cocoa solids rich in dietary fiber. In the present study, 5%, 10%, and 15% of white chocolate were substituted with RS in order to improve the nutritional value of enriched white chocolate. The influence of RS on rheological, textural, and thermal properties of the chocolate fat phase was firstly investigated, and then further influence on physical properties, dietary fiber content, and sensory characteristics of enriched white chocolates were investigated. The obtained results showed that enriched chocolates had increased content of total dietary fiber and reduced total fats and protein content in accordance with the added amount of RS. At the same time, RS increased viscosity and reduced the hardness and volume mean diameter in enriched chocolates in accordance with the added amount. RS improved the nutritional composition of white chocolate by increasing the content of dietary fiber. At the same time, RS did not impair the color and sensory characteristics of enriched white chocolates.     

On Polychalcogenides of Thallium with M2 Q11 Groups as a Structural Building Block. II. Tl4Ta2Se11: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Properties and Spectroscopic Investigations of the First Polyselenide being Composed of a Discrete [Ta2Se11]4— Anion

The new ternary compound Tl₄Ta₂Se₁₁ was prepared in a melt of thallium polyselenides applying elemental tantalum. It crystallises in the triclinic space group P1¯ with a = 7.996(1) Å, b = 9.866(1) Å, c = 13.668(2) Å, α = 73.03(1)°, β = 89.21(2)° and γ = 85.72(1)°. Tl₄Ta₂Se₁₁ is the first polyselenide with discrete complex [M₂Se₁₁]^4— anions. Every Ta atom is in a sevenfold environment of Se atoms to form a distorted pentagonal bi‐pyramid. The two TaSe₇ polyhedra have a face in common thus yielding the [Ta₂Se₁₁]^4— unit. In the structure, the anions are well separated by the Tl¹⁺ cations. An assignment of the different vibration modes in the IR and Raman spectra is given based on density functional calculations.