The results reported in this study are applicable for both domestic and industrial processing of vegetables into products such as juices, soups, and purees. In this report, we have demonstrated that processing crushed broccoli in a temperature range of 30 to 60 degrees C could result in the conversion of l-ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic (DHAA), a very important reaction in regard to vitamin C degradation because DHAA could be easily converted to other compounds that do not have the biological activity of vitamin C.

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The folate poly-gamma-glutamate profile, their concentrations, and hydrolysis by endogenous gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) were evaluated in broccoli, carrot and tomato. Further studies on the effect of time and temperature on folate poly-gamma-glutamate hydrolysis and stability were carried out in broccoli since this vegetable showed the highest long-chain and total folate poly-gamma-glutamate concentration. The evolution of l-ascorbic acid, total phenols and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values was evaluated in parallel. Upon thermal inactivation of GGH prior to crushing, it was observed that broccoli, carrot and tomato contained poly-gamma-glutamates with one to seven glutamate residues but differed in the predominant poly-gamma-glutamates. Crushing of raw broccoli, carrot and tomato resulted in significant poly-gamma-glutamate profile changes in broccoli and carrot (indicating GGH-catalyzed hydrolysis) but not in tomato. In this study, the actual crushing of raw broccoli matrix had a greater effect on folate poly-gamma-glutamate hydrolysis than incubation conditions (0-30 min at 25-55 degrees C). During treatments at 25-140 degrees C, folate retention was higher at 80 and 100 degrees C than at the other temperatures. A similar trend in thermal stability was observed for folates, vitamin C, total phenols and TEAC value, an indication that conditions that result in endogenous antioxidants degradation might also result in folate degradation.

Nutritional deficiencies and other nutritional comorbidities commonly affect children with cerebral palsy. Interventions through fortification to enhance nutrient densities of foods for these groups may improve their intakes and consequently their nutritional and health status. This study was undertaken to determine the nutritional value and sensory acceptability of a finger millet porridge fortified with Moringa oleifera leaf powder. Standard methods approved by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were adopted for determination of nutrient and anti-nutrient content of samples. Sensory evaluation was conducted according to the method of Larmond (1977). Statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20. One-way analysis of variance with a post-hoc test of Least Significant Difference to separate the means was used to compare the nutrient and anti-nutrient content of samples. Independent t-test was used to test difference in mean sensory scores between fortified and control porridge. The results showed that M. oleifera leaf powder had significantly higher contents of protein and β-carotene, which were the target nutrients for fortification of the fermented finger millet flour. Fermentation reduced the levels of anti-nutrients in finger millet flour. Fortification of the fermented finger millet flour with M. oleifera leaf powder at the ratio of 9:1 significantly improved the protein and β-carotene content of the fortified flour and did not significantly affect the sensory acceptability of the fortified porridge. This study confirmed the potential for M. oleifera as suitable fortificant in finger millet porridge formulations to improve both protein and β-carotene intake in target populations