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This study was carried out in order to compare the biochemical characteristics from three edible parts of the multipurpose tree Moringa oleifera such as the leaves, flowers, and immature pods. On average, the three most abundant amino acids were glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid. The fatty acids present at the highest content were linolenic acid (C18:3ω3), palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2ω6), and oleic acid (C18:1ω9). The chemical composition (of dry weight) ranged from 19.34% to 22.42% for protein, 1.28% to 4.96% for lipids, 7.62% to 14.60% for ash, and 30.97% to 46.78% for dietary fiber. M. oleifera is a nonconventional plant with substantial nutritional value.

Whole white corn was ground, and lime, water and xanthan gum (XG, 0.5% w/w), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC, 0.5% w/w), guar gum (GG, 0.5% w/w) or a gums mix (XG, 0.25% w/w; CMC, 0.15% w/w; GG, 0.10% w/w) were added. Blends were extruded, dried and ground to obtain nixtamalized corn flour (ENCF), and they were used to make tortillas. The particle size distribution, particle size index, water absorption capacity (WAC) and water absorption index (WAI) were determined in flour; moisture content and viscoelastic characteristics (G′, G′′, tan δ) were determined in corn masa; tortillas were made, and texture (cutting force and rollability) and sensory evaluation were carried out. ENCF with XG and gums mix had the highest WAC, and tortillas were softer (33%) than tortillas from ENCF without gums. Corn masa viscoelasticity (tan δ) correlated negatively with tortilla firmness (r = −0.84). Corn tortillas made with XG and gums mix had acceptable organoleptic characteristics. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The extrusion process allows the using of the whole corn to make tortillas and reduce processing costs and the contaminant effluents (cooking liquor). The addition of a mix of gums during extrusion makes the corn masa retain more water and modify its rheological properties, improving masa handling characteristics and tortilla textural quality. The evaluation of masa viscoelasticity with the dynamic method makes it possible to differentiate corn masas and to select the best treatments.

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Amaranth hydrolysates inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in human and mouse macrophages by preventing activation of NF-κB signaling. Extrusion improved anti-inflammatory effect of amaranth hydrolysates in both cells, which might be attributed to the production of bioactive peptides during processing.

The objective of this research was to study the biochemical composition and physicochemical properties of three different flours prepared from broccoli crop remains. Florets, leaves and stalks of broccoli were dried at 60 degrees C, and the flours obtained were analysed for proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition, and physicochemical properties. The florets flour showed the highest protein content (22.41 g/100 g dry weight); ash was higher in leaves flour (14.67 g/100 g dry weight), and the lipid content was similar in the flours of leaves and stalks. The stalks flour had high crude fibre content and low protein content. All flours presented a high water absorption index. Tyrosine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline and valine were found in larger concentration. The most abundant fatty acids in the lipids were linolenic acid (C18:3n3), palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6). Broccoli flours prepared in this study are good source of nutrients and could be utilized as dietary supplements.

Cereal Chem. 85(6):808-816Nixtamalized and extruded flours from quality protein maize (QPM, V-537C) and tortillas made from them were evaluated for some technological and nutritional properties and compared with the commercial brand MASECA. Both QPM flours showed higher (P < 0.05) protein content, total color difference, pH, available lysine, and lower (P < 0.05) total starch content, Hunter L value, water absorption index, gelatinization enthalpy, resistant starch, and retrograded resistant starch than nixtamalized MASECA flour. Tortillas from nixtamalized and extruded QPM flours had higher contents of essential amino acids than tortillas from MASECA flour, except for leucine. Tortillas from processed QPM flours also showed higher (P < 0.05) values of the nutritional indicators calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER 1.80-1.85 vs. 1.04), apparent and true in vivo protein digestibility (78.4-79.1 vs. 75.6% and 76.4-77.4 vs. 74.2%, respectively), PER (2.30-2.43 vs. 1.31), net protein retention (NPR; 2.88-2.89 vs. 2.11), and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS; 54-55 vs. 29% based on preschool children and 100 vs. 85% based on adults) than MASECA flour. The use of QPM for flour and tortilla preparation may have a positive effect on the nutritional status of people from countries where these products are widely consumed.

Solid state fermentation (SSF) represents a technological alternative for processing a great variety of legumes and/or cereals to improve their nutritional quality and to obtain edible products with palatable sensorial characteristics. The objectives of this work were (1) to determine the best combination of SSF process variables (fermentation temperature FT/fermentation time Ft) for producing chickpea tempeh flour and (2) to characterise the physicochemical and nutritional properties of the product. Response surface methodology was applied as optimisation technique over three response variables: in vitro protein digestibility (PD), true protein (TP) and water absorption index (WAI). A central composite experimental design with two factors and five levels was used. The process variables FT andFt had variation levels of 31-36 • C and 48-72 h respectively. Rhizopus oligosporus (1 × 10 9 spores l −1 in distilled water) was used as starter. Prediction models for response variables were developed as a function of process variables. A conventional graphical method was applied to obtain maximum PD, TP and WAI. Contour plots of each of the response variables were superimposed to obtain a contour plot for observation and selection of the best combination of FT (34.9 • C) and Ft (51.3 h) for producing of chickpea tempeh, which was dried (52 • C, 24 h) and milled to pass through an 80-US mesh (0.180 mm) screen to obtain optimised chickpea tempeh flour. This flour had higher (p ≤ 0.05) TP (25.7 vs 19.7% dry matter (DM)), total colour difference (30.3 vs 16.7), WAI (4.18 vs 2.15 kg gel kg −1 DM), available lysine (42.7 vs 30.4 g kg −1 protein) and PD (83.2 vs 72.2%) and lower lipid content (2.6 vs 6.1% DM), phytic acid (1.1 vs 10.85 g kg −1 DM), tannins (2.65 vs 21.95 g catechin kg −1 DM) and pH (5.9 vs 6.3) than raw chickpea flour.