Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) constitutes a potential alternative raw material and ingredient in food industry applications due to its dietary fiber content. Gum can be extracted from its dietary fiber fractions for use as an additive to control viscosity, stability, texture, and consistency in food systems. The gum extracted from chia seeds was characterized to determine their quality and potential as functional food additives. The extracted chia gum contained 26.2% fat and a portion was submitted to fat extraction, producing two fractions: gum with fat (FCG) and gum partly defatted (PDCG). Proximal composition and physicochemical characterization showed these fractions to be different (P < 0.05). The PDCG had higher protein, ash, and carbohydrates content than the FCG, in addition to higher water-holding (110.5 g water/g fiber) and water-binding capacities (0.84 g water/g fiber). The FCG had greater oil-holding capacity (25.7 g oil/g fiber) and water absorption capacity (44 g water/g fiber). In dispersion trials, the gums exhibited a non-Newtonian fluid behavior, specifically shear thinning or pseudoplastic type. PDCG had more viscosity than FCG. Chia seed is an excellent natural source of gum with good physicochemical and functional qualities, and is very promising for use in food industry.

A physicochemical characterization of oil from chia seeds was carried out. Proximate composition analysis showed that fat and fiber were the principal components in the raw chia flour. Physical characterization showed that chia oil has a relative density from 0.9241, a refraction index of 1.4761 and a color with more yellow than red units. Chemical characterization showed that chia oil registered an acidity index of 2.053 mg KOH/g oil, a saponification index of 222.66 mg KOH/g oil, a content of unsaponifiable matter of 0.087%, an Iodine index of 193.45 g I/100 g oil and a peroxide index of 17.5 meq O 2 /kg oil. Chia oil showed a higher content of α and β linolenic and palmitic acids. Chia oil is the vegetable source with the highest content of essential fatty acids.

Peptide fractions from lima bean Phaseolus lunatus protein hydrolysates exhibit both in vitro and in vivo antihypertensive activity. Bioactive peptides from lima bean have potential applications as ingredients in functional foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.