ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the effect of hammer and disc milling equipment on the levels of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni) contents in maize (Zea mays) flour and the consequent impact on the kidney of albino rats. Study Design: The rats were randomly divided into groups of five rats per group. Six of the groups were fed with maize flour milled with a hammer mill, while the other six groups were fed with maize flour milled with a disc mill, and the thirteenth group was fed with crushed flour in a mortar and pestle as a control. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation under anesthesia on the 14th and 28th days. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Biochemistry and Histology laboratories of the University of Jos, Nigeria, between, January to June, 2021. Methodology: For six days, a portion of the maize grains was milled with a hammer mill, another with a disc mill, and a third fraction was crushed into flour with a wooden mortar. The inductive coupled plasma mass spectrophotometric method was used to determine the levels of Fe, Mn, and Ni in maize flour. To avoid lysing the blood, blood samples were carefully collected by allowing it to run down the test tube's wall. The blood was allowed to coagulate at room temperature before being centrifuged and the serum collected and frozen until it was time for biochemical analysis. The kidneys of the rats were excised, cleaned, and preserved in chloroform until histological examinations were required. Results: The results show that Fe (325.16 ± 30.00 mg/kg and 205.05 ± 30.20 mg/kg) and Ni (20.92 ± 5.92 mg/kg and 18.00 ± 2.70 mg/kg) levels were extremely high in both disc and hammer milling machines. The Fe and Mn values in disc milled maize flour were higher than those in hammer milled maize flour. Rats in all groups had significantly higher serum urea, creatinine, K+, Na+, and Cl- levels than the control group. The kidney tissues of all the rats in the control and hammer-milled flour groups were normal, except for group 1 of the disc mill, which showed mild damage, according to the histopathological analysis. Conclusion: The Day 1 group fed with disc-milled flour showed a dense cast, atrophy, and nuclei loss in their kidney tissue. According to the results of the study, hammer milled maize flour is less harmful than disc milled maize flour, as shown by kidney histopathology.
ABSTRACT
The high dependence on maize as a staple food in Tropical Africa, coupled with its low nutritive value necessitate investigation on how to improve the nutritional value of maize based foods. The present study was aimed at assessing the effect of supplementing nixtamalized maize flour with sprouted soy bean flour on the proximate composition, mineral content, amino acid profile and anti-nutritional factors in the blends. Nixtamalized maize flour was prepared by cooking maize grains in 1% unripe plantain peel ash solution (pH 10.2), steeped in the cooked solution for 15 h, washed, dried and milled into flour. The flour was supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% sprouted soy flour and analyzed for the aforementioned parameters. The results showed that protein, fat, ash, crude fibre and caloric value increased with increase in soy flour supplementation ranging from 9.26–22.57%, 4.51–10.53%, 1.38–2.06%, 2.14–2.39% and 408.47–434.85 kcal/100 g respectively while carbohydrate decreased from 82.71 – 62.45%. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc contents increased from 267.58 – 286.35mg/100g, 126.93 – 161.03 mg/100 g, 135.71 – 163.81 mg/100 g and 4.52 – 4.85 mg/100 g respectively with soy flour addition. The total amino acids and total essential amino acids increased from 70.55 g/100 g protein and 30.54 g/100 g protein for the control to 87.97 g/100 g protein and 38.98 g/100 g protein for the 40% soy flour supplemented blends respectively. Limiting essential amino acids in both flours were significantly (P = 0.5) improved as a result of soy flour supplementation. Majority of essential amino acid chemical scores were above 100% except for lysine (51.03–66.38%), tryptophan (67.27–95.46%) and threonine (80.88 – 99.12%). Soy flour supplemented blends had higher phytate, trypsin inhibitor and tannin contents than the control sample but their values were low and may not have serious effect on nutrient bioavailability. The study clearly shows that nutritional value of nixtamalized maize flour can be improved by supplementing it with sprouted soy flour.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop a gluten-free fresh pasta formulation with addition of yellow passion fruit peel flour (PPF). A control formulation containing a mixture of rice flour and corn flour and formulations with 10 and 20% of PPF addition were produced. Sensory analysis, physicochemical characterization and technological properties were assessed. The PPF addition to gluten-free pasta increased cooking time, soluble solids loss and water absorption; it also modified the color of the formulations. The control formulation and the formulation containing 10% PPF had the best sensory parameters, leading to an acceptability index over 70%. The 10% PPF addition increased fiber (3.25%) and ashes (2.15%) content and also lowered percentage of carbohydrates (41.19%) and energy value (223.26 kcal/80g); content of proteins and lipids were similar between the formulations. Principal component analysis showed that the control formulation stands out due to its sensory properties while the formulation containing 10% PPF improved nutritional properties. Therefore, the increase in nutritional value of gluten-free fresh pasta due to the PPF addition can be considered an alternative to meet market demands for healthier food choices.
RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver massa alimentícia fresca sem glúten com adição de farinha de casca de maracujá amarelo (FCM). Uma formulação controle composta de uma mistura de farinha de arroz e farinha de milho, e formulações com adição de 10 e 20% de FCM foram produzidas. As amostras foram analisadas quanto às características sensoriais, físico-químicas e tecnológicas. A adição de FCM às formulações aumentou o tempo de cozimento, a perda de sólidos solúveis e a absorção de água, bem como, modificou os parâmetros de cor. As formulações que apresentaram melhores resultados, quanto aos atributos sensoriais, foram o controle e a que continha 10% de adição de FCM, que apresentaram índice de aceitabilidade acima de 70%. A adição de 10% de FCM aumentou o teor de fibras (3,25%) e cinzas (2,15%) e reduziu a porcentagem de carboidratos (41,19%) e o valor energético (223,26 kcal/80g), enquanto o teor de proteínas e lipídios foi semelhante entre formulações. A análise de componentes principais demonstrou que a amostra controle se destacou por suas propriedades sensoriais, enquanto a adição de 10% de FCM promoveu as propriedades nutricionais. Portanto, o aumento do valor nutricional da massa fresca sem glúten produzida com adição de FCM pode ser considerada uma alternativa para atender uma demanda crescente do mercado que busca escolhas alimentares mais saudáveis.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Influence of high-dose gamma radiation and particle size on antioxidant properties of maize (Zea mays L.) flour was studied using response surface methodology. A central composite design based on three levels of each of particle size, in terms of mesh number (40, 60 and 80 meshes), and gamma radiation dose (25, 50 and 75 kGy) was constructed. A statistically significant dose-dependent decrease (p<0.05) in antioxidant properties of gamma irradiated flour was observed. However, an increase in the mesh number (decrease in particle size of flour) resulted in an increase in antioxidant properties. The optimum level of radiation dose to achieve maximum value of responses was found to be 50 kGy for Trolox equivalent total antioxidant activity (TETAOA), 25 kGy for iron chelating ability (ICA), 25 kGy for reducing power (RP) and 75 kGy for linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC). However, the optimum level of mesh number to achieve desired levels of TETAOA, ICA, RP and LARC was found to be 80 meshes