Experimental techniques for the extraction of taro mucilage with enhanced emulsifier properties using chemical characterization.

The objective of this study was to analyze existing taro mucilage extraction techniques for extraction of a pure product with high emulsifying action to chemically characterize the mucilage. Five taro mucilage extraction techniques were analyzed which used room temperature, 4 °C, or 80 °C, with or without ethanol precipitation. Protein was detected in the mucilage extracted by each method and is ideal for the emulsifying action. Only mucilage extracted at low temperature and precipitated with ethanol did not contain starch, which is considered an impurity in the product. Therefore, from the tested techniques, cold extraction was found to provide mucilage with good emulsion activity and stability, making it possible to be used as a natural emulsifier. This mucilage is primarily formed by arabinogalactans connected to proteins which form AGP glycoprotein, a macro-molecule responsible for the emulsifying action.

Optimization of taro mucilage and fat levels in sliced breads.

Bread is one of the most commonly consumed foods, and much ongoing research is aimed at meeting the demand for higher quality bread products in terms of greater volume and softness with characteristic flavor, aroma and color. The goal of the present study was to optimize the amounts of lyophilized taro mucilage and hydrogenated vegetable fat added to sliced bread formulations to improve the physical characteristics of the bread while reducing lipid levels and maintaining good sensorial quality. For the analysis, a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used for the two factors, resulting in 11 total experiments. Physical, chemical, and sensory analyses were performed. Breads containing taro mucilage were soft and exhibited good sensorial quality. Optimal amounts of the two factors studied were determined using response surface methodology to produce breads with greater specific volume, higher bread-making quality, and lower fat levels than current formulations. The optimal levels of lyophilized taro mucilage and hydrogenated vegetable fat in the sliced bread formulation were 0.73 g 100 g(-1) and 1.58 g 100 g(-1), respectively.

Relationship between the chemical components of taro rhizome mucilage and its emulsifying property.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of taro mucilage (TM) and explain its emulsification properties using different commercial emulsifiers and gums as benchmarks. The following analyses were performed: moisture, ether extract, protein, fiber, ash, sugar fraction, starch content, infrared spectroscopy and determination of monosaccharides and amino acids using HPLC. The analyses showed that TM has a high carbohydrate content and small protein fraction, similar to commercial gums. Commercial emulsifiers have a high content of lipids compared to TM. Therefore, it can be concluded that the emulsifying power of the studied mucilage is primarily caused by the protein content along with weakly polar amino acids, which occur in gums. The methyl group (CH3), which was observed in the infrared spectrum, and the lipid content may also contribute to the emulsifying activity by providing a hydrophobic moiety.