Digestion-Related Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants (Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and Crotalaria longirostrata).

Medicinal plants offer a valuable source of natural compounds with specific and selective bioactivity. These compounds have been isolated since the mid-nineteenth century and are now commonly used in modern medications. L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven, C. aconitifolius, and C. longirostrata are Mexican medicinal plants consumed regularly, and research has shown that they contain bioactive compounds capable of promoting the inhibition of digestive enzymes. This is noteworthy since enzyme inhibitors are bioactive substances that interact with enzymes, diminishing their activity and thereby contributing to the management of diseases and metabolic disturbances. To investigate the activity of these plants, individual analyses were conducted, assessing their proximal composition, bioactive compounds, and inhibition of α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, lipase, and pepsin. The results revealed that all three plants exhibited enzymatic inhibition. When comparing the plants, it was determined that C. aconitifolius had the lowest concentration required for a 50% inhibition in α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, and lipase, as indicated by the IC50 values. For pepsin, C. longirostrata demonstrated the lowest IC50 value. By understanding the bioactive compounds present in these plants, we can establish the relationship they have with enzymatic inhibition, which can be utilized for future investigations.

Physicochemical and In Vitro Starch Residual Digestion Structures of Extruded Maize and Sorghum Starches Added with Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate.

This research aimed to characterize the physicochemical, in vitro digestion, and structural features of digestion residues of maize and sorghum starches subjected to thermoplastic extrusion, along with the influence of Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (SSL), to obtain improved starches for food applications and to understand their behavior when consumed as a food ingredient. The morphology of the extruded materials showed remanent starch granules when SSL was used. A higher amount of medium and large linear glucan chains were found in these particles, influencing higher thermal stability (ΔH ≈ 4 J/g) and a residual crystallinity arrangement varying from 7 to 17% in the extrudates. Such structural features were correlated with their digestibility, where slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) fractions ranged widely (from 18.28 to 27.88% and from 0.13 to 21.41%, respectively). By analyzing the data with a Principal component analysis (PCA), we found strong influences of B2 and B3 type chains on the thermal stability of the extrudates. The amylose and smaller glucan chains (A and B1) also significantly affected the emulsifying and foam stability properties. This research contributes to the molecular knowledge of starch in extruded products with broad food applications.

Germinated chickpea-maize extrudates with high protein content and reduced starch digestibility.

The objective of this study was to produce maize extrudates supplemented with germinated chickpea flour to increase the contents of resistant starch (RS) and protein. Six extrudates were formulated using maize grits (ME), germinated chickpea flour (GCE) and different blends of maize and 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% of germinated chickpea flour (MGCE-10, MGCE-20, MGCE-30, or MGCE-40). Increase of RS was observed in the defatted samples due to germinated chickpea flour addition. In the nondefatted samples, the highest content of RS was observed in GCE followed by ME and the different MGCE. Interaction between fat, starch, and protein by improved intramolecular association was assessed by Fourier transform- infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Amylose-lipid complexes in nondefatted samples increased the content of RS in comparison to defatted samples. The highest expansion index was obtained in MGCE-30 and MGCE-40. ME had the highest hardness and crispiness. Germinated chickpea flour increased the water absorption index (WAI), but reduced water solubility index (WSI) when it was combined with maize grits to produce extrudates. The in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) was higher in the GCE and MGCE with more than 20% of germinated chickpea flour compared to ME. MGCE-20 and MGCE-30 showed the highest acceptability of the supplemented extrudates with 50% more protein than ME, a similar IVPD to that of GCE, and good functional characteristics. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Combining maize and germinated chickpea flour is a good strategy to have a controlled digestibility of starch and increase the plant based protein content in healthier snacks.

Nutraceutical Potential of Five Mexican Brown Seaweeds.

In search of pharmaceutically active products to control type 2 diabetes, five brown seaweeds (Silvetia compressa, Cystoseira osmundacea, Ecklonia arborea, Pterygophora californica, and Egregia menziesii) from the Northwest Mexican Pacific coast were investigated. Proximate composition and total polyphenol content (TPC) as phloroglucinol equivalents (PGE) were determined for the five seaweed powders and their respective hydroethanolic (1 : 1) extracts. Extracts were screened for their radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ORAC) and glycosidase inhibitory activity. HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS-TOF, and ATR-FT-IR methodologies were used to identify the most abundant phlorotannins and sulfated polysaccharides in the extracts. Hydroethanolic extracts contained minerals (17 to 59% of the dry matter), proteins (4 to 9%), ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides (5.4 to 53%), nitrogen-free extract (NFE) (24.4 to 70.1%), lipids (5 to 12%), and TPC (2.6 to 47.7 g PGE per 100 g dry extract). S. compressa and E. arborea dry extracts presented the lowest ash content (26 and 17%, respectively) and had some of the highest phenolic (47.7 and 15.2 g PGE per 100 g extract), NFE (57.3 and 70.1%), and soluble polysaccharide (19.7 and 53%) contents. S. compressa and E. arborea extracts had the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 DPPH 1.7 and 3.7 mg mL-1; ORAC 0.817 and 0.801 mmol Trolox equivalent/g extract) and the highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities (IC50 940 and 1152 µg mL-1 against α-amylase and 194 and 647 µg mL-1 against α-glucosidase). The most abundant phlorotannins identified in the extracts were phloretol, fucophloroethol, and two- and three-phloroglucinol unit (PGU) phlorotannins. Laminarin, fucoidan, and alginate were among the sulfated polysaccharides identified in the extracts. The bioactivities of S. compressa and E. arborea extracts were mainly related with their contents of three PGU phlorotannins and sulfated polysaccharides (e.g., fucoidan, laminarin, and alginate). These results suggest S. compressa and E. arborea are potential candidates for food products and nutraceutical and pharmaceutical preparations, and as additives for diabetes management.

Physicochemical characteristics, ATR-FTIR molecular interactions and in vitro starch and protein digestion of thermally-treated whole pulse flours.

Hydrothermal treatments, annealing (ANN) and heat moisture treatment (HMT) were applied to four whole pulse flours (black bean, broad bean, chickpea and lentil) with the aim to increase their slow digestible (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) fractions. In order to assess differences in their molecular interactions, they were analyzed and compared by ATR-FTIR before and after in vitro digestion. Both hydrothermal treatments promoted changes on starch granular architecture, being reflected on their thermal and pasting properties, that where positively correlated with their amylose and protein contents (R=0.96, P<0.01). Overall, the proposed hydrothermal treatments increased their SDS and RS fractions, but they had different effect on their in vitro protein digestion. The ATR-FTIR analysis of cooked flours before and after digestion showed that thermal treatments promoted new physical interactions at molecular scale between starch and proteins, that were correlated with the amount of RS fraction. The outcomes of this study could help to understand the slow digestion properties and possible interactions of the flour components in these four pulses.

Yield and Textural Characteristics of Panela Cheeses Produced with Dairy-Vegetable Protein (Soybean or Peanut) Blends Supplemented with Transglutaminase.

The study evaluated panela cheeses made from dairy-plant protein blends, using soybean or peanut protein isolates, supplemented with transglutaminase (TG). Plant proteins were isolated using an alkaline extraction method followed by acid precipitation, and added to the dairy system in order to increase 50% or 100% the protein concentration. The total protein extraction for peanut and soybean isolates was 30.3% and 54.6%, respectively (based on initial protein content of sources), and no impairment of their essential amino acid profile was detected. Cheeses supplemented with TG and soybean showed the highest moisture and crude yield (>67.8% and 20.7%, respectively), whereas protein content was higher in the peanut isolate--added samples without TG (>67.4%). Cheese solids yield (ratio between final and initial solids) was higher for treatments with TG and 100% of plant protein addition (>50.7%). Regarding texture, 4 parameters were measured: hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and springiness. All cheeses containing soybean isolates and TG presented the highest chewiness and cohesiveness values, similar to those of the control treatment. Springiness was similar for all treatments, but hardness was higher in cheeses prepared with the peanut protein isolate added with TG. From these results it can be concluded that panela cheeses can be elaborated following a traditional procedure, but with the addition of soybean or peanut protein to the dairy ingredients. Cheeses containing these protein isolates showed higher protein than the milk control cheese and similar textural characteristics.