Chemical composition and the antioxidative properties of Nigerian Okra Seed (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) Flour.

Studies on the chemical composition and the antioxidative properties of Nigerian Okra Seed (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) Flour were carried out. This is done to establish the nutritional composition and the antioxidative potentials of the seeds, both of which are highly implicated in health. Okra seeds were roasted at 160 degreeC for 10-60 mins. The roasted seeds were subjected to proximate, yield and antioxidative activity determination. Pre-treatment by roasting was found to increase the yield, but was found to be time dependent. The range means obtained for protein, fat, ash, fiber and sugar contents were 42.14-38.10, 31.04-17.22, 4.06-3.42, 3.45-3.60 and 8.82-8.65, respectively. The antioxidant activity was significantly increased by roasting, while in vitro digestibility showed that most antioxidative activities were available in the intestinal phase of gastrointestinal tracts.

Effect of fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus on some physico-chemical properties of starch extracts from soybean flour.

Studies were carried out on the changes that occurred on some selected physico-chemical properties of starch extracts from soybean flour when fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus. This was done in order to increase the utilization potentials of the flour. Starch extracts were obtained from flour obtained from fermented soybean using R. oligosporus with a fermentation period of between 0 and 72h. Some physico-chemical properties, as well as the amylose, amylopectin, and the pasting characteristics of the starch extracts were determined using standard methods. Increasing trends with increasing fermentation period were observed with respect to most of the physico-chemical characteristics investigated, except for the reconstitution index that showed decreasing trends. While the peak, breakdown and final viscosities also decreased, the swelling power and solubility slightly increased with increase in fermentation period. The proportion of amylopectin which was constantly high showed further slight increases with fermentation, apparently because of the decreasing proportion of amylose probably due to utilization by the mould R. oligosporus used for fermentation.

Influence of pre-treatment on yield chemical and antioxidant properties of a Nigerian okra seed (Abelmoschus esculentus moench) flour.

Okra seeds are reported to be limited to re-generational purpose in Nigeria while majority are discarded as unfit for this purpose. Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of soaking and blanching on the yield, proximate composition and antioxidant activity of okra seed flour. Pre-treatment by soaking and blanching were found to increase yield which was time dependent. The range mean obtained for protein, fat, ash and fiber contents were 46.10-38.99, 28.08-25.08, 3.95-3.15 and 3.76-3.10, respectively. Slight but significant DPPH radical scavenging activity increase was observed in soaked samples at 18th-h while blanching resulted into progressive decrease.