Optimization of citron peel pectin and glycerol concentration in the production of edible film using response surface methodology.

Pectin-based edible film plasticized with glycerol has been developed, and the effect of pectin and glycerol concentration was optimized using response surface methodology for better mechanical properties and transparency. The upper and lower concentration of pectin (3-5 g) and glycerol (15%-25%) concentration ranges were considered in this study based on the preliminary experiment. The responses of the edible film determined were tensile strength, elongation at break and elastic modulus and opacity. The interaction effects of glycerol and pectin concentrations on edible film properties significantly affected the film properties. Tensile strength and opacity were positively affected by pectin concentrations; however, elastic modulus and elongation at break were negatively affected. Glycerol concentration negatively affected the edible film's tensile strength and elastic modulus. The decrease in the opacity of the biofilm was observed as the pectin concentration increased; however, glycerol had not shown a significant influence on opacity. The numerical optimization provided 4 g of pectin, and 20% of glycerol showed a strong and transparent edible film. The TGA curve showed that the maximum weight loss occurred between the temperatures 250-400 °C due to the loss of polysaccharides. From FTIR analysis, observed peaks around 1037 cm-1 represented the C-O-C stretching vibrations of the saccharide found in pectin and glycerol.

Optimization of spray-drying parameter for production of better quality orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) powder: Selected physiochemical, morphological, and structural properties.

Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) tuber is a rich source of ß-carotene with potential antioxidants and phenolic compounds, nevertheless it is highly perishable root crop. Hence, we considered the optimization of parameters for the preparation of OFSP powder in spray drying technique. This study was designed by the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with three factors in three levels considered in Central Composite Design (CCD). In case of spray drying process specification, inlet air temperature (IAT) (150 °C-190 °C), flow rate (FR) (10-20 ml/min), and carrier (Maltodextrin) concentration (MDC) (5-15%) were considered and optimized for better quality OFSP powder. As concentration of maltodextrin increased the powder yield, solubility, ß-carotene content of OFSP powder increased, while hygroscopicity is decreased. The optimized conditions comprised of an inlet temperature of 172.71 °C, feed flow rate of 20 ml/min, and maltodextrin of 1% concentration. Under this optimized conditions, OFSP powder yield of 48.460%, with the solubility of 26.839%, ß-carotene of 25.823 mg/100 g and minimum hygroscopicity of 13.862% was attained. The SEM images of spray-dried OFSP powder produced from the optimized conditions showed hexagonal in shapes, irregular in arrangement and compact. The OFSP powder had lower relative crystallinity (34.7%). In conclusion, the optimized OFSP powder with highest ß-carotene and desirable physiochemical properties was produced and it can effectively utilize in the food formulation products.

Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species during Salt Stress in Plants and Their Crosstalk with Other Signaling Molecules-Current Perspectives and Future Directions.

Salt stress is a severe type of environmental stress. It adversely affects agricultural production worldwide. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the most frequent phenomenon during salt stress. ROS are extremely reactive and, in high amounts, noxious, leading to destructive processes and causing cellular damage. However, at lower concentrations, ROS function as secondary messengers, playing a critical role as signaling molecules, ensuring regulation of growth and adjustment to multifactorial stresses. Plants contain several enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants that can detoxify ROS. The production of ROS and their scavenging are important aspects of the plant's normal response to adverse conditions. Recently, this field has attracted immense attention from plant scientists; however, ROS-induced signaling pathways during salt stress remain largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss the critical role of different antioxidants in salt stress tolerance. We also summarize the recent advances on the detrimental effects of ROS, on the antioxidant machinery scavenging ROS under salt stress, and on the crosstalk between ROS and other various signaling molecules, including nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, calcium, and phytohormones. Moreover, the utilization of "-omic" approaches to improve the ROS-regulating antioxidant system during the adaptation process to salt stress is also described.

Mechanical properties of tef starch based edible films: Development and process optimization.

The non-biodegradable synthetic plastic is one of the greatest challenges facing the food packaging business since it seriously harms the environment. To solve this problem, non-biodegradable plastic may be disposed of more affordably and with less harm on the environment by using edible starch-based biodegradable film. Therefore, the present study was focused on the development and optimization of tef starch based edible films based on mechanical properties. In this study response surface methodology was employed by considering 3-5g of tef starch, 0.3-0.5% of agar and 0.3-0.5% of glycerol. The prepared film showed the tensile strength of 17.97-24.25 Mpa, elongation break of 1.21-2.03%, elastic modulus of 17.58-108.69 MPa, puncture force of 2.55-15.02 N, puncture formation of 9.59-14.95 mm. The findings showed that as glycerol concentrations in the film-forming solution increased, the prepared tef starch edible films' tensile strength, elastic modulus, and puncture force declined while their elongation at break and puncture deformation increased. Tef starch edible films' mechanical characteristics, including as tensile strength, elastic modulus, and puncture force, were increased by the increase of agar concentration. The optimized (from 5 gm tef starch, 0.4 g agar and 0.3% glycerol) tef starch edible film exhibited higher tensile strength, elastic modulus, and puncture force while lower elongation at break and puncture deformation. The composite edible film based tef starch with agar exhibited good mechanical properties and can be suggested for application in food industry as food packaging.

Effect of Brewery Spent Grain Level and Fermentation Time on the Quality of Bread.

BSG (brewery spent grain) is the most frequent by-product from the beer industry, which is high in protein, fiber, and minerals. This research was carried out to improve the nutritional content of bread by adding BSG to wheat flour. In this study, five levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of BSG blending ratio and three levels (1, 2, and 3 hrs) of fermentation time were considered. Standard procedures were used to determine the chemical composition of BSG, dough quality, physicochemical composition, and sensory quality of bread. The BSG is composed of 6.19% moisture, 4.01% ash, 8.80% crude fat, 16.80% crude fiber, 21.86% crude protein, 42.30% carbohydrate, 2.57 mg/g calcium, 3.16 mg/g magnesium, and 7.34 mg/g potassium. The dough water absorption (58.53-66.67 ml/100 g), development time (3.43-17.57 min), stability (6.53-12.40 min), and degree of softening (25.33-50.33 FU) were increased significantly (p < 0.05) as BSG ratio increased in blending. As the BSG raised, the loaf weight (127.58-148.85 g) was increased and reduced the loaf volume (372.97-366.74 cm3). The proximate composition of the BSG blended bread was increased significantly from 33.19 to 45.29% moisture, 1.31 to 3.82% ash, 0.88 to 3.63% crude fat, 0.74 to 8.45% crude fiber, and 8.33 to 14.65% crude protein. The utilizable carbohydrate and energy values were decreased from 53.18 to 34.45% and 2.66 to 2.24 kcal, respectively. The calcium, magnesium, and potassium contents of the bread were increased from 76.44 to 150.93 mg/100 g, 87.12 to 176.81 mg/100 g, and 116.04 to 225.49 mg/100 g, respectively, as the BSG level was increased from 0 to 20%. However, the fermentation time had a significant effect (p < 0.05) only on the moisture content, protein content, caloric value, and mineral content of bread. The sensory acceptance of bread was significantly affected (p < 0.05) by BSG levels. Finally, by considering the sensory, other functional, and nutritional properties, we concluded that replacing the wheat flour with BSG up to 10% was accepted by the consumers.

Effects of storage bags type and storage duration on seed quality and proximate composition of emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum L.) in Ethiopia.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of storage materials (Storage bags) and durations on seed quality and proximate composition of emmer wheat in farmer storage practices. The emmer wheat samples were stored for nine consecutive months in PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bag (PB), Grainpro® Bag (GPB), Polypropylene Bag (PPB), emmer wheat treated with Filter Cake (a byproduct of Aluminum Sulphate factory) (FC), stored in Polypropylene bag (PPBFC) and Emmer wheat treated with triplex (a by-product of soap factory) (TX) stored in Polypropylene bag (PPBTX). Data on seed quality and proximate composition were evaluated every three months' interval for 9 months. As storage period increased from three to nine months; Germination Percentage, Speed of Germination, Vigour, Thousand Seed Weight (TSW), Bulk Density (BD), Seed Damage%, Seed Weight Loss, Protein and Carbohydrate contents were significantly influenced by the interaction effect of storage period and storage bag used. The highest germination (98%) was recorded from seeds stored in GPB for three months. The protein content of grains stored in GPB for three months showed the highest (8.3%) whereas, the lowest (6.5%) was for PPB at nine months of storage. Minimal insect incidence and lower seed weight loss were observed in emmer wheat stored in bags such as BP, GPB, PPBFC, and PPBTX. The use of PB and GPB, as well as the application of FC and TX maintained the proximate and seed quality of emmer wheat.

Effect of Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) and Potato Starch Addition on Colloidal Stability of Pineapple Juice.

Starch is one of the most important value-added food ingredients used as a thickener in many foods and industrial applications. This research investigated the effect of different concentrations of starch (anchote and potato) addition on the colloidal stability of pineapple juice. The experiment was carried out on a two-factor factorial design arranged in CRD. The first factor (starch type with two levels (anchote and potato)) and the second factor (starch concentration with three levels (1%, 3%, and 5%)) were considered. The starch-added juice samples were preserved for 15 days at room temperature. The physicochemical properties, colloidal stability, microbial counts, and sensory analysis were conducted in a 7-day interval including the first day. The results revealed that different starch concentrations showed a significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the cloud stability, most of the physicochemical properties and microbial count of pineapple juice as compared to the control. The turbidity and viscosity of the juice samples were increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by the starch addition; in contrast, pulp sedimentation and microbial counts were decreased. As storage duration increased, turbidity, viscosity, TSS, pH, and vitamin C content of juice decreased, whereas sedimentation, TA, and microbial count increased. The results revealed that the total bacterial and fungal counts of pineapple juice samples were rising as storage durations increased. The maximum cloud retention was observed in juice added with 5% anchote starch. Finally, it is confirmed that starch (anchote and potato) addition positively affected the colloidal stability of pineapple juice and also possessed high potential to extend the shelf life.

Optimization of red teff flour, malted soybean flour, and papaya fruit powder blending ratios for better nutritional quality and sensory acceptability of porridge.

This study was carried out to optimize the compositions of red teff flour with malted soybean flour and papaya fruit powders for better nutritional quality and sensory acceptability of porridge. Total eleven formulations of the composite flours were determined using D-optimal mixture design with the help of Minitab Version 16 Statistical Software. The three ingredients were considered in the ranges of 55%-70%, 20%-30%, 5%-15% for red teff flour, malted soybean flour, and Papaya fruit powder, respectively. The prepared porridge samples from formulations were analyzed for nutritional composition, antinutritional factors, and sensory acceptability. Results of the study showed the significant difference (p < .05) in ash, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrate, energy, iron, calcium, zinc, ß-carotene, phytates, tannin, appearance, taste, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability as the composition of ingredients were changed. The overall optimum point was found in a range of red teff flour (60%-70%), malted soybean flour (20%-27.5%), and papaya fruit powder (10%-12.5%). In conclusion, the present approach can help in improve infants dietary quality of complementary foods by developing nutritionally enhanced red teff-based porridge used for intervention of malnutrition.