Characteristic Profiles of an Original Drink Sap from Male and Female Deglet Nour Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera

This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of a typical natural drink from male and female Deglet Nour (DN) date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) during the collection period. Dry matter, protein, amino acids, and sugar profiles were determined using AFNOR norm, Kjeldahl method, HPLC, and HPAEC-PAD, respectively. The male sap dry matter content was higher than that of the female. It decreased significantly through the tapping period. During the harvest, the male sap protein content decreased but increased significantly in the female sap. Finally, sugar fraction, for both male and female DN sap, was dominated by sucrose, glucose, fructose, and a small amount of myo-inositol. During the collection time, sugar content is affected by the sex especially for myo-inositol content that increased significantly in the female date sap, unlike that of the male one. This may be related to the fact that the male palm is more resistant to physiological stress, inducing myo-inositol formation during tapping

Nutritional and Compositional Study of Desi and Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Flours from Tunisian Cultivars

peer reviewedTwo chickpea cultivars (Kabuli, Desi) were analyzed to determine and compare their physical characteristics, chemical composition and functional properties to one another. The main objective is to promote their use in food applications and open new opportunities for the development of effective techno-functional additives for use in a wide range of food for¬mulations. Significant differences were revealed among the studied cultivars. Kabuli cultivar has significantly shown (P≤0.05) higher protein content (24.51%), fiber content (21.86%) and lower Water Holding Capacity (WHC) compared to the Desi cultivar. The essential amino ac¬ids were present in chickpea seeds except for tryptophan and cysteine. The sulphur-containing amino acid was the first limiting amino acid. The protein solubility-pH profile of chickpea powders revealed a minimum solubility in the pH between 4 and 5 ranging from 14% to 20% for Kabuli cultivar and 17% to 30% for Desi cultivar. Foaming capacity from different chickpea was observed in the range of 36.9-41% and found significantly different (P≥0.05). Emulsify¬ing Activity (EA) decreased with the increase of flours concentration. Maximum EA (~20%) were observed for Kabuli cultivar. Gelation properties improved when flour concentration in¬creased and the Least Gelation Concentration (LGC) was about 14% for Kabuli cultivar and 16% for Desi cultivar. Chickpea gels were evaluated for their instrumental textural properties. High-quality chickpea flour with improved nutritional properties and good functional proper¬ties could beneficially be used in the formulation of food, such as meat, dairy and bakery prod¬ucts

Physico-chemical properties and amino acid profiles of sap from Tunisian date palm

Date palm sap (Phoenix dactylifera L.), also known as “legmi”, is a fresh juice extracted from date palm trees. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of collection time (at the beginning of the tapping period and after seven days of collection) on the amino acid profile and physico-chemical properties of date palm sap from both male and female trees. Dry matter, protein, amino acid, and sugar profiles were determined using the Kjeldahl method, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAEC-PAD), respectively. Date palm sap from both male and female trees contained high levels of carbohydrates. HPLC analysis showed that this fraction was dominated by sucrose in the sap sample from female trees compared to that from male trees. Male date palm sap was noted to exhibit lower dry matter content than female date palm sap but higher protein, total polyphenol, ash, and amino acid contents. While the major essential amino acids in the sap from male trees consisted of valine and threonine, they were represented by lysine and phenylalanine in sap samples from female trees. Further, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed the presence of a proteinic band of 30 kDa only for the sap from male trees. Taken together, the sap from both male and female date palm trees had a number of properties that are highly valued by the functional food industry

Characteristic Profiles of an Original Drink Sap from Male and Female Deglet Nour Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) during Collection Period

This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of a typical natural drink from male and female Deglet Nour (DN) date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) during the collection period. Dry matter, protein, amino acids, and sugar profiles were determined using AFNOR norm, Kjeldahl method, HPLC, and HPAEC-PAD, respectively. The male sap dry matter content was higher than that of the female. It decreased significantly through the tapping period. During the harvest, the male sap protein content decreased but increased significantly in the female sap. Finally, sugar fraction, for both male and female DN sap, was dominated by sucrose, glucose, fructose, and a small amount of myo-inositol. During the collection time, sugar content is affected by the sex especially for myo-inositol content that increased significantly in the female date sap, unlike that of the male one. This may be related to the fact that the male palm is more resistant to physiological stress, inducing myo-inositol formation during tapping

Effect of drying methods on physico-chemical and functional properties of chickpea protein concentrates

Chickpea protein concentrates (CPCs) were prepared from seed flour by alkaline extraction followed by isoelectric precipitation. The effects of different drying methods (freeze drying and convective drying at 40 °C and 50 °C) on physico-chemical and functional properties of CPCs were investigated. CPCs were found to have high contents of protein (61.20–63.12% dry weight basis). Freeze dried concentrate had the highest values of water and oil holding capacities. This drying method gave the lightest CPCs color. The amino acid of CPCs could reach the FAO/WHO requirement (1990) for the essential amino acids for preschool children and the sulfur-containing amino acids were the first limiting amino acids for all three protein concentrates. The solubility-pH profile of different CPCs showed minimum solubility when the pH was between 4.0 and 5.0. All concentrates were able to decrease the interfacial tension. The thermal properties of CPCs were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. CPCs differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in peak denaturation temperature and enthalpy of transition. Hence, drying methods used for the preparation of CPCs powders can affect the physico-chemical and functional properties

Physico-chemical properties and amino acid profiles of sap from Tunisian date palm

Date palm sap (Phoenix dactylifera L.), also known as "legmi", is a fresh juice ex¬tracted from date palm trees. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of collection time (at the beginning of the tapping period and after seven days of collection) on the amino acid profile and physico-chemical properties of date palm sap from both male and female trees. Dry matter, protein, amino acid, and sugar profiles were determined using the Kjeldahl method, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chro¬matography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAEC-PAD), respectively. Date palm sap from both male and female trees contained high levels of carbohydrates. HPLC analysis showed that this fraction was dominated by sucrose in the sap sample from female trees compared to that from male trees. Male date palm sap was noted to exhibit lower dry matter content than female date palm sap but higher protein, total polyphenol, ash, and amino acid contents. While the major essential amino acids in the sap from male trees consisted of valine and threonine, they were represented by lysine and phenylalanine in sap samples from female trees. Further, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed the presence of a proteinic band of 30 kDa only for the sap from male trees. Taken together, the sap from both male and female date palm trees had a number of properties that are highly valued by the functional food industry

Cynara cardunculus as a potential source of milk coagulating protease: Effects on physical properties of cow's milk

peer reviewedIn the present research study, Cynara cardunculus (wild cardoon) flowers were blended and extracted using different types of buffers (phosphate buffer; citrate buffer and distilled water) for different maceration times. The most reliable, quick and efficient buffer was found to be phosphate (pH = 6.5) with a 6-h maceration time, which was used throughout this study. C. cardunculus extract (CE) was found to have high clotting and proteolytic activities. The extracted enzyme was found to be very stable against a wide range of pH values as well as of temperature. The formation of milk gels prepared in the presence of CE with different types of milk was evaluated using dynamic rheology and Turbiscan. The evolution of both elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli was monitored with time. The values of the whole milk enriched with milk powder gels were higher. Coagulum stability was evaluated using Turbiscan. The textural properties and the curd-firming rate of coagulum were also determined. In conclusion, the prepared CE could be an efficient milk-clotting agent in the production of dairy products