Evaluation of meat quality of weaned rabbits administered different concentrations of probiotic strain (Saccharomyces boulardii)

The meat quality and sensory properties of weaned rabbits administered different concentrations/cell count of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii (flora norm) were investigated. A total of 36 mixed breeds of rabbits were randomly divided to four treatments with three replicates and three rabbits per replicate. The weaned rabbits were fed the same diet. Treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 had zero (0) concentration/cell count of probiotic, 1ml each of 160 x106 it is%1.6 x 108 cfu/ml concentration of probiotic, 1 ml each of 80 x106 cfu/ml =8.0 x 107 cfu/ml of probiotic and 1 ml each of 40 x 106 cfu/ml concentration of probiotic, respectively. The administration of the probiotic was done once every 14 days. Results obtained showed that there was no significant difference in moisture and crude protein content of meat from rabbits while ether extract differed significantly (P0.05) influenced by concentrations of probiotics while pH and thermal shortening were significantly (P<0.05) influenced. All the sensory parameters measured were significantly (P<0.05) different. It was found that oral administration of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii (flora norm) at 4 mg/ml 80 x 106 cfu/ml concentration improved meat qualities and overall acceptability of rabbit meat

Effect of addition of protein concentrates from natural and yeast fermented rice bran on the rheological and technological properties of wheat bread

The effect of substituting wheat flour with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% protein concentrates from natural and yeast fermented rice bran on the rheological properties of their dough and bread properties was studied. Rheological properties of wheat dough were influenced by addition of rice bran protein concentrates. Overall acceptability score and specific loaf volume of 100% wheat bread were not significantly different from composite bread up to 10% rice bran protein substitution, and therefore, the optimised level of substitution was established. The optimised composite bread contained higher total amino acid content, radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing ability power (43.04–48.87 g/100 g, 182.77–201.65 mmol TEAC/100 g and 613.29–637.81 mmol TE/100 g) than control (33.86 g/100 g, 109.43 mmol TEAC/100 g and 540.13 mmol TE/100 g). Springiness, cohesiveness and resilience values of wheat bread were not significantly different from composite bread. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that composite bread had surfaces with embedded granules like protein deposits with small spores

Impact of germination on the techno‐functional properties, nutritional composition, and health‐promoting compounds of brown rice and its products:a review

Rice is a popular grain and forms part of the daily diet of people throughout the world. However, the consumption of rice and its products is sometimes limited by its high glycemic index due to its high starch content, low protein content and quality, and low bioavailability of minerals due to the presence of anti‐nutritional factors. This has partly stimulated research interest in recent times toward the use of bioprocessing techniques such as germination as cheap and natural means to improve the nutritional quality, digestibility, and health properties of cereals, including rice, to partially achieve nutrition and food security in the developing regions of the world. This review highlights the impact of germination on the nutritional quality, health‐promoting properties, and techno‐functional characteristics of germinated brown rice grains and their products. The review demonstrated that germinated rice grains and their products have improved nutritional quality and digestibility, modified functional properties, and showed antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐diabetic, anti‐obesity, anti‐cancer, and anti‐cardiovascular activities. Germination appears to be a suitable bioprocessing method to improve the nutritional quality and bioactive constituents and modify the techno‐functional properties of rice grains for diverse food applications and improved global nutrition and food safety

Physicochemical properties, anti-nutritional and bioactive constituents, in vitro digestibility, and techno-functional properties of bioprocessed whole wheat flour

This study investigated the impact of bioprocessing techniques (germination, solid-state fermentation, the combination of germination, and solid-state fermentation) on the physicochemical properties, anti-nutritional and bioactive constituents, in vitro digestibility, and techno-functional properties of whole wheat grains were investigated. Bioprocessed whole wheat flour (WWF) samples and the raw flour (control) were prepared using standard procedures. Proximate, anti-nutritional, mineral and amino acid (AA) compositions, protein digestibility, antioxidant activities, starch characteristics, and techno-functional properties were studied using standard methods. The bioprocessing methods increased (p ≤ 0.05) the protein (13.37–16.84 g/100 g), total dietary fiber, mineral constituents, resistant starch (7.19–9.87 g/100 g), slowly digestible starch, phenolic content, antioxidant activities (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity), most AAs, and protein digestibility. Also observed were decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in rapidly digestible starch, phytic acid, tannin, and trypsin inhibitor activity. The adopted bioprocessing techniques modified the thermal, functional, color, and pasting properties of the WWF and resulted in molecular interactions in some functional groups, as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, compared to the raw flour. The combination of germination and fermentation improved the physicochemical (titratable acidity = 4.93%), protein (16.84/100 g) and starch digestibility (resistant starch = 9.87%), antioxidant (FRAP = 78.90 mg/GAE/100 g), and mineral contents (calcium = 195.28 mg/100 g), modified the pasting (peak viscosity = 90.34 RVU), thermal (peak temperature = 64.82°C), and color properties of WWF with reduced anti-nutritional factors. The combination of these processing techniques could serve as a natural and low-cost technique for the modification of whole wheat functionality and subsequently as an improved functional ingredient during food product development

Fermented edible insects for promoting food security in Africa

Abstract: Efforts to attain sustainable nutritional diets in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are still below par. The continent is envisaged to face more impending food crises. This review presents an overview of common edible insects in Africa, their nutritional composition, health benefits and utilization in connection with fermentation to enrich the inherent composition of insect-based products and offer foods related to existing and generally preferred culinary practice. Attempts to explore fermentation treatments involving insects showed fermentation affected secondary metabolites to induce antimicrobial, nutritional and therapeutic properties. Available value-added fermented edible insect products like paste, powder, sauces, and insect containing fermented foods have been developed with potential for more. Novel fermented edible insect-based products could effectively fit in the continent’s food mix and therefore mitigate ongoing food insecurity, as well as to balance nutrition with health risk concerns limiting edible insects’ product acceptability in SSA

Properties of cereal brans: a review

Cereal brans are functional ingredients with high nutritive value and enormous health properties. Cereal brans have not been fully utilized in food systems despite their health benefits. This review presents an overview on the physical, chemical, microbiological, functional, and sensory properties of cereal brans for possible comparisons and selection to enhance the utilization of this underutilized milling fraction

Kinetics of Phenolic Compounds Modification during Maize Flour Fermentation

This study aimed to investigate the kinetics of phenolic compound modification during the fermentation of maize flour at different times. Maize was spontaneously fermented into sourdough at varying times (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and, at each point, the pH, titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), phenolic compounds (flavonoids such as apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, and taxifolin) and phenolic acids (caffeic, gallic, ferulic, p-coumaric, sinapic, and vanillic acids) were investigated. Three kinetic models (zero-, first-, and second-order equations) were used to determine the kinetics of phenolic modification during the fermentation. Results obtained showed that fermentation significantly reduced pH, with a corresponding increase in TTA and TSS. All the investigated flavonoids were significantly reduced after fermentation, while phenolic acids gradually increased during fermentation. Among the kinetic models adopted, first-order (R2 = 0.45–0.96) and zero-order (R2 = 0.20–0.82) equations best described the time-dependent modifications of free and bound flavonoids, respectively. On the other hand, first-order (R2 = 0.46–0.69) and second-order (R2 = 0.005–0.28) equations were best suited to explain the degradation of bound and free phenolic acids, respectively. This study shows that the modification of phenolic compounds during fermentation is compound-specific and that their rates of change may be largely dependent on their forms of existence in the fermented products

Nutritional and physicochemical changes in two varieties of fonio (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua) during germination

Germination is a cheap and effective bioprocessing technique used for improvement of the nutritional, physicochemical and health-promoting properties of seeds. The benefits of germination on two fonio varieties (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua) have not been studied. This study investigated the nutritional and physicochemical changes in two varieties of fonio germinated for 24, 48 and 72 h at 28 °C. The antioxidant, protein and starch digestibility, functional, pasting, and thermal properties were also determined. Germination over time (24, 48, 72 h) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the protein, ash, total dietary fiber, majority of the amino acids, minerals, protein digestibility, resistant starch, total phenolics and antioxidant activities while phytic acid, tannin, saponin and digestible starch contents decreased in both varieties. Germination significantly increased water and oil absorption capacity, and slightly modified pasting and thermal characteristics while bulk density decreased in both varieties. The principal component analysis revealed germination time to be the key determinant in the physicochemical, nutritional, and techno-functional characteristics of fonio rather than variety, with raw and 24 h germinated grains having similar attributes. The study established that germination improved the nutritional, antioxidant, and techno-functional properties of Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua, which can serve as novel food ingredients for product development