Enhancing properties of polyvinyl alcohol film using sorghum starch nanocrystals – A cost effective filler from natural source

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films with Sorghum Starch Nanocrystals (SSN) were prepared by incorporating various concentrations of SSN in PVA.  SSN was isolated using acid hydrolysis of sorghum starch.  The morphological studies of SSN using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) revealed that the particle size varied from 65 to 68 nm.  The mechanical properties of PVA-SSN nanocomposite films indicated an improvement in tensile strength and percentage elongation at break when compared to that of PVA films.  This can be attributed to the stronger interaction of PVA with SSN due to hydrogen bonding.  Besides this, PVA-SSN nanocomposite films also exhibited good thermal properties.  Thus, the use of SSN (a cost effective filler from natural source) imparted superior properties to the PVA nanocomposite films, which will be beneficial for applications such as food packaging.

Contemporary insights into the extraction, functional properties, and therapeutic applications of plant proteins

Recently, plant proteins have received notable attention as food and medicine. Further, plant proteins are used to produce and isolate peptides to treat and prevent diseases in humans and animals. Plant proteins can be extracted from various sources, including industrial waste materials. Conventional and nonconventional methods are used to carry out the protein extraction. This review aims to overview the advanced protein extraction methods and the therapeutic functionalities of plant proteins and peptides. It was observed that the advanced protein extraction methods, i.e., ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted, are more efficient, eco-friendly, and less energy-consuming. The advanced protein extraction methods will help to face the challenges of using protein in food processing. In addition to the food functionality, plant-based proteins and peptides show potential therapeutic activity. It includes antidiabetic activity, anticancer activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. The pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries will likely rely heavily on plant-derived peptides because of their benefits as functional ingredients