Potentials of moringa (Moringa oleifera) seed oil in enhancing the nutritional quality and stability of soybean oil

Partial hydrogenation method has been used to improve the stability of soybean oil, though it results in the production of trans-fatty acid. The objective of this study was to establish the potential of moringa oil to improve the stability and nutritional quality of soybean oil. Oil samples were extracted from sundried soybean and Moringa seeds using Soxhlet extraction techniques. Soybean powder was mixed with Moringa powder at ratio 50:50 and 70:30, and the oil was extracted afterward. The fatty acid profile of the extracted oil from these blends was studied using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS) technique. The results showed that commercial soybean oil and the blended soybean/moringa oil of ratio 50:50 and 70:30 had a polyunsaturated fatty acid of 52.70%, 22.18% and 35.73 % respectively; monounsaturated fatty acid 27.22%, 46.61% and 58.79% respectively; saturated fatty acid 19.01%, 19.02% and 17.86% respectively. Also, trans-fatty acid (0.003-0.395%) was obtained in the commercial soybean oil sample. The blended soybean/moringa oil offers a better option than the use of partially hydrogenation in commercial soybean oil. Keywords: Moringa seed oil, soybean oil, partial hydrogenation, trans-fatty acid, Oil blending

Effect of autoclaving on the formation of resistant starch from two Nigeria Cassava (Manihot esculenta) varieties

Open Access Journal; Published online: 31 Aug 2018This study evaluated the effect of autoclaving process on the production of resistant starch (RS) from cassava starch. RS was prepared by debranching, autoclaving and storage of cassava starch from two Nigeria varieties (TMS 30572 and TMS 98/0581). Starch suspensions were prepared with different starch water ratios (1:1; 1:3; and 1:5), debranched with isoamylase, autoclaved at 110 and 121◦C for four heat and cool cycles, stored under refrigeration and freezing condition for 48 h. Debranching process increased RS by about 73-78%. Higher RS was obtained at higher temperature and with significant difference (p<0.05) from each other. RS increased with storage time from 6.23 to 9.60 and 22.40 to 25.77 g/100 g for undebranched and debranched samples, respectively, after 48 h. This study indicated the potentials of these Nigeria cassava varieties in the production of RS which could serve as functional food

Quality evaluation of chinchin produced from composite flours of wheat and germinated finger millet flour

Composite flour was produced from germinated finger millet and wheat and its potentials in producing nutritious chinchin, a traditional Nigerian snack was investigated. Finger millet was sorted, germinated, dried and milled into flour. Simplex Lattice Designs was used in generating different formulations (100:0, 88:12, 75:25 and 50:50) of wheat and germinated finger millet, respectively, and used to produce chinchin. The composite flour was analyzed for proximate, minerals, antinutritional and functional properties while the chinchin samples were subjected to sensory evaluation. The values obtained for moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, ash and carbohydrate were in the ranges of 10.47 to 10.71%, 8.74 to 9.64%, 1.79 to 1.95%, 1.38 to 1.55%, 2.31 to 2.57, 73.58 to 75.31%, respectively. The loose and packed bulk density ranged from 0.61 to 0.62 g/cm3 and 0.005 to 0.013 g/cm3. The calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus content of flour ranged from 0.1150 to 0.1300 mg/l, 12.033 to 13.633 mg/l, 0.158 to 0.187 mg/l, 0.389 to 0.428 mg/l and 0.271 to 0.296 mg/l, respectively. The anti-nutritional properties reduced with processing. This study has shown the potentials of composite flour from wheat and germinated finger millet in production of nutritious chinchin. Keyword: Finger millet, wheat flour, chinchin, snacks, composite flou

Quality evaluation of sweetpotato-based complementary food

Complementary Food (CF) was developed using locally available food raw materials (millet, soybean and sweetpotato) to tackle infant malnutrition especially in rural areas. Four different samples of CF were formulated using different ratios of millet flour (MF), sweet potato flour (SPF), soybean flour (SBF); A (55% MF, 30% SPF and 15%SBF), B (50% MF, 30% SPF and 20%SBF), C (45% MF, 30% SPF and 25%SBF), and D (40% MF, 30% SPF and 30% SBF). Commercial complementary food (Nutribom) was used as control sample. The proximate and functional properties of the formulated CF were determined. The following range of values were obtained for all the complementary samples, moisture (2.98-9.05%), protein (5.06-13.19%), fat (2.50-8.71%), fibre (0.13-2.19%), ash (1.26-2.31%) and carbohydrate (55.6-57.6%). The protein, fat and fibre contents of the complementary food increased while moisture, ash and carbohydrate contents reduced with an increase in the level of SBF. The water absorption capacity, swelling power, and bulk density of the complimentary food samples ranged between 28.00 and 43.67 ml/g; 2.86 and5.22 (g/g) and 0.69and 0.81 g/ml, respectively. The functional properties of the complementary food increased when compared with the control. The complementary food blends that could be regarded as appropriate formulation based on the exhibited quality attributes evaluated was sample B which contained 50, 30 and 20% of MF, SPF and SBF, respectively. This product can serve as an alternative to commercial weaning food to prevent protein-energy malnutrition, which may help in the growth and development of children among the poor populace. Keywords: Complementary foods, functional properties, proximate properties and minerals content

Effect of steam cooking and storage time on the formation of resistant starch and functional properties of cassava starch

In this study, resistant starch (RS), type 3, was prepared by debranching, steam cooking and storage of cassava native starch obtained from two Nigeria varieties (TMS 30572 and 98/0581). The native starch samples were debranched with isoamylase enzyme, steam cooked both at atmospheric and high pressure (15 psi) and stored under refrigeration (5–7°C) and freezing condition (−18°C) for 48 h. The effects of these processing conditions on the formation of RS were determined. The debranching process increased the resistant starch contents of the cassava starch to about 70% over the undebranched samples. The RS contents from the steam cooking process ranged between 5.99 and 19.55 g/100 g. The highest value was obtained in TMS 30572 debranched and steam cooked at atmospheric pressure while the least RS was obtained from TMS 98/0581 undebranched but steam cooked at atmospheric pressure. The RS contents increased with increase in storage time with refrigeration having a higher resistant starch contents compared with freezing. Formation of RS decreased the Swelling Power, Water Absorption Index and Water Solubility Index of the Starch while the Syneresis Value increased. This study showed that cassava starch is suitable for isoamylase debranching, and RS formation