Yamina Absi

Vegetable proteins derived from legumes, cereals or pseudocereals have increased in popularity in recent years, becoming very interesting for the food industry. In addition to their nutritional interest, these products have techno-functional properties that allow them to be used in the production of a wide variety of foods. This research has studied the nutritional and mineral composition of 12 samples of rice, pea and soy concentrates. The objective was to investigate the influence of this nutritional composition, mainly mineral components, on the techno-functional properties (water- and oil-binding capacity, swelling, emulsifying, gelling and foaming capacities) of these concentrates. For this purpose, a Pearson correlation matrix and a GH biplot method were applied. The results showed that there is a correlation between mineral content and functional properties. Mg, K and Ca were positively correlated with protein solubility index, oil absorption capacity and swelling capacity. Na and P contents were positively related to water absorption capacity and emulsifying capacity. Gelling capacity was positively correlated with Mg contents and negatively correlated with Cu and Fe contents. The preliminary results reported in this study highlight the necessity to further assess the influence of non-protein components on the techno-functionality of protein concentrates.

Vegetable proteins derived from legumes, cereals or pseudocereals have increased in popularity in recent years, becoming very interesting for the food industry. In addition to their nutritional interest, these products have techno-functional properties that allow them to be used in the production of a wide variety of foods. This research has studied the nutritional and mineral composition of 12 samples of rice, pea and soy concentrates. The objective was to investigate the influence of this nutritional composition, mainly mineral components, on the techno-functional properties (water and oil binding capacity, swelling, emulsifying, gelling and foaming capacities) of these concentrates. For this purpose, a Pearson correlation matrix and a GH biplot method have been applied. The results showed that there is a correlation between mineral content and functional properties. Mg, K and Ca were positively correlated with protein solubility index, oil absorption capacity and swelling capacity. Na and P contents are positively related to water absorption capacity and emulsifying capacity. Gelling capacity was positively correlated with Mg contents and negatively correlated with Cu and Fe contents. The preliminary results reported in this study highlight the necessity to further assess the influence of non-protein components on the techno-functionality of protein concentrates.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa) has been increasing in popularity in recent years owing to its nutritional composition, with an interesting combination of protein, fat, and fiber, as well as minerals. Its transformation into flours and concentrates has allowed its incorporation in different foods thanks to its techno-functional properties. In this study, four commercial brands of hemp flour and hemp protein concentrate were analyzed for their proximal, amino acid and mineral composition, and fatty acid profile. The bioactive characteristics, such as phenolic composition and antioxidant activity, and techno-functional properties, such as solubility and water-holding and oil-holding capacities, were analyzed. The results showed that the composition of the flours was characterized by a high fiber content and a high antioxidant activity due mainly to the high level of total phenolic compounds. In the case of concentrates, these showed a lower carbohydrate but higher protein content and better functional properties such as water-holding, foaming, and gel-forming capacities. Both flours and concentrates showed low fat contents with polyunsaturated fatty acids being the major fatty acids, a good amino acid profile, and high K and P concentrations. Organic products showed differences in nutritional composition but not in functional properties when compared with non-organic products.

Nowadays, a wide range of non-traditional gluten-free products can be purchased. Although consumers identify all these as being similar, their nutritional composition can differ depending on the raw materials used and the production process itself. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of ten commercially available flours made from rice, pea, chickpea, soybean and hemp. The proximate composition (moisture, fat, fiber, protein, starch and carbohydrates), the mineral composition (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Ni, Se, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb), the phenolic composition (total phenols, total flavonoids, flavanones and dihydrofavonols, and total antioxidant capacity) and the fatty acid profile were analyzed. Results showed an important influence of the vegetable species but also of the brand on the flour composition. Soybean flours, followed by hemp, showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Hemp flour showed a low n6/n3 ratio, while pea flour contained a small amount of fat with a large amount of oleic acid and a satisfactory n6/n3 ratio.