Enrichment of gluten-free cakes with lupin (Lupinus albus L.) or buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) flours

In the present study, the effect of debittered lupin flour (LF) and whole buckwheat flour (BF) on the nutritional and sensory quality of gluten-free cake was studied. LF (10, 20, 30 and 40%) and BF (5, 10, 15 and 20%) were partially replaced with corn starch and rice flour mixture (1:1 w/w) in the gluten-free cake recipe. LF increased the protein, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus and zinc contents of the cakes, while BF caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) especially in potassium and magnesium contents of the gluten-free cakes. According to the overall acceptability rating, it was concluded that gluten-free cake could be produced with satisfactory results by the addition of LF and BF up to 30% and 10%, respectively.     

Fagopyrins in different parts of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) during growth

Fagopyrins, anthraquinone derivatives present in buckwheat, are structurally similar to hypericin. The objective of this study was to determine changes of fagopyrins in flowers, leaves, and stems of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum; CB) and Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum; TB) during growth. Flowers, leaves, and stems of buckwheats were collected until the 50th day after sowing (DAS) at intervals of 5 days. Fagopyrins were analyzed by HPLC-FLD and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Buckwheat flowers contained significantly higher fagopyrins than the other parts. Fagopyrins in TB flowers were significantly higher than in CB flowers. Concentration of fagopyrins in the flowers gradually decreased until the 50th DAS. Fagopyrin F was the major form of fagopyrins in buckwheats, accounting for 68–79 % in CB and 81–94 % in TB with TB flowers the highest (93–94 %). This study was the first in analyzing contents of fagopyrin F and fagopyrins in different parts of buckwheats during growth.     

Physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of gluten-free breads made with pine nuts (Araucaria angustifolia) associated to other flours

Pine nuts are the seeds of Araucaria angustifolia, which have a good nutritional value and relevance to be investigated in food technology, especially in bakery products for celiac people. This study aimed to evaluate physico-chemical and sensory properties of gluten-free breads made with pine nuts. Four different formulations (T1, T2,T3, and T4) of bread were prepared, varying the percentages flours, and were submitted to physical, chemical, and sensory analysis. The formulation made with pine nut and potato starch and the one made with pine nuts associated with potato starch and rice flour are promising alternatives for celiac patients.     

The nutritional properties of flours derived from Orkney grown bere barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary  Bere barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) is a six-row barley landrace, the ancestry of which may go back to the 8th century or earlier. The cultivation of bere on any scale is currently restricted to Orkney, although it was at one time grown more widely in Scotland. Within the UK, bere is unique in being the only barley grown commercially for milling and, in Orkney, flours derived from bere are traditionally used for making bannocks, bread and biscuits. There is potential for the use of bere flours in a much wider range of foods, and for this reason the nutritional properties of such flours were investigated. The energy, macronutrient and micronutrient content of both wholemeal and white flours derived from bere were measured. Flours derived from bere grown in Orkney contain a wide variety of nutrients including significant quantities of folate, thiamin, pantothenic acid, iron, iodine and magnesium. Although the nutrient content of bere bannocks has previously been published, to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the nutritional properties of wholemeal and white flours derived from bere.     

Digestion of polysaccharides, protein and lipids by adult cockerels fed on diets containing a pectic cell-wall material from white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) cotyledon

1. The cell-wall material of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) cotyledon is characterized by low contents of cellulose (47 g/kg) and lignin (17 g/kg) and a high content of pectic substances (710 g/kg). The digestion of lupin cell-wall material by adult cockerels was estimated using gas-liquid chromatographic analyses of alditol acetates derived from polysaccharide sugars. The analyses were performed in the destarched water-insoluble fractions of feed and excreta. Digestibility measurements were carried out using a 3 d balance period including a 2 d feeding period and a 24 h final starvation period. 2. In the first experiment, six animals were given a diet containing 510 g white lupin cotyledon flour/kg which was the only source of protein and cell walls in the diet. The apparent digestibility of cell-wall components was near zero. 3. In the second experiment, three diets were prepared by diluting a fibre-free basal diet (diet A) by a semi-purified cell-wall preparation introduced at two different levels: 100 g/kg (diet B) and 200 g/kg (diet C). The semi-purified cell walls were prepared from the white lupin cotyledon flour used in the first experiment. The true digestibilities of polysaccharides measured in birds given diets B and C were near zero. It is suggested that the measurement of the neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) content according to Van Soest & Wine (1967) is not a suitable procedure for estimating the undigestible fibre content in poultry nutrition as the cell-wall pectic substances are not included in the NDF measurement. 4. Addition of the semi-purified cell-wall preparation (Expt 2) resulted in a slight decrease in the apparent protein digestibility. This decrease might be explained by the addition of undigestible cell-wall protein. 5. Addition of the semi-purified cell-wall preparation (Expt 2) had no effect on the apparent lipid digestibility. 6. The metabolizable energy values of the basal diet fraction of diets B and C were calculated assuming that the added plant cell-wall fraction was of no energy value. These calculated values were similar to the measured metabolizable energy value of diet A (basal). Thus, the tested pectic plant cell walls seemed to act as a diluent. It is suggested that, on the point of the digestion yields, all types of plant cell walls would act as diluents, in poultry.     

The effect of cooking methods on the mineral content of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

In this study, we assessed the impact of two cooking methods, steaming and boiling, through the true retention (%TR) of minerals in pseudocereals and rice (varieties Indica and Japonica). Mineral content was determined by ICP-OES. Cooking methods have an impact on mineral composition of pseudocereals with losses up to 20%. Quinoa’s %TR varied from 100% (manganese, phosphorus and iron) in steaming, to 83% (copper) in boiled. In amaranth, it ranged from 98% (copper) in boiling method, to 80% (magnesium) in steaming. Buckwheat presents a %TR of 100% in iron and 87% in zinc. For boiled rice, the losses were higher in the variety Indica, with a decrease of 34% for manganese. Steamed amaranth is a higher density food in particular for manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, which present a recommended nutrient intake (RNI) contribution of 70%, 65% and 44%, respectively. Rice represents the lowest contribution to mineral RNI. This study demonstrates that estimation of mineral intake should be based on data obtained from cooked food.