Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Valorization of Sacha Inchi press cake: Technological advances, market, and regulatory considerations for sustainable food applications(Elsevier B.V., 2025-12) Njoroge JW; Phonphimai P; Khatmorn P; Ketnawa S; Tonkla P; Vong V; Singh J; Kaur L; Donlao NSacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) press cake (SP), the nutrient-dense by-product of oil extraction, is rich in high quality proteins, essential fatty acids, and bioactive compounds. However, its use remains constrained by processing, regulatory and market acceptance barriers. This review summarizes recent advances in processing strategies to improve SP's nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities. Physical treatments (dry/wet fractionation, steaming, autoclaving, roasting and extrusion) increase protein digestibility and solubility while reducing heat-stable antinutrients. Emerging methods, including high-pressure processing, high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonication, microwave treatment, electroconductivity (Ohmic/PEF), and cold plasma technologies enhance extractability and bioactivity while preserving sensitive compounds. Chemical and chemo-enzymatic approaches (e.g., alkaline soaking, cyclodextrin complexation) suppress flavor precursors, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation improve bioactive peptide release, digestibility, and functionality. Functional additives (sweeteners, salts, polysaccharides, flavor enhancers) help mask bitterness, while paired with consumer-preferred flavors increase acceptance. Beyond processing, safety approvals (e.g., Thai FDA, EU novel food approval) and consumer perception on sensory, nutritional, and sustainability factors shape its market potential. Currently, SP shows potential across a wide range of food applications and its valorization supports sustainable protein supply chains. Future opportunities depend on integrating processing, safety, and regulatory strategies with consumer-driven innovation.Item Phlorotannins from New Zealand brown seaweeds: Extraction, antioxidant activity, and food applications(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-12-01) Zhang R; Khan A; Singh J; Kaur LBrown seaweed, a type of marine macroalgae, is a sustainable resource for human consumption that plays an important role in several cultures, including Aotearoa New Zealand. Brown seaweeds have a relatively high content of phenolic compounds and, exclusively, phlorotannins, which have garnered increasing attention due to their bioactive properties. Applications of these phenolic compounds have been developed for therapy, food additives, material manufacturing, and fertilisers. Among these, their antioxidant property is especially important for the food industry, but limited research has been conducted. This review investigated the nutrition profile of New Zealand brown seaweed species, which are rich in macronutrients, and addressed safety concerns regarding heavy metals and iodine. Phlorotannin content, extraction methods, and their promising antioxidant activities were then compared between New Zealand and global brown seaweeds. According to the current research, they have comparable phlorotannin content and antioxidant activities. More importantly, the potential of applying brown seaweed species as an antioxidant in food matrices was explored. Although successful trials have utilised (New Zealand) brown seaweed extracts as antioxidants for various foods, their widespread commercial use remains rare. The seaweed industry in New Zealand has not been established, and the seaweed is heavily reliant on wild harvest and imports. In conclusion, more effort is needed to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of New Zealand's brown seaweeds, ultimately enabling the commercialization of this promising resource as antioxidants in food products.Item Physico-Chemical, Microstructural, and Cooking Characteristics of Faba Bean (Vicia faba) Varieties From New Zealand(Wiley Periodicals LLC, 2025-09-01) Navneet; Singh J; Ajomiwe NI; Kaur LThis research examines the physical and microstructural properties of New Zealand faba beans (Vicia faba), with a focus on their influence on swelling, hydration, and cooking characteristics. Four native varieties (Early Long Pod, Evergreen, Coles Dwarf, and Janet) were studied. No statistically significant differences were found in the seed physical characteristics, including sphericity, equivalent diameter, thousand kernel weight, seed volume, and surface area, among the varieties. The faba bean seeds showed high levels of protein (24%–27%) and starch content (35%–39%), with Coles Dwarf exhibiting a significantly higher protein content. Cooking times varied among the varieties and were decreased by at least 30 min for all varieties when seeds were soaked before cooking. Evergreen seeds took the least time to cook, while those from Janet required the longest time, which was significantly higher than the other varieties, especially when soaked faba beans were used for cooking. These results were in accordance with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, which revealed significant differences in cotyledon cell wall thickness and surface ridge morphology. Despite a relatively high hydration capacity, Janet required the longest cooking time, suggesting that its thicker cotyledon cell walls and folded surface topography may limit thermal softening despite adequate water uptake. The rapid visco analyzer (RVA) results also showed that the Janet flour exhibited significantly higher peak viscosity, indicating strong water-holding and gelation potential during heating. The Coles Dwarf variety, which exhibited the highest protein content, displayed pronounced surface ridges but showed a significantly lower hydration index, highlighting how macronutrient composition and microstructure jointly influence water uptake and pasting behavior. These results highlight the varying suitability of each variety for different food applications, considering their distinct physico-chemical and cooking properties.Item Unveiling anti-inflammatory peptides from Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): Preparation, bioactivity assessment, and peptides identification(Elsevier B V, 2025-12-01) Silva B; Sringarm K; Potikanond S; Tangjaidee P; Buacheen P; Rachtanapun P; Donlao N; Singh J; Kaur L; Issara U; Kingwascharapong P; Phongthai SLion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is acknowledged worldwide for its substantial contribution of medicinal compounds and nutrients, including protein. The efficient extraction and hydrolysis of proteins are essential for revealing their bioactive properties. This study demonstrates that the optimal pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted extraction achieved a 42.44 % increase in protein extraction efficiency relative to traditional alkaline extraction (p < 0.05). H. erinaceus protein contained 44.59 % essential amino acids and exhibited 71.33 % in vitro digestibility. Pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis produced the most significant anti-inflammatory activity, resulting in a 36.2 % reduction in nitric oxide and a 31.8 % decrease in interleukin-6 levels (p < 0.05). Subsequent fractionations employing membrane ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography effectively purified the peptides, resulting in enhanced anti-inflammatory activity (p < 0.05). This research discovered nine important peptide sequences containing 50–100 % hydrophobic amino acids in Lion's Mane mushroom proteins, which could aid in the synthesis of natural anti-inflammatory peptides.Item Partial hydrolyzed protein as an alternative stabilizer for peanut (Arachis hypogaea) butter(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-07-01) Thongkong S; Rakairyatham K; Tangjaidee P; Unban K; Klangpetch W; Phimolsiripol Y; Rachtanapun P; Rawdkuen S; Singh J; Kaur L; Issara U; Kingwascharapong P; Phongthai SPeanut protein hydrolysates with varying degrees of hydrolysis (DH) were prepared by using Alcalase and Flavourzyme. The enzymatic hydrolysis highly influenced a transformation of protein secondary structures, particularly from β-sheet to β-turn structures (11–21 %). The DH impacted functional properties and anti-free radicals' activity of peanut protein hydrolysates. Flavourzyme-derived protein hydrolysate (FPH) with DH5% had the maximum potential as an emulsifier (54.50 ± 0.71 %, p < 0.05). The effectiveness of protein hydrolysates in preventing the oil separation and enhancing the oxidative stability of peanut butter was dependent on the type of enzyme and DH. The inclusion of partial hydrolyzed protein (DH5%) produced by the Alcalase (APH) substantially decreased the occurrence of oil separation; whereas FPH with DH5% significantly retarded increment of PV, TBARs, CD in peanut butter during the storage period (p < 0.05). This study indicated the possible use of partial hydrolyzed proteins as a stabilizer in peanut butter by slowing lipid oxidation and increasing oil entrapment.Item Pulsed Electric Field for Quick-Cooking Rice: Impacts on Cooking Quality, Physicochemical Properties, and In Vitro Digestion Kinetics(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-11-17) Thongkong S; Kraithong S; Singh J; Tangjaidee P; Yawootti A; Klangpetch W; Rachtanapun P; Rawdkuen S; Phongthai S; Mortas MPulsed electric field (PEF) is one of the emerging technologies that has been applied in many aspects of the food industry. This study examined the impacts of a PEF on the cooking quality, physicochemical properties, nutritional factors, and in vitro protein and starch digestion of two varieties of rice, including Jasmine 105 (white non-glutinous rice) and San Pa Tong 1 (white glutinous rice). Response surface methodology (RSM) and a three-level, three-factor Box–Behnken design were employed to assess the effects of the pulse number, electric field strength, and frequency on cooking time. The findings demonstrated that the number of pulses was a crucial factor influencing cooking time. Under optimal conditions (3347–4345 pulses, electric field strengths of 6–8 kV/cm, and frequencies ranging from 6 to 15 Hz), the rice cooking time was significantly reduced by 40–50% (p < 0.05) when compared to a conventional method. Moreover, PEF-treated rice showed a significant enhancement in in vitro protein and starch digestibility (p < 0.05), as well as retained a higher content of rapidly digestible starch. These results suggested that PEF treatment is a promising green technology for producing a novel quick-cooking rice with an improved eating quality.Item White mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) infusion as a strategy to reduce starch digestibility: The influence of particle size of leaf powder(Elsevier B.V., 2024-10-30) Aumasa T; Apinanthanuwong G; Singh J; Kaur L; Tian J; Phongthai S; Tanongkankit Y; Issara U; Ogawa Y; Donlao NMulberry leaf (Morus Alba L.) has been found in clinical trials to be effective in reducing diabetes in Asia. The powdered tea market is expanding in popularity due to its functional properties. This study aimed to examine the influence of different particle sizes of mulberry leaf powder (MLP) infusion on the digestibility of starch in cooked Japonica rice (cv. Koshihikari) and the bioaccessibility of phytochemicals. Dried mulberry leaf was pulverized and sieved into several particle sizes: 160 μm (MLP160), 250 μm (MLP250), 404 μm (MLP404), and 774 μm (MLP774). Through simulated in vitro digestion, we assessed starch hydrolysis (%SH), the kinetics of starch hydrolysis, estimated glycemic index (eGI), as well as total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The smaller particle size of MLP showed a greater reduction of eGI. Specifically, infusions prepared from MLP160 resulted in a reduction of 15 % in eGI for cooked grains and 3 % for slurries, respectively. The reduction in eGI was attributed to the interaction among flavonoids and digestive enzymes, demonstrating a concentration-dependent manner on enzyme inhibition effect. Pulverization significantly influenced the concentration of phytochemicals and their bioaccessibility in infusions. This study offers valuable insights into determining optimal particle sizes for MLP, considering both physical and functional characteristics as well as implications for the food industry. The results further suggest that MLP infusion holds promise as a functional beverage, potentially providing benefits in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.Item Starch digestibility of cooked rice as influenced by the addition of different tea types (Camellia sinensis): An in vitro study(Elsevier B.V., 2023-06-26) Apinanthanuwong G; Aumasa T; Ogawa Y; Singh J; Panpipat W; Donlao NThe stability of tea catechin is influenced by various factors such as tea types, pH and digestive processes. The study aimed to investigate the effect of different tea types on the stability of tea catechin and their impact on starch digestibility and glycemic response to different types of cooked rice. Cooked rices were co-digested with green tea, oolong tea and black tea, and the catechin profiles were correlated with the inhibition of enzymatic digestion. The findings revealed that the green tea exhibited to be the most potent inhibitory effect on starch digestion. In addition, due to its highly porous structure, glutinous rice showed a higher starch hydrolysis rate and glycemic index than jasmine rice. The estimated glycemic index (eGI) of cooked jasmine rice co-digested with green, oolong, and black teas were 61.95 ± 1.07, 64.62 ± 1.12, and 67.14 ± 0.87, respectively, while eGI values of cooked glutinous rice were 77.55 ± 1.15, 79.98 ± 0.98, 81.45 ± 0.75, respectively. The findings indicates that epigallocatechin (EGC) achieves the highest stability. Overall, the results provided compelling evidence that tea types and rice structure affect the regulation of starch digestion and eGI of cooked rice.Item The role of herbal teas in reducing the starch digestibility of cooked rice (Oryza sativa L.): An in vitro co-digestion study(Elsevier GmbH on behalf of Society of Nutrition and Food Science e.V, 2023-11-01) Aumasa T; Ogawa Y; Singh J; Panpipat W; Donlao NHerbal teas are well known for their antidiabetic effects due to the abundance of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins. An in vitro co-digestion test was conducted to observe influence of herbal teas (HTs) i.e., beal fruit (BA), mulberry leaf (MB), gymnema leaf (GM), and chrysanthemum flower (CS) on starch digestibility of cooked rice and to elucidate correlation analysis of phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities during in vitro starch hydrolysis (SH). HTs prepared from GM and MB showed highest reduction of SH, kinetic constant and estimated glycemic index (eGI) of cooked rice, followed by BA and CS. Besides, MB and GM teas decreased the eGI of cooked rice up to 15%, followed by BA and CS teas, respectively. Phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities were positively correlated to SH, with both parameters displaying a higher decrease in intestinal phase when compared to gastric phase during in vitro co-digestion. These results indicate a strong interaction among phytochemicals and α-amylase in influencing glycaemic parameters. Thus, HTs has the potential to provide functional health benefits in lowering postprandrial hyperglycemia.Item Physico-chemical and Textural Properties of 3D Printed Plant-based and Hybrid Soft Meat Analogs(Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature, 2023-06) Wang T; Kaur L; Beniwal AS; Furuhata Y; Aoyama H; Singh JThis study investigated the physico-chemical and textural properties of 3D-printed pea protein-only and pea protein-chicken-based hybrid meat analogs. Both pea protein isolate (PPI)-only and hybrid cooked meat analogs had a similar moisture content of approximately 70%, which was similar to that of chicken mince. However, the protein content increased significantly with the amount of chicken in the hybrid paste undergoing 3D printing and cooking. Significant differences were observed in the hardness values of the non-printed cooked pastes and the 3D printed cooked counterparts, suggesting that the 3D printing process reduces the hardness of the samples and is a suitable method to produce a soft meal, and has significant potential in elderly health care. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that adding chicken to the plant protein matrix led to better fiber formation. PPI itself was not able to form any fibers merely by 3D printing and cooking in boiling water. Protein-protein interactions were also studied through the protein solubility test, which indicated that hydrogen bonding was the major bonding that contributed to the structure formation in cooked printed meat analogs. In addition, disulfide bonding was correlated with improved fibrous structures, as observed through SEM.