A. G. Gopala Krishna

Water degumming of rice bran oil: a response surface approach

Abstract Commercially extracted crude rice bran oil (1.8% phospholipids) was degummed under a range of experimental conditions of water concentration, temperature, time and speed of agitation. Efficiency of degumming was evaluated based on the yield of dry gums, phospholipids and acetone insolubles in the gum. An orthogonal experimental design, with four variables (at five levels each) and three response functions, was employed to study the effect of the individual variables on the response functions. The response functions correlated with these variables (r⩾0.925, p⩽0.01) by second order polynomials consisting of linear, quadratic and interaction terms. The effect of water added and temperature dominated over the other two variables. The optimum level of these variables for obtaining maximum magnitude of the response functions is reported.

Physico-chemical characteristics of defatted rice bran and its utilization in a bakery product

Defatted rice bran (DRB), a byproduct of rice milling is a rich source of dietary fiber and minerals. In the present study, the physico-chemical characteristics, antioxidant potential of defatted rice bran (Laboratory-LDRB and Commercial -CDRB) and its utilization in preparation of bread were studied. The effect of incorporation of CDRB at varying levels (5, 10 & 15%) on the quality characteristics of bread including physical, rheological and sensory attributes were evaluated and the dietary fiber content and antioxidant activity were determined. The results indicated that LDRB had better nutrient profile, physical and antioxidant properties than CDRB. On the basis of physical characteristics, breads with 5% and 10% CDRB were found to be acceptable as such and those containing 15% were acceptable with addition of bread improvers. The dietary fiber content and total antioxidative activity of bread increased with increasing levels of CDRB, which also improved the shelf life. The results reveal that DRB can be incorporated in breads upto 10% and 15% as such or with bread improvers respectively, as source of fiber and natural antioxidant, as a functional ingredient.

Influence of viscosity on wax settling and refining loss in rice bran oil

The role of viscosity on was settling and refining loss in rice bran oil (RBO) has been studied with model systems of refined peanut oil and RBO of different free fatty acids contents. Wax was the only constituent of RBO that significantly increased the viscosity (81.5%) of oil. Monoglycerides synergistically raised the viscosity of the oil (by 114.2%) and lowered the rate of wax settling. Although a reduction in the viscosity of the oil significantly decreased the refining loss, the minimum loss attained was still 20% more than the theoretically predicted value. This led us to conclude that some chemical constituents, such as monoglycerides, must be removed before dewaxing; thereafter, oryzanol and phospholipids have to be removed. One can get an oil free of wax, recover other by-products and reduce processing losses.

A method for bleaching rice bran oil with silica gel

The color of bleached rice bran oil can be improved by silica gel treatment of the oil miscella before or after dewaxing. A silica gel/oil/solvent ratio of 1:5:5 (wt/wt/vol) is suitable. Silica gel treatment can be carried out either by column percolation or by merely shaking the miscella with the gel followed by decantation. However, column percolation is more efficient, with 30–72% color reductionvs. 19–36% reduction for shaking and decanting.

Effect of water activity on secondary products formation in autoxidizing methyl linoleate

The role of water activity on the formation of peroxides and carbonyl compounds during lipid oxidation is important to know because there could be either beneficial or detrimental effects of water activity on lipid oxidation in stored foods. Therefore, methyl linoleate was chosen as a model lipid and was autoxidized to 1% at water activity ranging from 0.02 to 0.79 at 37°C. Oxygen uptake was monitored manometrically. The peroxide and carbonyl contents were determined upon termination of the autoxidation studies. Methyl linoleate autoxidation was characterized by three phases: i) an initial induction period of no oxygen absorption; ii) a slow rate of oxygen absorption, up to 0.15% oxidation; and iii) a relatively faster rate of oxygen absorption beyond 0.15% up to 1% oxidation. Water activity had considerable influence during the first phase. There was no induction period at or below water activity 0.22. The induction period begins at water activity 0.32 and could be extended to a limit with increase in water activity. Once the induction period was passed water activity had no influence on the rate of oxidation. However, during the second and third phases water activity becomes important in the stabilization of peroxides/hydroperoxides and decides the course of secondary reactions that follow peroxide decomposition. Higher water activity values, particularly water activity 0.67, tended to stabilize peroxides. Water activity had considerable influence on the formation of secondary products of autoxidation as evidenced by the variation in the type and quantity of carbonyl compounds at different water activity values.

Antioxidant efficacy of amino acids in methyl linoleate at different relative humidities

Antioxidant efficacy of the amino acids methionine, tryptophan, aspartic acid, serine, alanine and arginine in methyl linoleate were compared to a methyl linoleate control at 2,50 or 79% relative humidity (RH) at 37°C. Antioxidant efficacy varied with RH and the individual amino acids. Arginine had the highest antioxidant efficacy at all RH values compared to the control. The efficacy of alanine was equal to that of arginine at RHs of 50 and 79% but was lower at 2% RH. The presence of aliphatic, alkaline amino, hydroxyl or thiol groups in the side chain of the amino acids increased the antioxidant efficacy at high RHs.

Isolation and identification of the causative factors responsible for color fixation in rice bran oil

To understand the chemical nature of the dark coloring constituents responsible for color fixation in rice bran oil, crude and dewaxed rice bran oils of 6.8% free fatty acids were fractionated on a silica gel column to get a dark-colored material (0.57% of the oil). Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the material showed a spot corresponding to monoglycerides, but there were no spots corresponding to other glycerides. It contained traces of phosphorus (<0.1 ppm, which is equivalent to 2.5 ppm phospholipids) and iron (1.3 ppm) that could not be attributed to phospholipids or to any iron-complex. Upon saponification it yielded 12% nonsaponifiable matter. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the saponifiable matter (after acidification and methylation of fatty acids) showed the presence of palamitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Further, on the basis of comparison with spectroscopic data of synthetic monoglyceride, the constituent was characterized to be a mixture of monoglycerides with side chains of oxidized unsaturated fatty acids.

Fat-soluble nutraceuticals and their composition in heat-processed wheat germ and wheat bran

Abstract Nutraceuticals availability in heat-processed foods is considered to be the index for healthy food. This study has made an attempt to optimize the temperature to retain nutraceuticals in wheat bran (WB) and wheat germ (WG). Heated WG (130 °C & 140 °C) and WB (140 °C & 150 °C) were analyzed for sensory profiles. Extracted oils were subjected to physicochemical parameter as well as its nutraceuticals. Increased oil yield, color values and reduced free fatty acids were found with varied temperatures. Fat-soluble compounds total tocols, steryl ferulates and carotenoids found in WG (0.316, 0.058 and 0.011%) and WB (0.228, 0.595 and 0.015%) and maximum reductions started in WG (0.183%, 0.034% and 0.004%) at 130 °C. The free radical-scavenging activities of control samples showed high EC50 values than processed samples; however, no differences were observed between two temperatures. Study may clearly spell out that the reduced nutraceuticals observed after subjecting food raw materials to optimum temperature eventually lead to its quality.

Antioxidant constituents of peanut oil

The components responsible for increased stability of raw peanut oil at a high relative humidity (RH) of 91% were examined in peanut oil and methyl linoleate systems. Of the constituents, the native gums, which were mostly phospholipids and glycolipids, showed increased antioxidant activity at 91% RH. The isolated components of the gums, namely phospholipids and glycolipids, were prooxidant individually or in combination. Tocopherols did not show increased antioxidant activity at 91% RH.