Thermal and physicochemical properties of rice grain, flour and starch

The effect of heat-moisture treatment changed the binding of starch, protein and lipid in rice flour to affect its hierarchical structure and physicochemical properties

This study investigated the effect of removing proteins, lipids and starch on the structure, physicochemical properties and digestion properties of rice flour (with 30% moisture) treated with heat moisture treatment (HMT). According to the results, HMT caused the adhesion and agglomeration of the rice flour, promoted the binding between starch, protein and lipid molecular chains and led to the formation of complexes (especially starch-lipid complexes), which hindered the removal of non-starch components. Compared to the untreated rice flour, the HMT treated lipid-removal rice flour had small changes in their crystallinity, gelatinization temperature and viscosity property. After removing protein, the crystallinity, peak viscosity, final viscosity, breakdown and starch digestibility were sharply increased. In particular, the peak viscosity increased from 811 cP to 1746 cP and the enthalpy change increased from 5.33 J/g to 10.18 J/g. These findings are helpful in understanding the contribution of removing endogenous proteins and lipids to the physicochemical changes of HMT treated rice flour during its heating process and thus can be helpful in controlling the quality of rice flour through HMT.

The modulatory roles and regulatory strategy of starch in the textural and rehydration attributes of dried noodle products

Noodles are popular staple foods globally, and dried noodle products (DNPs) have gained increasing attention due to recent changes in consumer diet behavior. Rapid rehydration and excellent texture quality are the two major demands consumers make of dried noodle products. Unfortunately, these two qualities conflict with each other: the rapid rehydration of DNPs generally requires a loose structure, which is disadvantageous for good texture qualities. This contradiction limits further development of the noodle industry, and overcoming this limitation remains challenging. Starch is the major component of noodles, and it has two main roles in DNPs. It serves as a skeleton for the noodle in gel networks form or acts as a noodle network filler in granule form. In this review, we comprehensively investigate the different roles of starch in DNPs, and propose strategies for balancing the conflicts between texture and rehydration qualities of DNPs by regulating the gel network and granule structure of starch. Current strategies in regulating the gel network mainly focused on the hydrogen bond strength, the orientation degree, and the porosity; while regulating granule structure was generally performed by adjusting the integrity and the gelatinization degree of starch. This review assists in the production of instant dried noodle products with desired qualities, and provides insights into promising enhancements in the quality of starch-based products by manipulating starch structure.

Arsenic contents, speciation and bioaccessibility in rice grains from China: Regional and variety differences

As the staple food for Asian countries and with its ability in arsenic accumulation, rice consumption becomes a dominant pathway for As exposure to humans. Here, we collected 108 rice samples from local markets and online sources in 13 major rice-producing regions in China, and determined As contents, speciation and bioaccessibility in the samples. Total As contents were 25-327 μg kg^-1 (averaging 120), showing regional differences, with Hunan province being greater than other provinces at 180 vs 110. In rice grains, inorganic As was the dominant species, being 39.9-88.5 (61.1 %), but all being within the Chinese standard at 200 μg kg^-1. Based on the modified physiologically-based extraction test (MPEBT), arsenic bioaccessibility in rice samples was 20.1-82.2 (52.3 %) in the gastric phase and 47.2-113 (81.2 %) in the intestinal phase. Strong positive correlation between total As and bioaccessible As suggested bioaccessible As was content-dependent. Based on the intestinal phase, the rice samples from northern region had lower As bioaccessibility than other regions (59.2 vs 83.2 %), and Japonica variety had lower As bioaccessibility than Indica variety (71.1 vs 83.1 %). This study suggests that rice from markets in China is safe, with their As contents and bioaccessibility showing regional and variety differences.

Rice congee as an alternative to thickened liquids for patients with swallowing disorders

OBJECTIVES

Seeing the popularity of rice congee consumption among Asian families, the present study examined the possibility of preparing thickened liquids from rice congee of different consistency levels that are commonly prescribed for individuals with swallowing disorders.

METHODS

The two most common rice varieties in Hong Kong, indica and japonica rice grains, were used to prepare rice congee from which thickened liquids were extracted. By varying the water-to-rice ratio, cooking time, optional reheating on a frying pan, and temperature, slightly thick, mildly thick, moderately thick, and extremely thick liquids were obtained.

RESULTS

Recipes for extracting thickened liquids of different consistencies from rice congee cooked with indica and japonica rice grains were established. The consistency levels were defined with reference to although not strictly following the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework. Results revealed that the consistency of the product varied with water-to-rice ratio, cooking time and temperature.

CONCLUSION

Recipes were established for preparing thickened liquids using rice grains at both serving and room temperatures. Findings support that thickened liquids so obtained can be used as an alternative to thickened liquids preparing using commercial thickeners.

Effect of palm wax on the mechanical, thermal, and moisture absorption properties of thermoplastic cassava starch composites

Thermoplastic starch is a potentially sustainable and biodegradable material. However, it possesses some limitations in terms of mechanical performance and high moisture sensitivity. In this current work, the characteristics of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) containing palm wax at various loading were evaluated. TPCS was prepared via hot pressing by varying the ratios of palm wax (2.5, 5, 10, and 15 wt%). Next, characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), mechanical, water solubility, thickness swelling and moisture absorption tests, were conducted on the samples. The findings showed that incorporating starch-based thermoplastics with palm wax has remarkably improved mechanical characteristics of the thermoplastic blends. Besides, the morphology of the samples demonstrated irregular and rougher cleavage fracture after palm wax addition. FT-IR indicated the existence of intermolecular interaction between TPCS and palm wax with the intermolecular hydrogen bonds that existed between them. The thermal stability of TPCS has improved with rising palm wax content. The incorporation of 15 wt% palm wax resulted in the lowest moisture absorption value among the samples. Overall, the developed TPCS/palm wax with improved mechanical and moisture resistance characteristics has the potential to be used as biodegradable materials.

Water chestnut, rice, corn starches and sodium alginate. A comparative study on the physicochemical, thermal and morphological characteristics of starches after dry heating

Water chestnut (Trapa bispniosa), rice and corn starch were modified with sodium alginate and subjected to dry heating for 0,2 and 4 h for at 130 °C. The physicochemical, thermal and morphological properties of native as well as modified starches were determined. Thermal and morphological properties were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was observed that the dry heating of starches with and without sodium alginate significantly reduce the swelling power, solubility, paste clarity whereas, water absorption and syneresis increased. The swelling power was higher for corn starch as compared to other starches while rice starch has higher syneresis. In the presence of sodium alginate the water absorption was increased in all starch samples upon heating. The onset temperature was found to be increased after dry heating of all starches. The maximum increased was noticed for rice starch. Morphological studies showed the damaging of granule surface with the accumulation of leached amylose and gum but total degradation was not observed. Peak viscosity, final viscosity, breakdown, and setback of RS- sodium alginate mixture were reduced on dry heating. Although pasting temperature of rice starch was not significantly changed.

Rheology and tribology properties of cereal and legume flour paste from different botanical origins

Paste made from eight types of cereal grains (low fiber containing grains [LF grains]: rice, sticky rice, black rice, and millet; and high fiber containing grains [HF grains]: wheat, buckwheat, oat, and barley), and four types of legumes (soybean, red bean, kidney bean, and mung bean), were studied in terms of particle size, rheological, and tribological properties. Sticky rice and soybean pastes showed lower yield stress, viscosity and consistency coefficient than other pastes. Most cereal pastes showed a major peak at approximately 160 µm except for oat and barley, while legume pastes showed mono modal profiles except for soybean. Tribological results showed that starch tended to develop type A friction profiles, showing a typical Stribeck curve; bran/fiber tended to develop type B profiles, showing an ascent curve with clear onset of hydrodynamic regime; protein and lipids promoted type C profiles, showing a flat plateau shaped curve. Water soluble polysaccharides in grains or legumes could improve the paste lubrication. In general, 5% of the black rice paste and sticky rice in the LF grain group, and the soybean paste in the legume group, showed a low friction coefficient (μ) in the entire entrainment speed range; barley paste and oat paste in the HF grain group showed relatively low μ at low entrainment speed (0.5 mm/s) and medium entrainment speed (5 and 10 mm/s), respectively.

Structural development and physicochemical properties of starch in caryopsis of super rice with different types of panicle

BACKGROUND

Starch is the main storage substance in rice caryopsis and its properties will determine the quality of rice. Super rice has been extensively studied due to its high-yield characteristics, but the knowledge of amyloplast development and starch quality in caryopsis of super rice especially with large panicle is limited.

RESULTS

To address this, large panicle typed and normal panicle typed super rice cultivar Yongyou2640 (YY2640) and Nangeng9108 (NG9108) were investigated in this study. The development of amyloplast in YY2640 caryopsis was better than NG9108, showing faster degradation rate of pericarp amyloplast and better filling degree of endosperm amyloplast. Meanwhile, the starch granule of YY2640 presented as polyhedral shape with smooth surface and the granule size was slightly larger than NG9108. The starch of YY2640 exhibited the lower amylose content, ratio of amylose to amylopectin and the higher level of amylopectin short and long branch-chains compared with NG9108, but there was no significant difference in amylopectin branching degree between them. Two rice starches both showed the characteristics of A-type crystal, and the relative crystallinity and external ordered degree of YY2640 starch were higher than those of NG9108. Furthermore, YY2640 starch showed better pasting properties with lower pasting temperature, shorter pasting time, higher peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown value and lower setback value because of lower apparent amylose content.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the development and filling of amyloplast in YY2640 caryopsis were better than those of NG9108, thus leading to better starch quality of YY2640.

Pickering emulsifiers based on hydrophobically modified small granular starches - Part I: Manufacturing and physico-chemical characterization

Small granular starches from rice, quinoa and amaranth were hydrophobized by esterification with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) in an aqueous alkaline slurry to obtain series of modified starches at defined intervals (i.e. 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, 3.0%). The physical and the physico-chemical properties of the starch particles were characterized by proximate analysis including protein level, amylose level and dry matter. The shape and size of the starch granules were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and light scattering. The gelatinization properties were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The degree of modification was determined by titration with NaOH. With regard to the emulsion formulation and in order to assess the emulsifying capacity of the small granular starches, the effect of starch type, degree of modification and starch concentration on the resulting emulsion droplet size were evaluated by light scattering and optical microscopy. Emulsifying properties were found to depend on the degree of substitution, size of the granules and the starch to oil ratio of the formulation. Quinoa starch granules, in general, had the best emulsifying capacity followed by amaranth and rice. However, in higher starch concentrations (>400mg/mL oil) and adequate levels of OSA (3.0%) amaranth performed best, having the smallest size of starches studied.

Lack of starch synthase IIIa and high expression of granule-bound starch synthase I synergistically increase the apparent amylose content in rice endosperm

Rice endosperm starch is composed of 0-30% linear amylose, which is entirely synthesized by granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI: encoded by Waxy, Wx). The remainder consists of branched amylopectin and is elongated by multiple starch synthases (SS) including SSI, IIa and IIIa. Typical japonica rice lacks active SSIIa and contains a low expressing Wx(b) causing a low amylose content (ca. 20%). WAB2-3 (SS3a/Wx(a)) lines generated by the introduction of a dominant indica Wx(a) into a japonica waxy mutant (SS3a/wx) exhibit elevated GBSSI and amylose content (ca. 25%). The japonica ss3a mutant (ss3a/Wx(b)) shows a high amylose content (ca. 30%), decreased long chains of amylopectin and increased GBSSI levels. To investigate the functional relationship between the ss3a and Wx(a) genes, the ss3a/Wx(a) line was generated by crossing ss3a/Wx(b) with SS3a/Wx(a), and the starch properties of this line were examined. The results show that the apparent amylose content of the ss3a/Wx(a) line was increased (41.3%) compared to the parental lines. However, the GBSSI quantity did not increase compared to the SS3a/Wx(a) line. The amylopectin branch structures were similar to the ss3a/Wx(b) mutant. Therefore, Wx(a) and ss3a synergistically increase the apparent amylose content in rice endosperm, and the possible reasons for this increase are discussed.

Effects of heat-moisture treatment on normal and waxy rice flours and production of thermoplastic flour materials

Different levels of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) were applied to normal and waxy rice flours. Changes in chemical composition and functional properties of both flours were investigated. It was found that HMT induced β-turn conformation of rice proteins. Levels of HMT and types of rice flour interactively influenced thermal properties and XRD patterns of flour. When heat-moisture treated flour was utilized for production of thermoplastic flour (TPF) materials, it was found that HMT improved continuity of injection molding, complete mold filling, and yielded homogenous TPF materials. HMT levels affected the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of TPF resin and materials differently. The ratio of HMT level to native flours was proposed for use not only for resin processing and injection molding, but also for improving mechanical and barrier properties of TPF materials.

Characteristics of pregelatinized ae mutant rice flours prepared by boiling after preroasting

As ae mutant rice, such as EM10, lacks the starch branching enzyme IIb, its amylopectin contains more long-chain glucans than that of ordinary Indica and Japonica rice grains. Although boiled grains of ae rice cultivars are too hard and nonsticky for table rice, they are promising in terms of biofunctionality, such as prevention of diabetes. The present paper investigates the characterization of a novel group of four ae mutant rice cultivars (EM72, EM145, EM174, and EM189). They were subjected to the evaluation for their main chemical components, physical properties, and enzyme activities at different grain conditions (raw milled rice, roasted rice, boiled rice, and rice boiled after preroasting). These mutant rice grains are characterized by high apparent amylose, high protein and high glucose contents, high pasting temperature, high α-amylase activities, high resistant starch, and low degree of gelatinization. A novel method was developed to maintain the high resistant starch contents of gelatinized rice grains. Rice boild after preroasting showed a higher ratio of resistant starch and a lower amount of glucose than ordinary boiled rice. It became possible to produce high-quality and biofunctional pregelatinized rice flours by boiling with frozen fruits, such as tomatoes, after rice grains had been preroasted. These ae mutants were found to be suitable materials for rice/fruit or rice/vegetable products to serve as palatable, low-glucose, and high resistant starch rice products.

Rice-Map: a new-generation rice genome browser

Background

The concurrent release of rice genome sequences for two subspecies (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica and Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) facilitates rice studies at the whole genome level. Since the advent of high-throughput analysis, huge amounts of functional genomics data have been delivered rapidly, making an integrated online genome browser indispensable for scientists to visualize and analyze these data. Based on next-generation web technologies and high-throughput experimental data, we have developed Rice-Map, a novel genome browser for researchers to navigate, analyze and annotate rice genome interactively.

Description

More than one hundred annotation tracks (81 for japonica and 82 for indica) have been compiled and loaded into Rice-Map. These pre-computed annotations cover gene models, transcript evidences, expression profiling, epigenetic modifications, inter-species and intra-species homologies, genetic markers and other genomic features. In addition to these pre-computed tracks, registered users can interactively add comments and research notes to Rice-Map as User-Defined Annotation entries. By smoothly scrolling, dragging and zooming, users can browse various genomic features simultaneously at multiple scales. On-the-fly analysis for selected entries could be performed through dedicated bioinformatic analysis platforms such as WebLab and Galaxy. Furthermore, a BioMart-powered data warehouse "Rice Mart" is offered for advanced users to fetch bulk datasets based on complex criteria.

Conclusions

Rice-Map delivers abundant up-to-date japonica and indica annotations, providing a valuable resource for both computational and bench biologists. Rice-Map is publicly accessible at http://www.ricemap.org/, with all data available for free downloading.

Preparation, nutritional composition, functional properties and antioxidant activities of multigrain composite mixes

Multigrain composite mixes were prepared from different cereals, legumes, millets, nuts along with condiments by different processes. Multigrain composite mixes had 10 to 12% moisture, 56 to 61% carbohydrate, 15 to 20% protein, 9 to 13% crude lipid and 2 to 3% ash. Energy value ranged from ~1600 to 1700 kJ/100 g. Among the vitamins studied, thiamine and riboflavin content varied from 0. 23 to 0.45 mg% and from 8.7 to 21.6 microgram% respectively. Dietary fibre was in the range of 12.4-16.5%. Swelling power of these mixes was about 10; however solubility varied from 17 to 22%. In-vitro Starch digestibility varied from 60 to 76%. Phytic acid content in these multigrain composite mixes varied from 0.6 to 0.8%. Poly-phenols ranged from 1.2 to 1.5%, DPPH free radical scavenging activity ranged from 75.2-86.2% and metal chelating activity ranged from 1.9 to 3.9%. Pasting profile by a Brabender Viscograph of these mixes indicated that they have cross linked starch type behaviour. These multigrain composite mixes can be used for the preparation of food formulations, savory products, pan cake, snacks preparation like muruku and chakli.