Physicochemical Properties of Bread Partially Substituted with Unripe Green Banana (Cavendish spp.) Flour

Fermented Unripe Banana Flour Utilization as a Functional Ingredient in Biscuits

To prevent losses before consumption due to the rapid ripening of bananas, turning unripe bananas into flour and using it in bakery products can both enhance the functional properties of the product and transform bananas into a high-value product. In this study, it is aimed to enhance the functional properties of banana flour through fermentation, thereby investigating its potential use in the production of healthy snack biscuits which are widely consumed, especially by children and busy people. Different proportions (0%, 15%, and 30%) of unripe banana flour (UBF) and fermented unripe banana flour (FUBF) were added to biscuits, evaluating their impact on physical (color, diameter, thickness, spread ratio), textural (hardness), and functional properties (total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, dietary fiber, glycemic index). The effect of FUBF on biscuit spread ratio compared to UBF was positive (p < 0.05). The addition of UBF or FUBF significantly increased total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (p < 0.05), with the highest TPC (1167.88 mg GAE/kg) observed in biscuits containing 30% FUBF (p < 0.05). Fermentation showed no significant effect on antioxidant activity of samples (p > 0.05). The glycemic index (GI) values were notably high across all samples, with the control at 78.59 and the 30% FUBF sample at 72.74 (p < 0.05), indicating all samples fell into the high GI food category. Biscuit hardness decreased significantly with UBF or FUBF addition (p < 0.05), while fermentation had no significant impact on hardness (p > 0.05). This study underscores the potential of UBF or FUBF to contribute to healthier snack options with improved functional characteristics.

The multifactorial phenomenon of enzymatic hydrolysis resistance in unripe banana flour and its starch: A concise review

Unripe banana flour starch possesses a high degree of resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, a unique and desirable property that could be exploited in the development of functional food products to regulate blood sugar levels and promote digestive health. However, due to a multifactorial phenomenon in the banana flour matrix-from the molecular to the micro level-there is no consensus regarding the complex mechanisms behind the slow enzymatic hydrolysis of unripe banana flour starch. This work therefore explores factors that influence the enzymatic hydrolysis resistance of raw and modified banana flour and its starch including the proportion and distribution of the amorphous and crystalline phases of the starch granules; granule morphology; amylose-amylopectin ratio; as well as the presence of nonstarch components such as proteins, lipids, and phenolic compounds. Our findings revealed that the relative contributions of these factors to banana starch hydrolytic resistance are apparently dependent on the native or processed state of the starch as well as the cultivar type. The interrelatability of these factors in ensuring amylolytic resistance of unripe banana flour starch was further highlighted as another reason for the multifactorial phenomenon. Knowledge of these factors and their contributions to enzymatic hydrolysis resistance individually and interconnectedly will provide insights into enhanced ways of extraction, processing, and utilization of unripe banana flour and its starch.

Characterization of green banana starch from "Songkibab" species cultivated in the southern part of Korea

Resistant starch (RS) has advantages for regulating the colon health as prebiotics and dietary fibers, and green banana has interested due to containing high amounts of RS. Here, the structural, physicochemical, and digestible characteristics of green banana starch from newly bred Songkibab (SB) were determined to evaluate its suitability for application as a new crop in response to global warming and for obtaining genetic diversity. SB starch has structural similarities to the Cavendish (CD) banana, which is widely consumed in Southeast Asia, in its ratio of B3-chains (in high amounts), flattened shapes of smooth surfaces, and B-type crystallinity. Physiochemically, SB shows comparable swelling power, amylose content, and viscosity pattern but a higher RS content. Conclusively, this study suggests that SB banana may be a good resource for replacing CD species with novel varieties in East Asia because of the high degree of similarity in the various characteristics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01331-z.

Perspective: Utilizing High Amylose Wheat Flour to Increase Dietary Fiber Intake of Children and Adolescents: A Health by Stealth Approach

Children and adolescents have consistently failed to meet recommended levels of dietary fiber consumption, thus making fiber a nutrient of concern. The importance of adequate dietary fiber intake to attain a healthy diet necessitates the identification of fiber-rich and readily consumed food sources by youth. Grain-based foods derived from whole grains represent a strategic initiative to increase dietary fiber consumption and is consistent with the American diet pattern. Increased intake of foods made from whole grains have been positively associated with improved health outcomes but are also less preferred among youth compared to refined grain products, which make up the majority of their carbohydrate intake. Advances in the commercialization and availability of high amylose wheat flour, a source of resistant starch fiber, provides an opportunity to remedy the suggested acceptability issues of whole grain products indicative of sensory factors, without compromising the amount of fiber ingested. Resistant starch fiber consumption has been associated with health benefits including improved blood sugar management, improved markers of digestive and gut health, increased satiety, and a reduced inflammatory response among adults. The limited studies that indicate fiber's direct benefit among youth are largely observational, thereby necessitating the need for more controlled trials for these age groups. Replacing traditional refined wheat flour with refined high amylose wheat flour has the unique ability to increase dietary fiber consumption without compromising desired sensory and finished product characteristics and thus can help increase dietary fiber consumption in children and adolescents who struggle to meet adequate intakes of fiber.