Okoye Ngozi Franca
Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The functional properties of four cucurbits grown in Nigeria namely, snake tomato Trichosanthes cucumerina, cucumber Cucumis sativus, pumpkins Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata were investigated. The effects of pH and NaCl concentrations on some of these functional properties were also determined. The highest water absorption capacity was observed in Cucurbita pepo (4.80 g/g) and Trichosanthes cucumerina as lowest (1.80 g/g). Similarly, Cucrubita pepo had the highest oil absorption capacity (1.10 g/g) and Trichosanthes cucumerina had the least (0.17 g/g). The samples had good gelation capacity. Cucurbita pepo gave the highest gelation at (6.67%) and Trichosanthes cucumerina gave the least at (12.67%). Cucumis sativus showed the highest emulsification capacity (6.5 g/g) and Trichosanthes cucumerina, the lowest at (4.2 g/g). NaCl and pH influenced the emulsification capacity. The samples did not show any remarkable percentage volume increase in the foaming capacity and pH and NaCl did not influence the foaming capacity. The sample showed that they could be utilized in the formulation of new foods.
PDF References
How to cite this article
Okoye Ngozi Franca, 2012. Functional Properties of Four Cucurbits Found in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 11: 507-510.
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2012.507.510
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjn.2012.507.510
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2012.507.510
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjn.2012.507.510
REFERENCES
- Abbey, B.W. and G.O. Ibeh, 1987. Functional-properties of raw and heat processed brown bean (Canavalia rosea DC) Flour. J. Food Sci., 52: 406-408.
CrossRefDirect Link - Abbey, B.W. and G.O. Ibeh, 1988. Functional properties of raw and heat processed cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, Walp) flour. J. Food Sci., 53: 1775-1777.
CrossRefDirect Link - Achu, B.M., E. Fokou, C. Tchiegang, M. Fotso and F.M. Tchouanguep, 2005. Nutritive value of some Cucurbitaceae oil seeds from different regions in Cameroon. Afr. J. Biotechnol., 4: 1329-1334.
Direct Link - Beuchat, L.R., 1977. Functional and electrophoretic characteristics of succinylated peanut flour protein. J. Agric. Food Chem., 25: 258-261.
CrossRef - Sew, C.C., N.A.M. Zaini, F. Anwar, A.A. Hamid and N. Saari, 2010. Nutritional composition and oil fatty acids of kundur [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.] seed. Pak. J. Bot., 42: 3247-3255.
Direct Link - Coffmann, C.W. and V.V. Garcia, 1977. Functional properties and amino acid content of a protein isolate from mung bean flour. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 12: 473-484.
CrossRefDirect Link - Dahlgren, R.M.T., 1980. A revised system of classification of the angiosperm. Bot. J. Linn. Soc., 80: 91-124.
CrossRef - Del Rosario, R.R. and D.M. Flores, 1981. Functional properties of four types of mung bean flour. J. Sci. Food Agric., 32: 175-180.
CrossRefDirect Link - Lin, M.J.Y., E.S. Humbert and F.W. Sosulski, 1974. Certain functional properties of sunflower meal products. J. Food Sci., 39: 368-370.
CrossRef - Mariod, A.A., Y.M. Ahmed, B. Matthaus, G. Khaleel, A. Siddig, A.M. Gabra and S.I. Abdelwahab, 2009. A comparative study of the properties of six sudanese cucurbit seeds and seed oils. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 86: 1181-1188.
CrossRefDirect Link - Milani, E., M. Seyed, A. Razavi, A. Koocheki and V. Nikzadeh et al., 2007. Moisture dependent physical properties of cucurbit seeds. Int. Agrophys., 21: 157-168.
Direct Link - Okigbo, B.N., 1975. Neglected plants of horticultural and nutritional importance in traditional farming systems of tropical Africa. Acta Hortic., 53: 131-150.
Direct Link - Okoli, B.E., 1984. Wild and cultivated cucurbits in Nigeria. J. Econ. Bot., 38: 350-357.
CrossRefDirect Link - Paksoy, M. and C. Aydin, 2004. Some physical properties of edible squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds. J. Food Eng., 65: 225-231.
CrossRefDirect Link - Sosulski, F.W., M.D. Garratt and A.E. Slinkard, 1976. Functional properties of ten legume flours. Can. Inst. Food Sci. Technol. J., 9: 66-69.
CrossRefDirect Link - Idouraine, A., E.A. Kohlhepp, C.W. Weber, A. Warid and J.J. Martinez-Tellez, 1996. Nutrient constituents from eight lines of naked seed squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). J. Agric. Food Chem., 44: 721-724.
CrossRefDirect Link