Functional properties, amino acid compositions, in vitro protein digestibility, electrophoretic and thermal characteristics of conophor defatted flour (CDF), conophor protein concentrate (CPC), isoelectric protein isolate (CII) and neutral protein isolate (CNI) were evaluated. The isolates (CII and CNI) showed significantly lower (P < 0.05) water and oil absorption capacities, emulsifying and gelling capacities, but higher emulsion stability and foaming capacity. In vitro protein digestibility, enthalpy and denaturation temperature varied between 52.28% and 73.4%, 1.62-4.04 J g )1 protein and 79.7-89.3°C, respectively. The native proteins were comprised of subunits with molecular weights ranging between 15.3 and 129.3 kDa. The major amino acids in all the samples were aspartic acid, glutamic acid and arginine, whereas the percentages of essential amino acids in CDF, CPC, CII and CNI were 39.35%, 40.46%, 44.54% and 46.04%, respectively. Conophor protein products could be used as functional ingredients in food formulations and for enriching low quality protein diets.

The study investigated the effect of supplementation of the leaf powders of Telfairia occidentalis, Amaranthus viridis, and Solanum macrocarpon on the chemical composition and the quality characteristics of wheat bread. The bread samples were supplemented with each of the vegetable leaf powders at 1%, 2%, and 3% during preparation. The bread samples were assayed for proximate composition, mineral composition, physical, sensory, and antioxidant properties using standard methods. The addition of vegetable powders significantly increased the protein (9.50 to 13.93%), fibre (1.81 to 4.00%), ash (1.05 to 2.38%), and fat (1.27 to 2.00%). Supplementation with vegetable powder however significantly decreased ( < 0.05) the carbohydrate and moisture contents. Significant ( < 0.05) increases were recorded for all evaluated minerals as the level of vegetable powder increased. Supplementation with vegetable powder caused significant decrease in total phenolic content, percentage DPPH inhibition, metal chelating ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and total antioxidant capacity. Sensory results showed that there was significant decrease in sensory qualities with increasing supplementation. This therefore suggests that bread supplemented with vegetable powder could have more market penetration if awareness is highly created.

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This work evaluated the impacts of pH and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration on some functional properties, in vitro protein digestibility, and amino acid profile of sesame (Sesamum indicum) protein isolate (SPI) produced using simultaneous recovery of protein and oil technique. The emulsion activity index (EAI), foam capacity (FC), and protein solubility varied with pH and ionic ability. Foam capacity rose with an increase in ionic strength. Protein solubility ranged from 8.39% at pH 4 to 55.08% at pH 10. In vitro protein digestibility of the SPI with pepsin–pancreatin enzyme systems was 89.57%. Amino acid profile showed that essential amino acids constituted 39.48%. The amino acids had good scores well above 50%. The results showed that SPI extracted by aqueous technique could be used as food ingredient, particularly as thickener, binder, and ingredient in baked food products.