Although the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) accounts for slightly over half of total world mushroom production, specialty mushrooms, e.g., shiitake (Lentinula edodes), straw (Volvariella volvacea), oyster (Pleurotus spp.), and enokitake (Flammulina velutipes), are increasing in popularity. These species contain moderate quantities of good quality protein and are good sources of dietary fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, and minerals. Lipid levels are low, but unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios are high (about 2.0 – 4.5:1). Some species (e.g., shiitake) accumulate cadmium and selenium and other heavy metals, and some may contain toxic substances such as the heat labile cardiotoxic proteins volvatoxin in the straw mushroom and flammutoxin in enokitake. Extensive clinical studies, primarily in Japan, have clearly demonstrated that a number of species have medicinal and therapeutic value, by injection or oral administration, in the prevention/treatment of cancer, viral diseases (influenza, polio), hypercholesterolemia, blood platelet aggregation, and hypertension. Most of the studies have focused on shiitake, enokitake, Pleurotus spp., and on the generally nonculinary Ganoderma spp. Many of the active substances which include polysaccharides (e.g., β-glucans), nucleic acid derivatives (the hypocholesterolemic eritadenine), lipids, peptides, proteins, and glycoproteins, have been isolated and identified. Some of the mechanisms of activity have been elucidated, e.g., antiviral activity via stimulation of interferon production in the host. Additional medical claims less well documented may nonetheless have some validity and merit further study.

Fatty acid profiles (FAP), tocopherol (T), and tocotrienol (T3) contents, total lipid contents, and trypsin inhibitor activity were quantitated from thirteen accessions of camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz), a little-known oilseed. Camelina seeds of ten accessions were also assayed for/~-glucans. FAP (%) of camelina oils were: oleic (14.1 to 19.5), linoleic (18.8 to 24.0), linolenic (27.0 to 34.7), eicosenoic (12.0 to 14.9), erucic (0.0 to 4.0), all others (11.8 to 17.4). Camelina oil T and T3 contents (mg/100 g) were: aT (0.66 to 2.38), I~T (0.38 to 1.45), 7T/I~T3 (4.37 to 18.68), ST (0.00 to 0.48), 0~T3 (0.00 to 0.79), 7T3 (0.00), 7]-3 (0.00). Total tocols were higher in camelina than in canola, crambe, flax, soybean, and sunflower, with yT/gT3 constituting 82% of total tocols. The oil content of camelina seeds ranged from 29.9 to 38.3%. Camelina seeds did not contain [g-glucans. Trypsin units inhibited ranged from 12 to 28 compared to 111 for raw soybean.JAOCS 72, 309-315 (1995).

No abstract

Although the Texturometer was used in establishing the GF objective Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) of foods, it has been largely supplanted by the Instron. The Instron GF TPA parameters have been determined for the most part by the original Texturometer procedures. Some workers have chosen to measure only one or several of the GF TPA parameters; others have added new ones. Changes proposed to make parameter names more descriptive have not been universally adopted. Testing conditions (crosshead and chart speed, % deformation, etc.) have varied considerably and have often been poorly described. Multiple point non‐GF TPA has been performed on foods using homemade as well as commercial instruments, e.g., Instron, Ottawa Texture Measuring System. Major shortcomings of studies involving TPA include poor experimental design, absence or improper use of statistical analysis and incomplete description of experimental materials and testing conditions. Despite certain shortcomings, TPA (GF or non‐GF) via interpretation of stress‐strain curves is, and will continue to be, extremely useful in evaluating the textural quality of foods, particularly when parameters can be correlated with sensory assessments.

A mini-process is described for making tofu from 50-g quantities of soybeans. It was used to compare yield and quality among 5 Minnesota grown varieties (Vinton, Corsoy, Hardin, Stine 2510, Stine 2810) and to determine optimum concentration of the coagulant, CaS04. Product yield (wet basis), solids recovery, protein recovery and textural aualitv (Texture Profile Analvsis hardness and fracturabilitv) were optimal at-O:02 N CaS04 for afi 5 varieties. Negative correlations were found between CaSO., concentration and both yield (r = -0.90 to 1.00) and protein recovery (r = -0.96 to 1.00) for all varieties.