Veda Krishnan

By Veda Krishnan, Monika Awana, Debarati Mondal, Piyush Verma, Archana Singh and Shelly Praveen

Limiting starch bioavailability by modifying food matrix dynamics has evolved over the decade, which further envisions low glycemic starch prototypes to tackle chronic hyperglycemia. The dense matrix of whole grain foods like millets and cereals act as a suitable model to understand the dynamics of binary food matrix interactions between starch-lipid, starch-protein & starch-fiber. The state and types of matrix component (lipid/protein/fiber) which interact at various scales alters the starch micro configuration and limits the digestibility, but the mechanism is largely been ignored. Various in-vitro and in-vivo studies have deciphered the varied dimensions of physical interactions through depletion or augmentation studies to correlate towards a natural matrix and its low glycemic nature. The current chapter briefly encompasses the concept of food matrix types and binary interactions in mediating the glycemic amplitude of starch. We comprehensively elaborated and conceptually explained various approaches, which investigated the role of food matrices as complex real food systems or as fundamental approaches to defining the mechanisms. It’s a fact that multiple food matrix interaction studies at a time are difficult but it’s critical to understand the molecular interaction of matrix components to correlate in-vivo processes, which will assist in designing novel food prototypes in the future.

Part of the book: Starch

By Sweta Kumari, Swati Manohar, Priyanjali Kumari, Veda Krishnan, Chirag Maheshwari, Sneh Narwal, Om Prakash Gupta, Vinutha T. Gowda, Navita Bansal and Anil Dahuja

The naturally occurring phenolic compounds have received major attention in recent years as huge amounts of phenolic compounds can be extracted from fruits, vegetables and beverages that have substantial health benefits. From a physiological and metabolic aspect, phenolic compounds are vital in defence responses, such as anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative, anti-bacterial, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective activities. Among the fruits having a higher content of phenolic compounds, the apple (Malus Domestica) is the most widely consumed fruit in the world. Apples have a high nutritional value as it is a rich source of ascorbic acid, polyphenols and pectin. Apple peel forms a small percentage (6–8%) of the total fruit weight and contains the highest content of phenolic compounds, particularly chlorogenic acid. There are five major groups of polyphenolic compounds found in apples namely flavanols (Catechin, Epicatechin and Pyrocyanidins), phenolic compounds, phenolic acids (mainly Chlorogenic acids), dihydrochalcones (Phloretin glycosides), flavonols (Quercetin glycosides) and anthocyanins (Cyanidin). This chapter reviews the chemical properties, mode of action, types, extraction of phenolics in apples and the contribution and role of major phenolics in apples to the total antioxidant capacity.

Part of the book: Apple Cultivation

By Kalpana Tewari, Mahipal Singh Kesawat, Vinod Kumar, Chirag Maheshwari, Veda Krishnan, Sneh Narwal, Sweta Kumari, Anil Dahuja, Santosh Kumar and Swati Manohar

Soybean has the potential to be termed the “crop of the future” due to its significant capacity to address protein-energy malnutrition and hidden hunger, particularly in developing countries where diets are predominantly based on wheat and rice. Despite its substantial nutritional value, numerous health benefits, and its versatility in various food and industrial applications, soybean’s full potential remains underutilized due to inherent off-flavors and the presence of antinutritional factors (ANFs). Gamma irradiation is known to have a positive impact by inducing structural and chemical changes in biomolecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and other phytochemicals. This process leads to improved functionality and market demand by reducing ANFs and the off-flavor in soybeans. Scientifically, it has been demonstrated that low to moderate doses of gamma radiation, up to 10 kGy, can positively influence the antioxidant capacity of soybeans. This, in turn, helps control lipid and protein oxidation, reducing the generation of off-flavors and enhancing the quality and nutraceutical potential of soybeans.

Part of the book: Gamma Rays - Current Insights