18E-26 |
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A. SRICHAMROEN1, T. Vasanthan, B. Ooraikul, and T. K. Basu. (1) Dept. of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, Univ. of Alberta, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) has been one of the major crops cultivated in Southern Alberta of Canada. Fenugreek seed contains galactomannan, a polysaccharide which accounts for 30-50% of its dry seed. Galactomannan is known to exert beneficial health effects, especially in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic animals and humans, and thus increased attention has been given to the development of the method of extraction and purification of this polysaccharide. The objective of the present study was to develop a method of isolation of galactomannan applicable to the industrial production of this compound. Two experiments were undertaken. In the first experiment, a sample of ground whole seeds delipidated with hexane was stirred with 40 volumes of water to obtain the extract containing protein and galactomannan. After deproteinization of the extract with sodium hydroxide, galactomannan fraction was obtained by ethanol precipitation. In the second experiment, ground whole seeds were separated into two fractions: fraction A (seed coat/aleurone/endosperm) and fraction B (cotyledon/axis) with high and low galactomannan contents, respectively. Galactomannan was isolated from each fraction by stirring with 40 volumes of water. No delipidation or deproteinization procedures were required in this experiment. A high purity (>90%) galactomannan was isolated from either the whole seed (experiment 1) or fraction A of the whole seed (experiment 2). However, the yield of galactomannan was three fold higher (p<0.05) in the experiment 2 (48%) than in experiment 1 (16%). These results suggested that the fraction A should be used as a starting material for the isolation of galactomannan. This limits the need for chemical treatments that, in turn, can contribute to a product manufactured using an environmentally friendly and cost effective process.
Session 18E, Nutraceutical & Functional Foods: General I
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |