Browsing by Subject "Exopolysaccharides"

Wheat bran is obtained after conventional milling of wheat grains for the production of white flour, which is an important source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, but still remains underutilized in food manufacturing. In spite of the increasing evidence about the health effects of whole-meal and fiber-rich foods, refined white flour is still preferred. Bran also has a negative influence on dough rheology, texture and the sensory quality of bread, which limits its use in bran bread baking. The use of starter culture for sourdough fermentation can drive the fermentation process and confer specific changes on the matrix. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important due to their physicochemical properties affecting dough rheology and bread texture, as well as their health-promoting potential. The screening of EPS-producing strains has been carried out mostly on wheat and rye sourdough, and very few studies have considered different matrices. The objective of this work was to determine and compare whole-wheat flour and wheat bran fermentation by two strains of LAB (Leuconostoc spp. and Weissella spp.) in the presence of added sucrose and without, and to study the effect of sourdough obtained with a selected EPS-producing LAB strain on the quality of bread and its shelf-life. Sourdough quality was studied by means of microbiological, rheological and chemical analysis by comparing the growth and acidification performance in the different matrices, and by evaluating EPS production using viscosity measurements. The physical and mechanical properties of fresh bread made using the best EPS producer LAB were investigated to study the product shelf-life by using the seed replacement method and texture analysis test. The results showed that dough prepared with Weissella confusa with added sucrose had a positive impact on viscosity, as well as providing mild acidic sourdough leading to better bread quality properties, whereas in the presence of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, no positive viscosity has observed in whole-wheat sourdough. Bran sourdough samples with Weissella confusa showed a higher volume, better color and shelf-life during storage than samples with un-soured bran, confirming the effect of sourdough and the positive role of EPS on the functional properties of high-fiber bread making.