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In this study, a beverage made from a combination of Agave sap (AS) and prickly pear juice (PPJ) was analyzed for its nutrients and bioactive and potentially health-promoting compounds. The beverage was evaluated for its ability to act as an antioxidant, regulate glycemic properties, and undergo gut bacterial fermentation in vitro. The major mono- and oligosaccharides present in the beverage were galacturonic acid (217.74 ± 13.46 mg/100 mL), rhamnose (227.00 ± 1.58 mg/100 mL), and fructose (158.16 ± 8.86 mg/mL). The main phenolic compounds identified were protocatechuic acid (440.31 ± 3.06 mg/100 mL) and catechin (359.72 ± 7.56 mg/100 mL). It was observed that the beverage had a low glycemic index (<40) and could inhibit digestive carbohydrases. The combination of ingredients also helped to reduce gas production during AS fermentation from 56.77 cm3 to 15.67 cm3. The major SCFAs produced during fermentation were butyrate, acetate, and propionate, with valerate being produced only during the late fermentation of the AS. This beverage is rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and dietary fiber, which will bring health benefits when consumed.

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Agavins are reserve carbohydrates found in agave plants; they present texture-modifying properties and prebiotic capacity by increasing the viability of the intestinal microbiota. Through its hydrolysis, agave syrup (AS) can be obtained and can be used as a sweetener in food matrices. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the variation in the content of agavins and AS on the physical, structural, and viability properties of Saccharomyces boulardii encapsulates incorporated into gelatin gummies. An RSM was used to obtain an optimized formulation of gelatin gummies. The properties of the gel in the gummy were characterized by a texture profile analysis and Aw. The humidity and sugar content were determined. A sucrose gummy was used as a control for the variable ranges. Alginate microcapsules containing S. boulardii were added to the optimized gummy formulation to obtain a synbiotic gummy. The viability of S. boulardii and changes in the structure of the alginate gel of the microcapsules in the synbiotic gummy were evaluated for 24 days by image digital analysis (IDA). The agavins and agave syrup significantly affected the texture properties (<1 N) and the Aw (>0.85). The IDA showed a change in the gel network and an increase in viability by confocal microscopy from day 18. The number of pores in the gel increased, but their size decreased with an increase in the number of S. boulardii cells. Agavins and cells alter the structure of capsules in gummies without affecting their viability.

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Irritable bowel syndrome displays three different subtypes: constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), and mixed (IBS-M). Treatment with dietary fiber is used, with consideration given both to the chemical composition of the fiber and to the different subtypes of IBS. The IBS-D subtype is usually treated with a low-FODMAPs diet, whereas the IBS-C subtype suggests prebiotics and probiotics to promote microbiota restoration. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of employing agave fructans as the soluble fiber of a jelly (Gelyfun®gastro) containing 8 g per serving in the IBS-C group (n = 50), using a randomized, double-blind, time-limited trial for four weeks. We evaluated changes in the frequency and types of bowel movements through the Bristol scale, and the improvement of the condition was evaluated using quality of life (IBS-QOL) and anxiety-depression (HADS) scales. The main results were that the number of bowel movements increased by more than 80%, with at least one stool per day from fifteen days onwards, without a laxative effect for the group treated. Finally, the quality of life with the prebiotic jelly was significantly improved compared to the placebo in all specific domains, in addition to significantly reducing anxiety and depression.

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In this study, the resistant starch (RS) formation, crystallinity, and double helical order of autoclaved (120 °C) normal (ANS) and high amylose (AHS) corn starches retrograded at ~4-26% of water content were investigated. ANS and AHS retrograded at ~25-26% of water content were more crystalline (~35-40%) and formed by more close-packed double helices (R1000/1022 cm-1 = 1.145-1.290). The highest content of RS (38.8%) was found in AHS retrograded at 25.52% of water content meanwhile in ANS, the maximum content of RS was 6.6% at 21.60% of water content despite its structural order was increased with the increase of water content. The recrystallization of amylopectin interfered with the formation of homogeneous crystalline structures of amylose preventing the formation of retrograded RS in ANS, while in AHS, a relationship between structure and RS formation was observed, suggesting that the close-packed double helices and the proportion of homogeneous amylose crystallites increased the resistance to enzymatic digestion.

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Soluble or fermentable fibre has prebiotic effects that can be used in the food industry to modify the composition of microbiota species to benefit human health. Prebiotics mostly target Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains, among others, which can fight against chronic diseases since colonic fermentation produces short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present work studied the changes produced in the fibre and polyphenolic compounds during in vitro digestion of gel (AV) and a polysaccharide extract (AP) from Aloe vera, after which, these fractions were subjected to in vitro colonic fermentation to evaluate the changes in antioxidant capacity and SCFAs production during the fermentation. The results showed that the phenolic compounds increased during digestion, but were reduced in fermentation, as a consequence, the antioxidant activity increased significantly in AV and AP after the digestion. On the other hand, during in vitro colon fermentation, the unfermented fibre of AV and AP responded as lactulose and the total volume of gas produced, which indicates the possible use of Aloe vera and polysaccharide extract as prebiotics.

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Cookies are one of the most consumed bakery products and the formulation could be modified to consider them as a functional food. The high amylose maize starch (HAMS) is considered as resistant starch (RS) type 2. The objective of this work was to assess the starch fractions, texture, sensory properties and acceptability of wheat flour cookies added with HAMS at different percentages. Adding 15% of HAMS into the formulation increased the amount of RS from 2.3 to 12.8%. In sensory analysis, children and adults showed a good acceptability of cookies since the addition of HAMS did not result in significant changes in flavor or color. Cookies made with HAMS could be considered as functional foods since they had an acceptable texture and low caloric content.

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La florifagia, que es el consumo de flores como alimento es una práctica que, aunque no es nueva no estaba muy difundida entre los consumidores hasta hace algunas décadas. Las flores comestibles contribuyen al mejoramiento de la estética de los alimentos además, aportan sustancias biológicamente activas como vitaminas A, C, riboflavina, niacina, minerales como calcio, fósforo, hierro y potasio beneficiando la salud de quien las consume. Esta revisión incluye algunos ejemplos de flores comestibles como las rosas, violetas y capuchinas entre otras, sus usos y aplicaciones como alimento, sus características organolépticas y valor nutrimental por las cuales pueden considerarse un alimento funcional. No todas las flores pueden consumirse como alimento hay otro grupo de flores que pueden resultar tóxicas e incluso su ingesta puede ser mortal. Un factor importante que afecta la calidad de las flores es la forma en la que se conservan la cual repercute en sus características sensoriales y nutrimentales. Finalmente aunque el consumo de flores como alimento es una práctica antigua hay poca reglamentación es necesario realizar mayor investigación sobre su análisis químico y nutrimental que promueva su inclusión en la dieta ya que pueden ser una fuente alimenticia con un alto valor nutrimental y funcional.

The floriphagia that is the consumption of flowers as a food, is an old practice not widespread among consumers until some decades ago. Edible flowers contribute to increasing the appearance of food. They can provide biologically active substances including vitamin A, C, riboflavins, niacin, minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and potassium that are eventually beneficial to consumers’ health. This review includes some examples of edible flowers including roses, violets and nasturtium among others, uses and applications, sensorial characteristics and nutritional values that lead them to be considered as functional food. An important factor that affects the quality of edible flowers is the form in which they are preserved since it may affect their sensorial and nutritional characteristics. However, not all flowers can be eaten as food since there are some of them that can be toxic or even mortal. Finally, although the consumption of flowers is an ancient practice, there is little regulation in this regard. Of the review on edible flowers, it is concluded that there are still numerous aspects about them to evaluate such as nutritional and functional characteristics, conservation and regulation with the aim to extend its consumption.

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The floriphagia that is the consumption of flowers as a food, is an old practice not widespread among consumers until some decades ago. Edible flowers contribute to increasing the appearance of food. They can provide biologically active substances including vitamin A, C, riboflavins, niacin, minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and potassium that are eventually beneficial to consumers' health. This review includes some examples of edible flowers including roses, violets and nasturtium among others, uses and applications, sensorial characteristics and nutritional values that lead them to be considered as functional food: An important factor that affects the quality of edible flowers is the form in which they are preserved since it may affect their sensorial and nutritional characteristics. However, not all flowers can be eaten as food since there are some of them that can be toxic or even mortal. Finally, although the consumption of flowers is an ancient practice, there is little regulation in this regard. Of the review on edible flowers, it is concluded that there are still numerous aspects about them to evaluate such as nutritional and functional characteristics, conservation and regulation with the aim to extend its consumption.

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Banana starch was chemically modified using single (esterification or cross-linking) and dual modification (esterification-cross-linking and cross-linking-esterification), with the objective to increase the slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) concentrations. Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility were analyzed. The degree of substitution of the esterified samples ranged from 0.006 to 0.020. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the modified samples did not show change; however, an increase in crystallinity level was determined (from 23.79 to 32.76%). The ungelatinized samples had low rapidly digestible starch (RDS) (4.23-9.19%), whereas the modified starches showed an increase in SDS (from 10.79 to 16.79%) and had high RS content (74.07-85.07%). In the cooked samples, the esterified starch increased the SDS content (21.32%), followed by cross-linked starch (15.13%). Dual modified starch (cross-linked-esterified) had the lowest SDS content, but the highest RS amount. The esterified and cross-linked-esterified samples had higher peak viscosity than cross-linked and esterified-cross-linked. This characteristic is due to the fact that in dual modification, the groups introduced in the first modification are replaced by the functional group of the second modification. Temperature and enthalpy of gelatinization decreased in modified starches (from 75.37 to 74.02 °C and from 10.42 to 8.68 J/g, respectively), compared with their unmodified starch (76.15 °C and 11.05 J/g). Cross-linked-esterified starch showed the lowest enthalpy of gelatinization (8.68 J/g). Retrogradation temperature decreased in modified starches compared with unmodified (59.04-57.47 °C), but no significant differences were found among the modified samples.

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Growing and cooking conditions influence the quality and nutritional value of beans. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cooking on digestibility and physicochemical properties of two varieties of bean grown under different water regimes. Black 8025 and Pinto Durango varieties were grown in irrigated and temporal (rain fed) conditions in two locations of Guanajuato, Mexico. The pasting profiles of the cooked beans showed a significant decrease in viscosity. The enthalpy of the raw and cooked beans ranged from 2.75 to 3.95 and 0.62 to 0.97J/g, respectively. The percentage of rapidly digestible starch and slowly digestible starch increased, while the percentage of resistant starch was lower in cooked samples. Black 8025 beans had lower glycemic index than Pinto Durango, but no significant difference (P<0.05) was noted between water regimes. The variety of bean had a more pronounced effect on digestibility properties than the water regime.