ISSN: 2471-9315
Ogodo AC, Ugbogu OC and Onyeagba RA
The functional properties of soybean flour fermented with lactic acid (LAB)-consortium was evaluated. Soybean was processed into flour, fermented spontaneously and with LAB-consortium previously isolated from maize (Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1+Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, ATCC 53/03+Lactobacillus nantensis LP33+Lactobacillus fermentum CIP 102980+Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016) and sorghum (Pediococcus acidilactici DSM 20284+Lactobacillus fermentum CIP 102980+Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869+Lactobacillus nantensis LP33+Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1) to evaluate their effects on the functional properties of the flour at 12 h intervals using standard techniques. The result shows gradual decrease in bulk density with increasing fermentation period ranging from 0.74 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.72 ± 0.03 g/mL (natural), from 0.74 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.70 ± 0.02 g/mL (LAB-consortium from maize) and from 0.74 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.70 ± 0.02 g/mL (LAB-consortium from sorghum) fermentation. The swelling capacity decreased from 0.77 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.64 ± 0.01 g/mL, from 0.77 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.59 ± 0.01 g/mL and from 0.77 ± 0.03 g/mL to 0.61 ± 0.03 g/mL in natural, LAB-consortium from maize and sorghum fermentations respectively. Water holding capacity decreased from 2.4 ± 0.03 mL/g to 1.9 ± 0.03 mL/g, from 2.4 ± 0.03 mL/g to 2.0 ± 0.03 mL/g and from 2.4 ± 0.03 mL/g to 1.9 ± 0.03 mL/g in natural, LAB-consortium from maize and sorghum fermentation respectively. Oil holding capacity increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing fermentation time, ranging traditional bread and 0.62-0.69 g/mL reported by Igbabul et al. on
fermented mahogany beansfrom 8.92 ± 0.02 mL/g to 9.30 ± 0.03 mL/g (natural), 8.92 ± 0.01 mL/g to 9.63 ± 0.03 mL/g (LAB-consortium from maize) and from 8.92 ± 0.03 mL/g to 9.69 ± 0.03 mL/g (LAB-consortium from sorghum) fermentations. The least gelation concentration ranged from 3.0% (unfermented) to 6.0% (other fermentation products). Emulsion capacity (EC) increased from 35.88 ± 3.12% to 44.33 ± 1.33%, from 35.88 ± 3.12% to 46.83 ± 3.18% and from 35.88 ± 3.12 % to 45.99 ± 2.21% in natural, LAB-consortium from maize and sorghum fermentations respectively. This suggests the potentials of LAB-consortia fermentation in improving nutritional and functional properties of soybean flour.