Effect of selected physical and chemical modifications on physicochemical, pasting, and morphological properties of underutilized starch from rice bean (Vigna umbellata).

Abstract

Starch was extracted from the rice bean which is largely underutilized and modified by physical (i.e. heat moisture treatment and retrogradation) and chemical (i.e. esterification and acid alcohol modification) methods. Both, physical and chemical modifications significantly (p < 0.05) affected the physicochemical, pasting, particle size and morphological properties of rice bean starch. Both amylose content and swelling power reduced after physical and chemical modifications. Among modified starches, retrograded starch showed higher solubility (8.56%) at 90 °C. Retrogradation also resulted in higher values of water (251%) and oil absorption (106%) capacities in comparison to other modified starches. Physical modifications greatly influenced the pasting properties in comparison to chemical modifications. The particle size distribution followed the order: native starch (659.8 nm) > heat moisture treated (434.3 nm) > retrograded (355.4 nm) > esterified (218 nm) > acid alcohol treated starch (234.5 nm). The study revealed that the particle size of rice bean starch was reduced by both physical and chemical modifications. FE-Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphological characteristics of starches and it was observed that retrogradation had a pronounced effect on the starch granules morphology.