Long-term fungal inhibitory activity of water-soluble extract from Amaranthus spp. seeds during storage of gluten-free and wheat flour breads

Int J Food Microbiol. 2009 May 31;131(2-3):189-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2009.02.025. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the use of the water-soluble extract of amaranth seeds for extending the shelf-life of gluten-free and wheat flour breads. The antifungal activity of the amaranth water-soluble extract was shown by agar diffusion, conidia germination and dry biomass assays, using Penicillium roqueforti DPPMAF1 as the indicator fungus. The crude water-soluble extract had minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 mg of peptides/ml and showed inhibition towards a large number of fungal species isolated from bakeries. Four novel antifungal peptides, encrypted in amaranth agglutinin sequences, were identified from the water-soluble extract by nano-Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation-Mass Spectra/Mass Spectra (nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS). The water-soluble extract of amaranth was used as an ingredient for the manufacture of gluten-free and wheat flour breads and the inhibitory activity was confirmed during long-term shelf-life under pilot plant conditions. The effect of the water-soluble extract on gluten-free bread rheology and sensory properties was also shown.

MeSH terms

  • Amaranthus*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bread / microbiology*
  • Flour
  • Food Handling
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Food Preservation
  • Glutens
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Penicillium / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Seeds
  • Triticum*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Proteins
  • Glutens