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. 2022 Nov 24;11(23):3785.
doi: 10.3390/foods11233785.

Enhanced Functionality and Bio-Accessibility of Composite Pomegranate Peel Extract-Enriched "Boba Balls"

Ayse Neslihan Dundar  1 , Kubra Uzuner  1 , Mahmud Ekrem Parlak  1 , Oya Irmak Sahin  2 , Furkan Turker Saricaoglu  1 , Senay Simsek  3
Affiliations

Enhanced Functionality and Bio-Accessibility of Composite Pomegranate Peel Extract-Enriched "Boba Balls"

Ayse Neslihan Dundar et al. Foods. .

Abstract

“Boba balls” or pearls have recently gained popularity for beverages or food toppings. “Boba balls” could be developed into functional foods by the encapsulation of bioactive compounds. In this study, gelatin/sodium alginate composite “Boba balls” enriched with pomegranate peel extract (PPE) at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3%) were prepared. They were characterized in terms of physical, rheological, textural, morphological, and sensory properties, as well as in vitro digestion, bio-accessibility, and release kinetic of PPE. Adding PPE improved the “Boba” mix’s viscoelasticity and decreased the “Boba balls”’ hardness. The increasing PPE ratio significantly (p < 0.05) increased the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. The addition of PPE preserved the spherical shape of the “Boba balls”, and as the PPE ratio increased, new junction zones were observed in SEM images. The in vitro digestibility of PPE was significantly (p < 0.05) improved by preserving PPE from the mouth and gastric medium, and “Boba balls” showed the highest release and bio-accessibility in the intestinal medium. Consequently, PPE as a by-product could be successfully used at 2% concentration for enhancing the functionality and bio-accessibility of “Boba balls” without affecting sensory properties.

Keywords: Boba; alginate beads; in vitro digestion; pomegranate peel extract; release kinetic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The schematic illustration of “Boba balls” production enriched with pomegranate peel extract (PPE).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) concentration on the storage (G′) and loss (G″) modulus of gelatin/sodium alginate composite solutions during heating and cooling process. (C: Control, without PPE; PPE1: gelatin/sodium alginate solution with 1% PPE; PPE2: gelatin/sodium alginate solution with 2% PPE; PPE3: gelatin/sodium alginate solution with 3% PPE; Tm: Melting temperature (°C); Tg: Gelation temperature (°C)).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The visual appearances of “Boba balls” with stereomicroscope at 8× magnification. (C: Control, “Boba balls” without pomegranate peel extract (PPE); PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) concentration on the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrums. (PPE: pomegranate peel extract; C: Control without PPE; PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of “Boba balls”. (C: Control, “Boba balls” without pomegranate peel extract (PPE); PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The in vitro bio-accessibility of “Boba balls” containing pomegranate peel extract (PPE) at various concentrations. (C: Control without PPE; PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Release pattern of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) from “Boba balls” in the simulated gastrointestinal conditions. (PPE: pomegranate peel extract; C: Control without PPE; PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Sensory evaluation of “Boba balls” produced with gelatin/sodium alginate composite containing pomegranate peel extract (PPE) at various concentrations. (C: Control without PPE; PPE1: “Boba balls” containing 1% PPE; PPE2: “Boba balls” containing 2% PPE; PPE3: “Boba balls” containing 3% PPE).
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