Browsing by Author "Amarakoon, R."

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The Effect of Germination on Quality of Protein of Selected Legumes
(Staff Development Center, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Amarakoon, R.
Legumes are the major source of plant protein. The presence of anti-nutritional factors in legumes, limits the availability of nutrients. The aim of this study is primarily to find the best use of legumes to alleviate the problem of protein energy malnutrition, most prevalent in developing countries and fulfil the protein requirement of the global population. The quality of protein in cotyledons and radicles (shoot) was separately investigated in selected legumes, namely Pisum sativum (Terno, Xantos, Svit, Achat), Glycine max, Lupinus albus (Amiga), Pisum sativum var. arvense (Arkta), Faba vulgaris (Piestansky) after germinating for 48 hours and compared with the respective raw seeds. All samples were analysed for crude protein, amino acids with ion exchange chromatography with post column ninhydrin-based detection and in vitro protein digestibility. Crude protein content was ranged from 21.5-34.4% in raw seeds. It was increased in all cotyledons ranged from 23.1 to 48.0%, and in radicles 32.9 to 64.9% after germinating raw seeds for 48 hours. The highest content of amino acid in cotyledons and radicles were noted in P. sativum (Xantos) and its phenylalanine was the highest increased essential amino acid in radicles 7.4 g/16 g N with respective raw seeds 4.6 g/16 g N. The in vitro protein digestibility of cotyledons and radicles increased significantly (P < 0.05) of all legumes under study. It is ranged from 79.1% to 86.4% in cotyledons, 86.7% to 93.4% in radicles and 54.1% to 75.0% in respective raw seeds. Results revealed that all the legumes under study are a rich source of protein. The quality of protein in cotyledons and radicles obtained after germinating raw seeds for 48 hours increases significantly in comparison with their respective raw seeds of legumes under study. Germination is an inexpensive and simplest method of processing of legumes, in comparison with other methods of processing to improve the quality of protein of legumes.
Improving the microbial quality of mung bean (Vigna radiate) sprouts and its’ shelf life to produce a safe and ready to eat product
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) de Alwis, P.S.; Amarakoon, R.
In Sri Lanka, legumes including mung bean (Vigna radiata) has been consumed frequently as a good source of plant protein. As germination process enhances the biological value of these legumes, people turned towards the consumption of sprouts than consuming them as seeds. Due to the availability of the nutrients as well as the warm and humid conditions during the germination process, a rapid microbial growth has been identified. As a result, out-breaks associated with the consumption of sprouts in fresh form has frequently been reported. This may lead to consumption of sprouts become unsafe product for the consumers. Methods to extend the shelf life of sprouts, as well as the development of microbial safety of legume sprouts have been investigated during this study. Mung (Vigna radiata) seeds were rinsed, soaked and germinated for 48 hours and a portion of the seeds were subjected to hot water blanching (at 100±2˚C for 1minute). Both blanched and non-blanched sprouts were packed immediately in low density poly ethylene bags and stored at different storage temperatures (28±2°C, 10±1oC, 3±1oC, 0±0.5oC) with the objective of finding the best storage conditions to optimize the microbiological quality and shelf life. In the meantime, blanched mung bean sprouts were packed in sterilized glass bottles with 4% brine solution followed by pasteurization (100±2˚C for 30 minutes) and the microbial quality of the product was evaluated during the period of storage up to twelve months. Hot water blanching has significantly (p<0.05) reduced the mesophilic bacterial count from 7.35 Log10 (CFU/g) to 5.71 Log10 (CFU/g) when compared with nonblanched mung sprouts. The psychrophilic count of legume sprouts has significantly (p<0.05) decreased from 4,18 Log10 (CFU /g) to 3.48 Log10 (CFU/g) by hot water blanching and with storage temperature of 0±0.5oC up to 15 days of storage when compared to non-blanched mung bean sprouts during the same storage period. Blanching and storage at 0±0.5oC of temperature significantly increased the microbiological quality with optimizing the product safety in fresh form and extending the shelf life for 15 days. Application of Blanching along with storage at 0±0.5oC of temperature is a method to reduce the risk of food borne infections involve in consumption of fresh form of legume sprouts. Blanching followed by pasteurization of mung bean sprouts in brine has shown significant (p<0.05) improvement of microbial quality as well as extended the shelf life up to one year without affecting the availability of protein. Possibility of extending shelf life further is being explored. Legume sprouts in brine is an ideal method of processing to introduce as a safe, ready to eat, rich source of plant protein product for the Sri Lankan consumers.
Microbial enumeration assay of fermented products of cassava variety MU51
(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Perera, T. W. N. K.; Amarakoon, R.; Edirisinghe, E. A. A. D.
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of solid state fermentation of cassava variety MU51, on the qualitative properties and total viable microbial counts, of the fermented cassava products, developed by changing the fermentation lengths as two days and three days. The steps involved in the product development are peeling, washing, grating cassava roots into a mash, collecting the mash into sacks, dewatering and fermenting the mash under natural environmental conditions. The fermented, wet cakes obtained are further de-watered by oven-drying process to make fermented, dry products. These fermented dry cassava products appear cream-white in color and soft granular or powdered form in texture. Both products have a fermented smell and the pH value is 5. Microbial enumeration assay is carried out for the raw cassava, fermented wet cakes and fermented dry products, using plate count technique. Particular attention is given on mesophilic, aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms. The bacterial count of raw cassava is (1.8-2.2) x10³ colony forming units per gram. For two days fermented wet cake, the bacterial count is (2.9-3.4) x10⁴ colony forming units per gram and for three days fermented wet cake, it is (2.8-3.3) x10⁴ colony forming units per gram. During fermentation, the bacterial count increases. Increase of acidity during fermentation and depletion of substrates could contribute to a slight decrease in the viable bacterial population, during later stage of fermentation. The fungal count of raw cassava is (6.3-8.6) x10² colony forming units per gram. Fungal count of two days fermented wet cake is 8.5x10² - 1.1x10³ colony forming units per gram and three days fermented wet cake is (1.1-1.3) x10³ colony forming units per gram. During fermentation, the fungal count increases as fungi are favored by the acidification of pulp and are benefited from the metabolites sourced from the growth of other microorganisms. Bacterial count of two days fermented dry product is (2.7-3.2) x10⁴ colony forming units per gram and three days fermented dry product is (2.6-3.0) x10⁴ colony forming units per gram. Fungal count of two days fermented dry product is (7.4-8.6) x10² colony forming units per gram and three days fermented dry product is 9.4x10² - 1.2x10³ colony forming units per gram. This plate count assay can be used as an index to evaluate the microbial content, in order to provide a microbiological specification for the fermented cassava products. Fermented cassava products would be an ideal option that reduces the post-harvest losses of raw cassava.