Determination of amino acid, fatty acid, mineral, functional and choking properties of germinated and fermented popcorn (Zea mays everta) flour.

Background: Popcorn is cereal grains originated from a wild grass (Zea mays everta). Human consume popcorn as snacks. Popcorn provides a full complement of nutrition benefits, including dietary fibre, protein and essential micronutrient. Processing methods, such as, sprouting and fermentation improved the nutritional quality of cereals and legumes. In view of this, the present study, therefore, investigates the influence of germination and fermentation on nutrient composition, choking property and functional property of popcorn. Methodology: The popcorn kernels were obtained from a local market in Akure, Nigeria. The popcorn kernel was divided into three portions. Two portions were subjected into germination and fermentation respectively, while the third portion was processed as raw sample. Each of the samples was milled, sieved and analysed for proximate, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids using standard methods. Also, the functional and choking properties of the processed flour were determined using standard methods. Results: The result showed that the protein content of popcorn flour samples ranged between 12.13±0.56 14.37±0.52 g/100g; while the energy value was between 322.53±8.91 and 421.93±5.58 Kcal. The phosphorous, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and zinc content of germinated popcorn flour (GPF) were higher than fermented popcorn flour (FPF). Research Article European Journal of Food Research & Review, 1(2): 102-122, 2011 103 The total amino acids content of the sample range between 13.52 26.55 mg/100g for essential amino acids, 28.08 40.57 mg/100g for conditional essential amino acids; while 20.90 23.71 mg/100g for the non-essential amino acids. The nutritional quality results were as follows: protein efficiency ratio (PER) range between 0.88 and 1.55, essential amino acid indices (EAAIs) was between 13.62% and 44.18%; while the biological values (BV) was between 3.15% and 36.45%. The overall dominant fatty acid in each of the samples was oleic acid (67.05501 mg/100g) for the raw popcorn flour (RPF), palmitic acid (50.42259 mg/100g) for GPF and linoleic (68.72825 mg/100g) for FPF; while the dominant polyunsaturated fatty acids in RPF, GPF and FPF samples was linoleic. For the functional property, the results showed that swelling capacity range between 4.224±0.005 and 4.958±0.020. Bulk density was between 0.783±0.001 and 0.821±0.012; while that of water absorption capacity was between 1.964±0.014 and 2.111±0.044. The protein solubility of the samples increased in both above and below pH 2 for RPF and GPF sample and pH 3 for FPF sample, i.e., at the isoelectric points. For sensory attributes, the FPF was significantly rated higher in the overall acceptability than GPF, but rated lower than the ‘ogi’ (a sweet corn gel). Conclusion: The present study evaluates the amino acid profiles, fatty acids composition, choking property and functional property of RPF, GPF and FPF. The result showed that germination and fermentation processing techniques improved on the nutrient composition and also, eliminate the choking property of the processed popcorn flour. In view of this, the germinated or fermented popcorn flour may be used as traditional breakfast meal (ogi) or in the formulation of complementary foods.