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Isolated starches from yams (Dioscorea sp) grown at the Venezuelan Amazons: structure and functional properties
Elevina Pérez1, Agnès Rolland-Sabaté, Dominique Dufour
1Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (ICTA), Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado Postal 47097, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela. perezee@hotmail.com
Abstract:
This work aimed to characterize the molecular structure and functional properties of starches isolated from wild Dioscorea yams grown at the Amazons, using conventional and up-to-date methodologies. Among the high purity starches isolated (≥99%), the chain lengths were similar, whereas variations in gelatinization profile were observed. Starches have shown varied-shaped granules with monomodal distribution, and B-type crystallinity. Variations in amylose contents found by three analyses were hypothesized being related to intermediate material. Linear chain lengths were similar, and their amylopectins showed a dense, spherical conformation and similar molecular characteristics. The average molar mass and the radius of gyration of the chromatograms of the yam amylopectin, M¯W and R¯G were ranging between 174×10(6) g mol(-1) and 237×10(6) g mol(-1), and 201 nm and 233 nm, respectively. The white yams starches were more sensible to enzymes than the other two. All starches have shown a wide range of functional and nutritional properties.
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