Development of Fermented Sweet Potato Flour (Ipomoea batatas L.) Supplemented with Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)...

The fermentation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) with a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum leads to an increase in its exopolysaccharides (EPS) content which is useful for enhancing the functional properties of flour. The objective of this study was to develop healthy and nutritious meal-based biscuits from fermented sweet potato (FSP) flour supplemented with mackerel flour. Eleven formulations containing wheat flour, FSP flour, nonfermented sweet potato (NFSP) flour, and mackerel flour at different proportions defined following a mixture design were used to prepare biscuits. Physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses of the different biscuits were performed. Biscuits prepared with FSP at 100% scored the lowest lipid (10.83 ± 0.97 g/100 g DM) and the highest sugar (67.43 ± 0.64 g/100 g DM) contents. The incorporation of mackerel flour in the formulation led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the protein and mineral contents of biscuits thus conferring an immune-boosting property to these latters. All the biscuits were of good microbiological quality independent of the formulation. The highest DPPH free radicals scavenging activity (IC₅₀ of 1.90 and 3.41 μg/mL for ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively) were observed with biscuits prepared with FSP flour at 100%. The sensorial characteristics of biscuits prepared with equal proportions of wheat and FSP flours were highly appreciated by the panelists with scores close to the ones prepared with wheat flour at 100%. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of FSP flour as a substitute for wheat flour in biscuits preparation. It also suggests biscuits prepared with FSP flour supplemented with mackerel flour as a functional and immune-boosting food.