Impact of pomegranate fruit powder on dough, textural and functional properties of fresh noodle

Polyphenols are important functional food ingredients due to good performance in the prevention of chronic diseases and elongation of shelf-life. Numerous studies have shown that the addition of polyphenols of natural origin to wheat flour tends to have a contradictory effect on the physicochemical properties of the dough in the presence of different doses of polyphenols, also known as biphasic regulation. In the meantime, a promising and economic flour enhancer of natural origin is needed because of the short stability time of the dough. In this study, the impact of pomegranate fruit powder (PFP) on mixing and rheological properties of the dough and texture as well as nutritional characteristics of cooking noodles was studied.

The mixing and tensile properties as well as viscoelasticity of the dough were improved with the addition of 4%, 8% or 12% PFP; correspondingly, a more compact and ordered microstructure was observed in the dough. The addition of PFP maintained the best cooking time and water absorption of noodles. Moreover, the hardness, tensile strength and resilience of noodles were improved with the addition of 4% or 8% PFP. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacities of noodles with the addition of PFP were increased via quantification of iron ion reduction, DPPH and ABTS scavenging capacity. The noodles added with PFP showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on glucose release.

PFP improved the textural properties and nutrition value of noodles. The addition of PFP to the wheat four dough and noodles was suggested to be below 12%. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.