Gamma radiation effects on microbiological, physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of Tunisian millet (Pennisetum Glaucum L.R.Br.)

Maha Ben Mustapha; Mehrez Bousselmi; Taïeb Jerbi; Nasreddine Ben Bettaïeb; Sami Fattouch

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.015

Gamma radiation effects on microbiological, physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of Tunisian millet (Pennisetum Glaucum L.R.Br.)

Food Chem. 2014 Jul 1:154:230-7. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.015. Epub 2014 Jan 13.

Authors

Maha Ben Mustapha¹, Mehrez Bousselmi², Taïeb Jerbi², Nasreddine Ben Bettaïeb², Sami Fattouch³

Affiliations

¹ LIP-MB, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Tunisia. Electronic address: bmmaha2010@gmail.com.
² National Center of Sciences and Nuclear Technologies of Tunis (CNSTN), Pôle Technologique, B.P. 72, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia.
³ LIP-MB, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Tunisia.

PMID: 24518337
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.015

Abstract

Hygienic quality of Tunisian pearl millet flour is always of major concern to consumers as well as all involved in the production, processing and distribution sectors. In the present study, the microbiological and biochemical properties of this food were examined following gamma-radiation. The D10-values for the Total Aerobic Plate Count, yeasts and moulds were respectively 1.5 and 3.7kGy. Furthermore, millet flour is commonly susceptible to mycotoxin contaminations, so the Ochratoxin A residues were also investigated; a reduction of 74% was observed with 10kGy. Moreover, the radiation process did not significantly alter fatty acids composition of the millet flour as obtained with Gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector technic. The peroxide value had increased from 26.16 to 34.43meqO2/kg with 3kGy. At 1kGy, we noticed an important loss of vitamin A of about 88.6%. In contrast, the total phenolic content, the ABTS-RSA and the DPPH-RSA of the radiated millet flour exhibited non-significant changes (p<0.05).

Keywords: Antioxidant activities; D(10)-value; GC-FID; Gamma irradiation; Millet; Ochratoxin A.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acids / analysis
Antioxidants / chemistry*
Fatty Acids / analysis
Flour / analysis
Flour / microbiology
Flour / radiation effects
Food Contamination / analysis
Food Irradiation / methods*
Fungi / growth & development
Fungi / metabolism
Fungi / radiation effects
Gamma Rays
Mycotoxins / analysis
Mycotoxins / chemistry
Panicum / chemistry
Panicum / microbiology*
Panicum / radiation effects*
Pennisetum
Phenols / analysis
Tunisia
Vitamin A / analysis

Substances

Amino Acids
Antioxidants
Fatty Acids
Mycotoxins
Phenols
Vitamin A