Faba bean protein: A promising plant-based emulsifier for improving physical and oxidative stabilities of oil-in-water emulsions

Abstract

Faba bean is a protein-rich, sustainable, but understudied legume. Faba bean protein isolates (FBPIs) can serve as promising emulsifiers. This review aims to summarize the research on FBPIs as emulsifiers and various modification methods to improve the emulsifying functionalities. The emulsifying activities of FBPIs depend on several physiochemical characteristics (e.g. solubility, surface hydrophobicity, surface charge, interfacial activity). Physical modifications, especially via linking FBPIs electrostatically to polysaccharides can effectively increase the interfacial layer thickness/compactness and maintain the interfacial protein adsorption. Chemical modifications of FBPIs (e.g. acetylation and Maillard reaction) could improve the interfacial activity and affect the droplet-size distribution. Enzymatic modifications, usually either via hydrolysis or cross-linking, help to optimize the molecular size, solubility, and surface hydrophobicity of FBPIs. It is critical to consider the lipid/protein oxidative stability and physical stability when optimizing the emulsifying functionality of FBPIs. With suitable modifications, FBPI can serve as a promising emulsifier in food production.

Keywords: Emulsion; Faba bean protein; Oxidative stability; Physical stability; Protein modifications.