Assessment of Beetroot powder as nutritional, antioxidant, and sensory evaluation in candies

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The present study investigated dehydrated beetroot powder's nutritional, antioxidant, and physicochemical potential in developing nutritionally enriched supplemented hard candies. The data on the nutritional composition of beetroot powder (Devadiga & Ahipa) elucidated significantly (Lim) higher magnitudes of proteins (13 %), ash (10 %), dietary fiber (20 %), K (27 mg.100 g−1) and Na (6.6 mg.100 g−1). Likewise, the nutritional profile of the supplemented hard candies exhibited significant (p < 0.05) improvement in proteins from 0.3 to 1.3 g/100 g (441 %↑), ash 0.3–1.3 g.100 g−1 (357 %↑), fiber 0.4–2.1 g.100 g−1 (381 %↑), K 0.6–2.8 mg.100 g^-1 (405 %↑), Na 0.2–0.7 mg.100 g^-1 (331 %↑), Mg 0.05–0.26 mg.100 g−1 (420 %↑) and Ca 0.06–0.24 mg.100 g−1 (300 %↑) on increasing the beetroot powder (BRP) supplementation from 2 to 10 %. The physicochemical properties of candies explained appreciable increments in vitamin C and betalain contents from 0.2 to 0.8 and 48–245 mg.100 g−1, respectively. Results for the antioxidant activities exhibited a similar increase in total phenolics (i.e., 10.2–41.3 mg GAE.100 g−1), total flavonoids (5.7–27.5 mg QE.100 g−1), 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-Picryl-Hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities (11.4–28.4 %) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) contents (24.2–127.2 μmol.100 g−1). The highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) was shown against E. coli (i.e., 13.4–23 mm), L. monocytogenes (11.03–19.2 mm), and S. aureus (12.1–20.3 mm) at a maximum concentration of BRP extracts, i.e., 10 mg mL−1. The highest sensorial acceptability of the finished product was at a 6 % supplementation level, which could be validated as a viable approach to use BRP as an ingredient of choice in improving the micronutrient inadequacies among the vulnerable population groups and direct intake of dietary fibers and antioxidant-rich BRP supplemented candies are considered to be viable in preventing the associated health challenges like cancer and dysentery.