Enhancing the quality of overripe plantain powder by adding superfine fractions of Adansonia digitata L. pulp and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces: characterization and antioxidant activity assessment

Abstract

In this study, the overripe plantain has been used to produce high-antioxidant powders, using Adansonia digitata L. pulp and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces as antioxidant supplements. The constrained mixture design (ranged between 0.9–1.0 for plantain and 0–0.1 for supplements) was used to generate ten powder formulations. The obtained powders were evaluated for physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities. Generally, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between moisture, proteins, ash, fibers, carbohydrates and fat contents of different raw material powders. The increase in the proportions of A. digitata L. and H. sabdariffa L. significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of polyphenols (40.19–583.46 mg GAE/100 g DM), flavonoids (18.27–103.46 mg RE/100 g DM), condensed tannins (28.73–276.47 mg CE/100 g DM), carotenoids (8.41–9.48 mg/100 g DM) and vitamin C (31.55–77.30 mg/100 g DM) in the formulated powders. The antioxidant properties of the powder formulations revealed higher radical-scavenging activities DPPH (IC50 of 0.80 mg/mL) and ABTS (IC50 of 1.51 mg/mL) for M10 formulation consists of 91.67% overripe plantain, 1.67% A. digitata L. and 6.66% Hibiscus sabdariffa L. The best reducing powers were found in M5, M6 and M10 formulations which improved by more than 2 to 3 times the value of M1 (2.66 mg AAE/g DM) not containing antioxidant supplements. M10 was the powder formulation that exhibited the best antioxidant activities despite its low hydration capacity. A. digitata L. pulp and H. sabdariffa L. calyces revealed the potential for an efficient improve of antioxidant activity of overripe plantain powder. High-antioxidant powders from the mixtures showed promise in helping to combat oxidative stress in Africa and other countries where chronic diseases pose a threat.