Functional Yogurt Research Articles

Functional yogurt: a comprehensive review of its nutritional composition and health benefits.

Functional yogurt, renowned for its enhanced nutritional profile and potential health benefits, has emerged as a promising functional food. This review meticulously examines the nutritional composition of functional yogurt, highlighting its enriched content of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other bioactive compounds, which contribute to its health-promoting properties. Functional yogurt has positively affected digestive health, immune function, metabolic health, and mental well-being. It benefits digestive health by alleviating diarrhoeal symptoms, constipation, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Helicobacter pylori infection, and digestive-related allergies. Moreover, the immune-boosting properties of functional yogurt play a pivotal role in reducing the risk of infections and inflammation. In addition, functional yogurt has the potential to improve metabolic health, leading to decreased cholesterol levels and enhanced blood sugar regulation. Emerging research also suggests functional yogurt may positively influence mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Functional yogurt is a valuable addition to the human diet, holding significant implications for public health. In addition to its numerous health benefits, functional yogurt also faces limitations, such as the stability of functional compounds, sensory alterations, potential digestive discomfort, and inconsistent efficacy across populations, highlighting the need for further research and optimization.

Evaluation of Ability of Inactivated Biomasses of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Adsorb Aflatoxin B1 In Vitro.

Biological decontamination strategies using microorganisms to adsorb aflatoxins have shown promising results for reducing the dietary exposure to these contaminants. In this study, the ability of inactivated biomasses of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LRB) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SCB) incorporated alone or in combination into functional yogurts (FY) at 0.5-4.0% (w/w) to adsorb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was evaluated in vitro. Higher adsorption percentages (86.9-91.2%) were observed in FY containing 1.0% LR + SC or 2.0% SC (w/w). The survival of mouse embryonic fibroblasts increased after exposure to yogurts containing LC + SC at 1.0-4.0% (w/w). No significant differences were noted in the physicochemical and sensory characteristics between aflatoxin-free FY and control yogurts (no biomass) after 30 days of storage. The incorporation of combined LRB and SCB into yogurts as vehicles for these inactivated biomasses is a promising alternative for reducing the exposure to dietary AFB1. The results of this trial support further studies to develop practical applications aiming at the scalability of using the biomasses evaluated in functional foods to mitigate aflatoxin exposure.

Improving the sensory and chemical characteristics of functional yogurt fortified with cardamom extract (<i>Elettaria cardamomum</i> L.)

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the effects of aqueous cardamom extract on chemical and sensory qualities of yogurt fortified with cardamom extract. Four different concentrations of cardamom extract (100, 150, 200, and 250 μg.L-1) were incorporated into yogurt, along with a control group without adding cardamom. The moisture content, total protein, carbohydrates, pH, peroxide value, and sensory properties (taste, flavor, and smell) were evaluated. The results show that cardamom extract had no significant effect on the moisture, protein, or carbohydrate content of yoghurt when compared to the control. However, a drop in lipid, pH and peroxide value was seen in cardamom-fortified yoghurt, indicating enhanced lipid quality. Treatments supplemented with 200 and 250 μg.L-1 of extract showed the highest sensory scores. Overall, this study suggests that aqueous cardamom extract holds promise as a functional ingredient to improve yogurt quality and sensory qualities, potentially providing health benefits to consumers. Background: Yogurt is typically processed from cream, milk, or partially or completely skimmed milk, and may include additional ingredients such as vitamins, skimmed milk powder, lactose, lactalbumin, lactoglobulin, or modified whey. Cardamom encompasses two plant varieties, Elettaria and Amomum, belonging to the ginger family. These types are triangular in cross-section, bear seeds in bundles, and possess a thin outer membrane encasing black seeds. Whole milk yogurt was fortified with four different concentrations of aqueous cardamom extract. A control group of plain whole milk yogurt without additives was also prepared. The chemical and sensory properties of yogurt types were analyzed immediately after manufacturing and storage for 1, 3 and 7 days at 5 ±1 °C. Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of aqueous cardamom extract on chemical and sensory qualities, which are critical for functional foods, of functional yogurt made from raw, whole cow's milk. Four concentrations (100, 150, 200, and 250 μg.L-1) of cardamom extract were incorporated into yogurt, along with a control group without added cardamom. The moisture content, total protein, carbohydrates, pH, peroxide value, and sensory properties (taste, flavor, and smell) were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Raw, whole cow's milk was used to make yogurt production in the laboratory. Five kilograms of raw, full-fat cow's milk was heated for 10 minutes at 90 °C, then cooled to 42 °C and divided into two parts. The first was divided into four fractions, each receiving a different concentration of cardamom extract: 100, 150, 200, and 250 μg/L, representing treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The second part remained untreated and served as the control treatment (C) for yogurt production.

Encapsulation of Curcumin With Persian Gum and Its Application to the Production of Functional Yogurt: Physicochemical, Antioxidant, Sensory Properties, and Starter Bacteria Survival Study

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the ability of Persian gum to encapsulate curcumin and enhance its stability in dairy products. Given the increasing interest in functional foods, this study investigated the incorporation of nanocapsules containing curcumin (CLN) into functional stirred yogurt (CLN‐Y). CLN was prepared with Persian gum (PG) at different levels and included in the yogurt formula (CLN‐Y1%, CLN‐Y2%, and CLN‐Y3%). The physicochemical properties, rheological characteristics, antioxidant activity (AA), survival of starter bacteria, and sensory properties of the yogurt were evaluated over a 21‐day storage period at 4°C. The results showed that CLN significantly improved AA (reduction of 7.31% in the control vs. 1.85% in CLN‐Y3%), viscosity, hardness, and water holding capacity (reduction of 2.27% in control vs. 1.14% in CLN‐Y3%), while reducing syneresis (an increase of 10.87% in control vs. 3.16% in CLN‐Y3%) during storage (p < 0.05). CLN concentration directly affected AA. Although CLN‐Y exhibited a yellowish color and lower light intensity than the control, the samples were well accepted during storage. Increasing CLN levels led to decreased taste, color, and overall acceptance scores, and a 3% concentration is recommended for yogurt formulation due to its potential to improve yogurt quality, provide antioxidant benefits, maintain probiotic viability, and achieve high consumer acceptance during storage.

Development and characterization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-enriched functional yogurt using Limosilactobacillus fermentum 4–17

The consumption of functional foods is steadily increasing due to their positive impact on health. This study focused on developing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-enriched functional yogurt using Limosilactobacillus fermentum 4–17 over a 14-day storage period. Various aspects, including the physicochemical properties of the yogurt, GABA levels, and viable cell counts, were examined. Throughout the storage period, the pH of the yogurt decreased, while the acidity increased, indicating changes in fermentation activity. The highest level of GABA (14.846 mg/100 mL) was recorded on the second day. The viable cell count increased in all samples, reaching its peak at 7.47 Log CFU/mL by the 14th day. Notably, on the 14th day, the yogurt exhibited the lowest syneresis percentage, along with the highest water-holding capacity (WHC), hardness, and overall stability. These findings suggest that this GABA-enriched yogurt has significant potential as a functional product in the market, contributing to improved health benefits for consumers.

Influence of Bilberry Pomace Powder Addition on the Physicochemical, Functional, Rheological, and Sensory Properties of Stirred Yogurt.

Fruit processing by-products could represent a sustainable ingredient for developing innovative dairy products. The present study was conducted to develop a novel functional yogurt by adding bilberry pomace powder (BPP) at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% (w/w) levels in stirred-type yogurt production to confer color and to increase the dietary fiber and polyphenol content. Physicochemical properties of the yogurt samples, including color parameters, titratable acidity, pH, water holding capacity (WHC), and syneresis, as well as textural and rheological properties, were evaluated in yogurts on the 1, 14, and 28 days of refrigerated storage (4 °C). In addition, total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and radical scavenging activity were determined in yogurts, and sensory analysis was conducted. The results showed that BPP is a valuable source of polyphenols, dietary fiber, and oils rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs, n-6/n-3 ratio = 0.91). The incorporation of BPP imparted an attractive purple color to the yogurts, increased WHC, and reduced syneresis. Moreover, the addition of BPP improved the rheological properties, demonstrating that a more dense and stable yogurt gel network structure was obtained than the control. The yogurt enriched with 1.0% BPP received the highest scores for color, consistency, taste, and overall acceptability. Hence, bilberry pomace powder might be used as an ingredient to improve the nutritional and functional value of yogurts.

Fortification of functional yogurt by the phytochemicals extracted from pomegranate peel

Food by products are good sources of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals can be extracted, using different methods and utilized in developing different foods. This research aimed to characterize the bioactive phytochemicals extracted from pomegranate peel and to examine the impact of the phytochemicals on the nutritional, physicochemical, and microbial quality of the fortified functional yogurt. In this study, ethanol, methanol, and acetone were used to characterize total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents and total antioxidant activity by the solvent extraction method. The ethanolic extracts showed a higher amount of total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and total antioxidant activity than the methanolic and acetonic extracts. The ethanolic extracts were used for the fortification of functional yogurt at 0.25 % (S1), 0.5 % (S2), and 0.75 % (S3), respectively, compared with the control (S4). Functional yogurt fortified by pomegranate peel extract contained a higher amount of total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity. The extracts also had a significant (*p ≤ 0.05) effect on lowering pH, reducing syneresis, and increasing water holding capacity, gross energy, yellowing index, titratable acidity and firmness throughout the storage periods. The survivors of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus in the fortified yogurt were decreased. In case of sensory qualities, the fortified yogurts were almost identical to the control except S3 due to its pungent flavor. According to the findings, yogurt fortified with 0.5 % pomegranate peel was the best among the treatments, considering all parameters. This research gives an insight into optimizing yogurt fortification with pomegranate peel phytochemicals to improve its physicochemical and nutritional values.

Utilization of roasted barley (Hordeum vulgare) and oat (Avena sativa) for the development of functional yogurt with special reference to storage stability

ABSTRACT The objective of the current study prepare yogurt enriched with roasted barley and oat flour in different treatments. The manual cleaning of oats and barley was carried out and placed in a traditional sand roaster with an iron pan at 280 ± 5°C for 20 seconds. Roasted barley and oat flours were used in different concentrations of 1:0; 3:0; 5:0; 0:1; 0:3; 0:5; 0.5:0.5; 1.5:1.5; and 2.5:2.5 g/100 g, respectively. The prepared yogurt was stored for 28 days at 4°C, and analyzed during the 7-day intervals. The results showed that roasted barley and oat flours contained higher concentrations of proteins (13.72 & 16.61%) and fibers (16.86 & 3.54%), which aided in the improvement of the properties of yogurt. The pH of the prepared yogurt was decreased (4.5 to 4.2), and titratable acidity was increased (0.61 to 0.70%) non-significantly in all treatments. The syneresis rate was decreased (25 to 19%) with increased concentrations of roasted barley and oats during storage. The microbial analysis of the fortified yogurt decreased the total plate count and total yeast count. Concludingly, roasted barley and oats improved the solid contents along with proteins, fats, and fiber contents of the prepared yogurts, improving the nutritional value of yogurt.

Effect of guar gum and fortification by haritaki (Terminalia chebula) extract and its encapsulates on physicochemical, textural, and rheological properties of yogurt

AbstractIn the present study functional yogurt was prepared by addition of guar gum (0.5% and 1.5%) and fortification by phytochemical extract of haritaki (Terminalia chebula) extracted using supercritical CO2 and freeze dried encapsulates of the extracts. The results indicated that the addition of guar gum led to a concentration‐dependent reduction in pH, with yogurt containing 1.5% guar gum exhibiting the highest acidity. During a 24‐day storage period at 4°C, all samples displayed a decrease in pH and an increase in acidity. Notably, all variations exhibited sporadic syneresis patterns, with higher syneresis observed on the 1st day, followed by a decline on the 12th day and a subsequent rise on the 24th day of storage. The color of haritaki encapsulated yogurt appeared greener and more yellowish compared to the control samples on the 1st day, with noticeable changes in L*, a*, and b* values during storage. Texture analysis revealed that encapsulation significantly affected textural characteristics, with reduced firmness but comparable adhesiveness in some cases. The firmness of plain yogurt ranged from 0.69 to 0.72 N, while its adhesiveness was between 6.14 × 10−2 and 8.51 × 10−2 N.s. The stiffness of the samples made with encapsulates (E1–E6) ranged from 0.38 to 0.70 N, while their adhesiveness was 5.74 × 10−2 to 8.78 × 10−2 N.s. The findings demonstrate that encapsulation significantly affected the textural characteristics. However, the samples' firmness (F1–F3) was less than the control, ranging from 0.36 to 0.54 N. Encapsulated haritaki extract outperformed nonencapsulated haritaki extract in terms of phenolic and antioxidant activities, making it a preferred option for yogurt fortification. Furthermore, yogurt enriched with up to 0.5% guar gum exhibited sensory qualities similar to or even better than the control sample.

Initial Development of Lamota (Salicornia europae) Yogurt As a Functional Drink

Salicornia europae is a marine plant that grows in coastal areas and tides. In Sumbawa, this plant lives in the former area of ponds and usually called as lamota. S. europae contains beneficial ingredients such as iodine, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, and sugars. Marine plant innovations in S. Europae, which is rich in iodine into processed yogurt, has not been well explored. This study aimed to develop the processing of lamota into functional yogurt drink. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used in this experiment with a single factor of 6 levels of lamota concentration. Iodine content, ash content, pH and scoring test were carried out to find out the best quality of the lamota yogurt. The results showed that the iodine content of the product was 29.01 mcg / g dry weight and ash content was 10.59%. The pH showed that the addition of lamota minimally affected the pH of the yoghurt. In the organoleptic test found that 25% addition of lamota extract was the most preferrable concentration compared to 5, 10, 15, and 20% based on the color, taste, texture, aroma. Panelist describe the 25% lamota addition has greenish color, a little bit salty, watery texture, and green aroma. Based on the iodine content and the best consumers acceptance the yogurt with 25% addition of lamota could be categorized as a rich in iodine drink and a promising product to improve the functional characteristics of yogurt as well develop a value added local marine commodity with unique flavor.

Characterization of C-phycocyanin antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and anti-HCoV-229E activities and encapsulation for implementation in an innovative functional yogurt

Functional bioactive ingredients isolated from microalgae as sustainable sources have become a new subject of pharmacology and functional foods. Thus, the work aims to produce crude phycocyanin (C-PC), define it, and investigate its pharmacological effects before warping it in a nanophytosome. Subsequently, the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles were evaluated. Both free and nanophytosomes of C-PC were incorporated into cow milk fermented with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus KU985435 to make functional yoghurt and the stability of C-PC of both phytosomes was assessed. The amino acid content of C-PC revealed the presence of eight of nine essential amino acids and eight of eleven non-essential amino acids. C-PC has a medium molecular weight (82.992 kDa). Some pharmacological effects like reducing inflammation (98.76 % ± 0.065), fighting free radicals (99.12 % ± 0.027), and being able to inhibit the human coronavirus 229 E with a selective index of 27.9 were observed. The maximum viral inhibitory activity was detected during the adsorption stage. Anti-human liver and colon carcinomas that exceeded Doxorubicin with very low cytotoxicity against normal cell lines were detected. C-PC is an unstable protein that could be degraded in the yoghurt during storage. Therefore, phytosome encapsulation can effectively stabilize C-PC (particle size 44.50 ± 12 nm and zeta-potential −32.4 ± 5 mV) and protect it from the acidic environment of the yoghurt. The produced yoghurt showed the desired physicochemical and functional properties and overall acceptance. The results prove that C-PC from spirulina algae is a renewable source of dyes. The encapsulation process using phytosomes gave it high stability against environmental influences, and therefore, it can be applied in the food and pharmaceutical industries in the future.

Encapsulation of debittered pomelo juice using novel Moringa oleifera exudate for enrichment of yoghurt: A techno-functional approach

Debittering of pomelo juice was conducted using 3.7 g of activated resin, resulting in a 36.8% reduction in bitterness without affecting the bioactive properties of juice. The debittered juice was then encapsulated with Moringa oleifera exudate at various ratios (1–5%), yielding a powder with a slightly rough surface. Total phenol content (TPC) increased by 46–56% compared to the debittered juice. Functional yoghurt containing encapsulates at concentrations of 1% and 2% demonstrated that the 2% concentration led to longer storage duration, resulting in increased acidity and syneresis compared to the control. TPC of the yoghurt (161.89–198.22 μg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) remained significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the control (47.15 μg GAE/g) and acacia gum-based yoghurt (141.89–171.37 μg GAE/g), decreasing with storage duration. Addition of encapsulates significantly altered the yoghurt's texture, resulting in lower firmness (0.57 to 0.64 N) compared to the control, while adhesiveness values remained comparable (6.33 to 6.25 g.s). The highest values of G' and G" were observed in samples containing 2% encapsulates with moringa compared to those with acacia gum. This study suggests potential avenues for further exploration in functional foods with enhanced health benefits.

Lysozyme under holder pasteurized denaturation enhance the antioxidant's stability and quality attributes of functional yogurt

This research investigated the antioxidant activities and quality characteristics of functional yogurt supplemented with naturally derived protein, specifically lysozyme (LZ), as well as its thermally modified variants PLZ treated at 63°C for 30 minutes (hold type pasteurization method) and BLZ treated at 100°C for 10 minutes (using boiling temperature). Among these variants, the best antioxidant capacity was reported for PLZ, followed by BLZ and LZ. Subsequently, different yogurt samples (YCtrl, YLZ, YPLZ, and YBLZ) were prepared. Through weekly assessments, YPLZ consistently retained the highest antioxidant capacity. Moreover, YPLZ received the highest sensory evaluation scores with the best microbiological quality until the end of the examination period up to 35 days at 4 ±1°C. It was noted that PLZ displayed increased surface hydrophobicity due to gradual thermal denaturation, leading to structural changes and weak cross-dimerization with native milk alpha-lactalbumin in YPLZ. Gel electrophoresis results suggested that proteolysis by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could facilitate the formation of low-molecular-weight peptides with enhanced antioxidant stability via weak-force dimerization. In conclusion, yogurt fortified with lysozyme, processed using hold-type pasteurization, presents a promising avenue for developing functional yogurt with antioxidant properties.

Functional yogurt: An approach to enhance yogurt quality with peanut polyphenols

This study aimed to investigate the impact of adding peanut polyphenols on the microbiological, physiochemical, and nutritional properties of yogurt. Polyphenols were extracted from peanuts and incorporated in yogurts formulations at 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%. The total phenolic content of yogurt with 1.5% peanut extract was greater (89.59 ± 0.0328 mg GAE/100 mL) than others. Addition of peanut polyphenols resulted in significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in protein, fat, ash, and total solids content. Moreover, polyphenol supplementation significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced titrable acidity and water holding capacity. Titrable acidity increased over storage periods and water holding capacity improved with polyphenol addition. Gross energy was higher in yogurt with 1.5% fortification (85.5 ± 0.0145 Kcal/100 g) than in other formulated yogurts. Fortification significantly improved the total viable counts and total lactobacillus counts while total coliform count was undetectable. Sensory analysis indicated that yogurt fortified with 1.0% peanut polyphenols was preferred, considering all evaluated organoleptic parameters. These findings provide insights into optimizing yogurt fortification with peanut polyphenols to enhance its physicochemical and nutritional values.

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characterization of yogurt fermented by Weissella confusa SW1 and traditional starters

Starter cultures play important roles in the quality and functional activity of yogurt. In this study, a novel strain Weissella confusa SW1 was isolated from naturally fermented milk. The potential application of this strain in yogurt preparation was investigated and the unique qualities it conferred on yogurt was characterized. W. confusa SW1 could efficiently metabolize lactose and galactose, and the whole-genome sequencing showed that it has a complete Leloir metabolic pathway. Besides, W. confusa SW1 had strong antioxidant capacity, and could significantly promote the growth of Streptococcus thermophilus. Subsequently, W. confusa SW1 was co-cultured with traditional starters (Lb. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) to prepare yogurt. The results showed that the scavenging rates of DPPH and ABTS radicals of W. confusa SW1 fermented yogurt increased from 79.51% to 85.19% and 80.14%–85.47%, respectively. Meanwhile, the viable bacterial counts of Lb. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus were increased in yogurt when co-cultured with W. confusa SW1. Furthermore, the addition of W. confusa SW1 reduced the curd time and improved the water holding capacity of yogurt. Thus, this study laid a theoretical foundation for the development of functional yogurt with the application of W. confusa SW1.

Enhancing functional buffalo yogurt: Improving physicochemical properties, biological activities, and shelf life using marjoram and geranium essential oils

The use of essential oils (EO) has attracted interest in the food industry because of their wide range of beneficial properties. In this study, a new functional yogurt was developed using 2 EO, marjoram and geranium, at 3 different concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% vol/vol). The physicochemical properties, including syneresis, viscosity, pH, and chemical composition; bioactivities, including antioxidant activity, anticancer and antibacterial effects, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC); and sensory characteristics of the developed yogurt were evaluated. The findings indicated that the yogurts fortified with 0.6% marjoram or geranium exhibited higher viscosity and lower syneresis compared with other treatments. The yogurt supplemented with 0.6% marjoram displayed significant antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli. In addition, the yogurt enriched with geranium and marjoram oils at a concentration of 0.6% had notably significant (P < 0.05) higher TFC levels compared with the control sample and other concentrations. In the same context, in terms of TPC, yogurt supplemented with 0.6% marjoram displayed significantly (P < 0.05) elevated levels in comparison to the other samples tested. Yogurt enriched with marjoram oil exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, followed by geranium oil, compared with the control samples. The yogurt supplemented with 0.6% marjoram demonstrated strong radical scavenging activity, and the yogurt fortified with 0.6% geranium showed higher anticancer activity against HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells and oxidative stress enzyme activities. Among the various concentrations of EO tested, the yogurts fortified with 0.6% marjoram or geranium EO exhibited the most favorable outcomes, followed by 0.4% marjoram or geranium. To summarize, geranium and marjoram EO can be used as a potential nutritious ingredient and as a natural preservative for milk and related products.

Impact of Citrus reticulata Peel Extract and Bifidobacterium longum on Staphylococcus aureus during Cold Storage of Functional Yoghurt

Impact of Citrus reticulata Peel Extract and Bifidobacterium longum on Staphylococcus aureus during Cold Storage of Functional Yoghurt

Quality Parameters and Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Compounds, Sensory Properties of Functional Yogurt with Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Peel Powder

In the current study, four different types of yogurt were produced as control samples (no MPP added) and 1, 2, and 3% melon peel powder (MPP1, MPP2, and MPP3). These yogurts were determined by physicochemical, microbiological, sensory, total phenolic, and antioxidant activity weekly for 21 days. While ash, moisture, titratable acidity (TA), viscosity, water holding capacity (WHC), a* and b* values, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity of melon peel powder samples increased, L*, pH, and syneresis values decreased. In concentrations of 1, 2, and 3%, the mean antioxidant activity of powdered yogurt was found to have average values during storage of 30.09%, 32.32%, and 36.26%, respectively. All yogurts continued to contain more than 107 cfu/g of live lactic acid bacteria during fermentation. As the storage time increased, the sample’s pH and syneresis decreased, while titration acidity and texture increased. No yeast or mold (2 log cfu/g) was determined in the samples. The panelists preferred MPP1 and MPP2 samples. According to the findings of the study, melon rind powder, which is a by-product, can be recommended as a functional food additive in yogurts.

Effects of rice wine on the quality and flavor characteristics of yogurt

Rice wine, a traditional Chinese fermented beverage, possesses both nutritional value and unique flavor. It is anticipated to enhance the nutritional potential and flavor of yogurt. This study aimed to assess the physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory qualities of yogurt supplemented with varying concentrations of rice wine (0%, 5%, and 20%, v/v). The results revealed alterations in acidity, water-holding capacity (WHC), total sugar, texture characteristics, and rheological properties upon the addition of rice wine. Compared to the control group, yogurt supplemented with 5% and 20% rice wine showed higher total phenol content (TPC) and increased DPPH• clearance activity. Moreover, changes were observed in the hardness, adhesiveness, and gumminess of the experimental group. The addition of 5% YSRW resulted in an increased G′ and decreased G″ compared to the control group, which indicated that rice wine could increase the gel strength of yogurt. The variety and content of flavor substances in YSRW also increased, implying that rice wine might improve the sensory acceptance of yogurt. These findings suggested that rice wine can serve as a natural additive to enhance the flavor and taste of yogurt, which made it a promising ingredient for developing functional yogurt with desirable physiological, nutritional, antioxidant, and sensory qualities.

Optimization of watermelon peel yogurt fermentation process and study on antioxidant capacity

This study aims to explore the variation patterns of total flavonoid and other antioxidant activities in watermelon peel yogurt, providing a basis for the production of a functional yogurt. Using watermelon peel as the raw material and total flavonoid content as the indicator, the optimal process of watermelon peel yogurt was optimized through single-factor and orthogonal experiments. The results indicate that yogurt fermented with a mass ratio of watermelon juice to milk at 1:3, fermentation time of 10 hours, and fermentation agent dosage of 0.10% exhibits a refreshing watermelon aroma, excellent texture, and almost no whey separation. After process optimization, the polysaccharide content of watermelon peel yogurt increased by 19%, and water-holding capacity rose to 63.3%. Texture analysis revealed a hardness of 81.50 g, viscosity of 20.00 g, adhesiveness of 1.20 mJ, elasticity of 8.83 mm, and a draw length of 6.76 mm. The physicochemical and microbiological properties of watermelon peel yogurt meet national standards, and it possesses a good free radical scavenging ability.