Effect of blanching and drying temperatures on starch-related physicochemical properties, bioactive components and antioxidant activities of yam flours

The effects of blanching (in boiling water for 1min) and different hot air drying temperatures (40 °C, 60 °C and 80 °C) on the polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) and antioxidant activities, main bioactive components, as well as the starch-related physicochemical properties of yam flours were studied. The results of PPO and POD activities, and total flavone and total soluble polyphenol contents showed that blanching was effective to inhibiting enzymatic browning of yams, and the substrate of enzymatic browning reaction may be mainly flavonoid ingredients. The sample of H-40 had higher allantoin and total soluble polyphenol content, stronger DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power. From the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), the blanching yams was found contain partly gelatinized starch granules, and had lower crystallinity. The H-40 and H-80 samples had higher RS contents and lower GI values. Furthermore, the protein and soluble amylose contents, solubility and swelling power at 90 °C of the blanching yams were lower than those of the yams without blanching. We can effectively apply these flours in various products based on their characteristics.