On the functional properties of globulin and albumin protein fractions and flours of African locust bean (Parkia biglobossa)

Albumin (ALBa) and globulin (ALBg) fractions of African locust bean were isolated and the functional properties were compared with its defatted (ALBdf) and undefatted flours (ALBf). Albumin had minimum % solubility (56.7%) at pH5, while minimum solubility was observed at pH4 for globulin and the flours. In all the samples studied, maximum solubility was observed at pH 10. A pH-dependent gelation study revealed that all of the samples had the highest least gelation concentration at pH10 apart from ALBf which had 16% w/v LGC at pH 2. Initial increase in ionic strength of the medium, to 0.4 and 0.6 M, enhanced the gelation capacity of protein fractions and flours, respectively, while further increase in ionic strength reduced it. Oil absorption capacity was maximal in ALBa while ALBf had the least value of 1.05 ml/g. Initial increase in ionic strength, up to 0.4 M, increased the water absorption capacity (WAC) of albumin fractions while WACs of the globulin fraction and flours were reduced when the ionic strength of the media reached 0.4 M. Foam capacity increased as the concentration of protein solution increased but was reduced by 6% w/v in ALBf. Initial increase in ionic strength enhanced both foam capacity and stability. Maximum EA was observed at pH 10 in all samples apart from ALBf, which reached a peak EA value at pH 2. ES (emulsion stability) was maximal at pH 10 for ALBa and ALBg while the same values were observed for ALBdf and ALBf at pH 2 and 10. Increasing the ionic strength, to 0.4 M, enhanced the EA and ES of ALBa while further increase in ionic strength, to 0.7 M, improved EA of ALBf but reduced the ES. Both EA and ES of ALBf reached peak values in 0.2 M solutions but no fixed pattern was observed in the response of ALBdf to various ionic strengths of the solutions.