Effect of hydrothermal treatment of runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) seeds and starch isolation on starch digestibility

The study investigated the effect of traditional soaking and cooking, storage after cooking and freezing (− 18 °C, 21 days) and autoclaving of two varieties of runner bean on starch digestibility. Results achieved were compared with digestibility of isolated starch subjected to similar treatments. The digestibility of native starch from Nata var. seeds was lower after isolation than in raw flour. This starch was characterized by a higher content of fat and lower values of swelling power (SP) and amylose leaching (AML). After the thermal treatment, a significantly higher content of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) was observed both in seeds and starch. It was accompanied by reduced contents of resistant starch (RS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS). In flours from cooked seeds, the content of RDS was observed to be higher than in flours from autoclaved seeds, despite similar changes in contents of other constituents (ash and protein). It was probably due to better starch gelatinization owing to the long-lasting soaking of seeds. This resulted in a greater decrease of amylose content of starch compared to the other flours. Differences in SP, AML and thermal properties between starches isolated from two bean varieties had no influence on their digestibility after cooking. The storage of starch pastes at a temperature of − 18 °C, unlike that of seeds, resulted in a significant increase in RS content, which shows the importance of other flour components in the process of starch retrogradation.

► Runner bean seeds and isolated starch were treated with hydrothermal processes. ► We examined the influence of flour and starch properties on its nutritional value. ► We noticed a digestibility decrease after isolation of a higher fat content starch. ► Achieved differences in isolated starch digestibility were lost after processing. ► Decrease of amylose content upon processing caused a gain in starch digestibility.