Nutritional and functional properties of maize-oyster mushroom (Zea mays-Pleurotus ostreatus) based composite flour and its storage stability

Abstract

Abstract The over reliance on starchy foods such as maize flour may lead to protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in children. The enrichment of maize with protein-rich oyster mushroom will improve the nutritional composition of maize flour. This study determined the effects of oyster mushroom flour on nutritional, functional and storage stability properties of composite flour containing maize and oyster mushroom. Oyster mushroom flour was added at 0, 5, 10 and 15% to maize flour. Proximate, functional, minerals, amino acid profile, free fatty acids and peroxide value of the composite flours were determined. An increase in the addition of oyster mushroom flour led to an increase in proximate and the minerals content of the composite flour, but the functional properties decreased. Oyster mushroom flour increased the amino acid profile of the composite flour, with leucine being the highest (26.3 mg/g). The flours were relatively stable (25ºC) during storage. Enriching maize flour with 15% oyster mushroom flour improved the nutritional quality of maize flour which makes the resulting composite flour a better raw material for human consumption.