Rheological and Functional Properties of Hydrocolloids from Pereskia bleo Leaves

Abstract

The food industry has increased its interest in using natural and consumer-friendly ingredients to produce food products. In the case of hydrocolloids of natural origin, the materials are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. This study aimed to isolate hydrocolloids from Pereskia bleo leaves and evaluate their proximal composition, technological and rheological properties. High-carbohydrate Pereskia bleo with high water holding capacity and emulsifying stability were obtained. The samples showed a shear-thinning behavior adjusted to the Cross model (R2 > 0.93) and a high dependence on temperature corroborating with the higher activation energy value (11.78 kJ/mol, R2 = 0.99) as an indicator of a rapid change in viscosity and microstructure. The viscoelastic properties are shown with a storage modulus higher than the loss modulus, presenting a gel structure. The isolation of hydrocolloids from leaves is a major challenge for commercializing natural ingredients with technological properties. Therefore, this study suggests that these hydrocolloids from Pereskia bleo leaves can be good ingredients in microstructure and texturizing products, improving the stability as thickener agents.