Abstract

In this study, the antioxidant activities and quality characteristics of noodles amended with spirulina were evaluated. Wheat flour noodles were prepared using three levels of spirulina (0, 0.63, 1.25 and 2.5%). The moisture content of the noodles that contained spirulina was higher before and after cooking. and these increases occurred in a concentration dependant manner. Furthermore the Hunter L (lightness), a (redness) and b (yellowness) values of noodles that contained spirulina were higher before and after cooking. and these values increased as the concentration of spirulina increased. Moreover the textural properties, which included, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness, were significantly higher in noodles that contained than in the controls. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of noodles that contained spirulina increased in a concentration dependent manner. Specifically, the: $IC_{50}$ values of the DPPH radical scavenging activity for raw noodle was 726.00 mg/g, whereas that of raw noodles that contained 1.25 and 2.5% spirulina was 449.96 mg/g and 439.44 mg/g, respectively. Finally, a sensory preference test revealed that cooked noodles that contained 1.25% spirulina had the highest color, odor, taste and overall preference scores. Taken together, these findings suggest that up to 1.25% of the wheat flour could be substituted with spirulina to improve the quality of the noodles.

Keywords

• Noodles;
• spirulina;
• antioxidant activity;
• sensory evaluation