Nutraceutical Enrichment of Cracker with Incorporation of Bamboo Shoot and Green Gram Flour

Functional food products in the form of ready to eat (RTE) foods are gaining attention in recent years. Consumers are looking for the RTE with enhanced nutritional components and nutraceutical properties. In the present study, a functional food of cracker (RTE) is formulated by combination of Joha rice, bamboo shoot and green gram flours as main ingredients. The results revealed that protein and dietary fiber contents of the cracker were found to be 17.05 and 15.77 g/100g, respectively. The B-group vitamins of B3, B5, B6 and B9 in cracker were found to be 2.04, 2.50, 0.57 and 12.59 mg/100 g, respectively. Among the fat-soluble vitamins, the predominant vitamin in the cracker was vitamin E (11.655 µg/1000g) followed with vitamin A (24.09 µg/1000g) and vitamin K (0.59 µg/1000g). The predominant fatty acids in crackers were linoleic acid (46.28%) and palmitic acid (22.34%). Polyphenolic profile analysis revealed the higher content of gallic acid followed with protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid and luteolin in the cracker. The phenolic composition was analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total proanthocyanidin content (TPAC) and total carotenoid content (TCC). Antioxidant activity was analyzed by the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assays. Enzyme inhibition activity for α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes was found to be 62.43 and 47.97 of IC50 μg GAE/mL in the cracker, respectively. The developed functional food (cracker) was found with higher retention percentage of prime nutrients including protein, dietary fiber and vitamins along with vital polyphenols.