Valorization of breadnut (Artocarpus camansi) leaves in gnocchi-type product

The increasing focus on sustainable food production has led to exploring novel plant materials such as breadnut (Artocarpus camansi) leaves for functional food applications. This study investigates the upcycling of breadnut leaves into gnocchi formulations to enhance nutritional value and sustainability in food systems. Breadnut leaves were processed into powder and characterized for their functional, rheological, and antioxidative properties. Gnocchi formulations with 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% breadnut leaf powder were evaluated for nutritional composition, and storage stability. Results showed that incorporating 10% breadnut leaf powder significantly increased total dietary fibre to 5.73% (dry matter basis), with 4.23% insoluble fibre and 1.50% soluble fibre, while maintaining an optimal pH of 6.35. Antioxidant activity improved, with the total phenolic content reaching 1.59 mg GAE/g DM and DPPH scavenging activity at 0.52 mg TE/g DM. The breadnut leaf powder demonstrated strong water absorption (7.09 g H₂O/g DM at 10% inclusion) and oil absorption capacity (2.13 g oil/g DM), positively impacting the gnocchi’s texture and structural integrity during storage. These findings highlight the potential of breadnut leaves as a sustainable, nutrient-rich ingredient for functional food development. This study underscores the benefits of reducing agricultural waste and meeting consumer demand for health-focused, eco-friendly food products.