Effect of Added Moringa Seed Paste on the Quality of Acha -moringa Flour Blends

The research is aimed at investigating the effect of added moringa seed paste on the proximate, mineral, vitamin composition, functional properties of the acha-moringa flour blend. Moringa paste was substituted into acha flour at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% (w/w) to produce acha-moringa flour blends, coded AB1, AB2, AB3, AB4, AB5, and AB6, respectively. The proximate, minerals, vitamins, functional and pasting properties varied with mark significant differences (p = 0.05). The proximate composition- moisture, ash, protein, fats, fibre increased from 8.23 to 9.23, 1.05 to 1.53, 3.38 to 4.61, 1.88 to 2.87, and 2.43 to 3.14 %. Minerals contents increased at the inclusion of moringa seed paste (0-25%) in acha flour blends with Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Fe, from 18.61 to 20.29, 28.67 to 30.95, 30.61 to 42.34, 0.66 to 1.08 and 0.76 to 1.39 mg/100g. Respectively Similarly, the vitamins content significantly increased (p = 0.05) with the inclusion of moringa seed paste (0-25%). The vitamin A, C and B12 increased from 2.51 to 3.56; 3.61 to 5.50, 14 to .39 mg/100 g, respectively. Bulk density, water absorption capacity and forming capacity decreases from 0.75 to 0.64 (g/cm3), 1.57 to 1.10 (cm3/g), and 15.80 to 10.63 (%) respectively; while, there were increase in emulsification and oil absorption capacity (38.58 to 54.21 (%) and 2.58 to 3.05 (cm3/g), respectively, at p = 0.05). The pasting properties showed a significant decrease, p = 0.05, with decrease in peak viscosity, trough, break down, final viscosity, set back, pasting temperature, from 2919.00 to 1499.50; 1388.50 to 822.50; 1530.59 to 677.00, 3527.00 to 2197.50; 2138.50 to 1375.00 RVU, 77.43 to 71.25°C; respectively, but increased the pasting time from 5.13 to 5.53 min with increase in the moringa paste (0-25%). The added moringa seed paste had proven to improve the mineral, vitamins, functional and pasting qualities of acha cereal flour which had been underutilised industrially in Nigeria. Acha –moringa seed flour blend could be a nutritious meal for diabetes, and other health challenged individual.