Dose-Dependent Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Microbiological, Antioxidant, and Functional Properties of Buckwheat, Cowpea, Oat, and Brown Rice Flour

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of the gamma irradiation dose on the microbiological, structural, and functional properties of buckwheat, cowpea, oat, and brown rice flour. The results showed that as the irradiation dose increased, there was a significant reduction in the total bacterial count (TBC) and the total yeast and mold count (TYMC). Specifically, a decrease of 60.67% was observed in TBC and 63.49% in TYMC compared to unirradiated samples, even at a dose of 5 kGy. In addition, there was a significant increase in the total phenolic content of all flour samples (8% for cowpea to 56.48% for buckwheat) after exposure to irradiation. In particular, buckwheat flour exhibited the highest DPPH inhibition capacity of 79.80% when irradiated at 15 kGy, outperforming the other flour samples. However, the FTIR spectra remained unchanged. The application of irradiation to cereals and legumes has recently been recognized as an innovative method to address the issues caused by insects and pests. Gamma irradiation can be applied to the product after packaging, reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Additionally, this technique is nonthermal and does not leave any residues. The dietary value, sensory, and other quality parameter characteristics of pseudocereals and cereal-related products can be preserved by subjecting them to controlled irradiation doses.