Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies

Gracilaria species are found to be a rich source of natural hydrocolloid agar-agar but are currently under-exploited in Sri Lanka. The gel characteristics of agar extracted from Gracilaria corticata and Gracilaria edulis from Sri Lankan waters were investigated in this study. The agar yields (%, dry...

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Main Authors: Piyumi S. De Alwis, Isuru Wijesekara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Ruhuna 2022-06-01
Series:Ruhuna Journal of Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.rjs.ruh.ac.lk/index.php/rjs/article/view/363/332
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author Piyumi S. De Alwis
Isuru Wijesekara
author_facet Piyumi S. De Alwis
Isuru Wijesekara
author_sort Piyumi S. De Alwis
collection DOAJ
description Gracilaria species are found to be a rich source of natural hydrocolloid agar-agar but are currently under-exploited in Sri Lanka. The gel characteristics of agar extracted from Gracilaria corticata and Gracilaria edulis from Sri Lankan waters were investigated in this study. The agar yields (%, dry weight basis) obtained from G. corticata and G. edulis by hot-water extraction at 90℃ for 1 h, were 39.91 ± 0.17 and 67.52 ± 1.43, respectively. The gel properties of both agar gels (1.5%, w/v) such as pH, viscosity, gelling and melting temperatures, and syneresis were examined. The viscosity of agar gels (cP) at 80°C was lower than that at 70°C for both species, while G. edulis has shown higher viscosities at both temperatures (1.96 ± 0.06 and 2.76 ± 0.39, respectively). Moreover, the textural analysis revealed that G. corticata has a higher gel hardness (316.7 ± 20.8 g) than G. edulis (113.33 ± 12.58 g). Strawberry-flavored food jellies were developed from agar gels of two Gracilaria species with either artificial (Carmoisine, E122) or natural food color (Annato). Collectively, this study revealed that agar from both red seaweed species has the potential to be developed as plant-based food jellies, and G. edulis can be suggested as the best source to extract agar with higher yield compared to G. corticata.
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spelling doaj.art-5e734b49353b4c02bddc4dba200804a32022-12-22T03:59:02ZengUniversity of RuhunaRuhuna Journal of Science2536-84002022-06-0113111310.4038/rjs.v13i1.111Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jelliesPiyumi S. De Alwis0Isuru Wijesekara1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1688-8801Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaGracilaria species are found to be a rich source of natural hydrocolloid agar-agar but are currently under-exploited in Sri Lanka. The gel characteristics of agar extracted from Gracilaria corticata and Gracilaria edulis from Sri Lankan waters were investigated in this study. The agar yields (%, dry weight basis) obtained from G. corticata and G. edulis by hot-water extraction at 90℃ for 1 h, were 39.91 ± 0.17 and 67.52 ± 1.43, respectively. The gel properties of both agar gels (1.5%, w/v) such as pH, viscosity, gelling and melting temperatures, and syneresis were examined. The viscosity of agar gels (cP) at 80°C was lower than that at 70°C for both species, while G. edulis has shown higher viscosities at both temperatures (1.96 ± 0.06 and 2.76 ± 0.39, respectively). Moreover, the textural analysis revealed that G. corticata has a higher gel hardness (316.7 ± 20.8 g) than G. edulis (113.33 ± 12.58 g). Strawberry-flavored food jellies were developed from agar gels of two Gracilaria species with either artificial (Carmoisine, E122) or natural food color (Annato). Collectively, this study revealed that agar from both red seaweed species has the potential to be developed as plant-based food jellies, and G. edulis can be suggested as the best source to extract agar with higher yield compared to G. corticata. https://www.rjs.ruh.ac.lk/index.php/rjs/article/view/363/332agarfood jelliesgracilaria spp.red seaweedsvalue-addition
spellingShingle Piyumi S. De Alwis
Isuru Wijesekara
Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
Ruhuna Journal of Science
agar
food jellies
gracilaria spp.
red seaweeds
value-addition
title Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
title_full Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
title_fullStr Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
title_full_unstemmed Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
title_short Gel properties of agar from two Gracilaria species in Sri Lanka and development of food jellies
title_sort gel properties of agar from two gracilaria species in sri lanka and development of food jellies
topic agar
food jellies
gracilaria spp.
red seaweeds
value-addition
url https://www.rjs.ruh.ac.lk/index.php/rjs/article/view/363/332
work_keys_str_mv AT piyumisdealwis gelpropertiesofagarfromtwogracilariaspeciesinsrilankaanddevelopmentoffoodjellies
AT isuruwijesekara gelpropertiesofagarfromtwogracilariaspeciesinsrilankaanddevelopmentoffoodjellies