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Selecting elite cowpea lines for food applications: nutritional composition, phenolic bioaccessibility, and proof-of-concept application in a cake model

delete2026-08-11
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OA
AI
C
Cristina Zita de Morais Costa Dias Barbosa
L
Lorena Maria Freire Sampaio
M
Mariana Lopes dos Anjos
M
Maurisrael de Moura Rocha
R
Rafael Audino Zambelli *
DOI:10.1007/s00217-026-05259-6delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Cowpea is a nutrient-dense legume with strong potential for breeding and ingredient development, yet elite-line selection is often based on isolated traits rather than integrated nutritional–functional performance. This study proposes a nutrition-oriented multicriteria screening framework to rank three elite cowpea lines by integrating proximate composition (protein, total dietary fiber, starch and moisture), mineral profile, total extractable polyphenols and phenolic-related antioxidant indicators. Criteria were combined by a block-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach and ranking robustness was tested under alternative weighting scenarios. MNC04-792 F-146 showed the best overall performance and remained first in all sensitivity tests, driven mainly by its superior phenolic-related block. To add post-digestion relevance, phenolic bioaccessibility of the selected line was assessed using the INFOGEST in vitro digestion model, showing a marked reduction in the oral phase followed by near-complete intestinal recovery, with 99.14% retention of the initial total extractable phenolics. As proof of concept for food application, cakes containing 5%, 10% and 15% flour from the selected line were produced. The 5% formulation preserved specific volume and density comparable to the control while improving nutritional density, providing the best balance between enrichment and trained-panel overall quality. Overall, this framework enables robust selection of elite cowpea lines by linking plant food composition to post-digestion behavior and practical applicability in a food matrix.
Keywords:
Cowpea
INFOGEST
Multicriteria decision analysis
Nutritional density
Phenolic bioaccessibility
Pulse flour

Journal

European Food Research and Technology cover
European Food Research and Technology
IF:
3.2
Papers:
6.3K
Citations:
1.3W

Organization

D
Department of Food Engineering
Scholars:
330
Papers: 141
Citations: 0
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation cover
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
Scholars:
125
Papers: 61
Citations: 7.3K
F
federal institutes of education
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
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