Strategy to Improve Health Value of Edible Bird Nest Using Ginger, Mulberry Leaves & Cinnamon Twig Aqueous Extracts

Goh, Hooi Shin (2020) Strategy to Improve Health Value of Edible Bird Nest Using Ginger, Mulberry Leaves & Cinnamon Twig Aqueous Extracts. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Edible bird nest (EBN) is a traditional Chinese cuisine consumed as a tonic food for centuries. EBN hydrolysate (EBNH) produced via enzymatic hydrolysis of EBN were anticipated to possess higher functional properties than EBN whereas herbal extracts (HEs) of rich polyphenols content have known for its health-beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of hydrolysis on the physicochemical (pH, rotational viscosity, colour), chemical (total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), total soluble protein (TSP)), antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP) and antidiabetic (α-amylase inhibition activity, AI) properties at concentration of 4% (w/v) of EBN. Besides, the effect of 10% (w/v) herbal extracts namely, ginger (G), mulberry leaves (ML) and cinnamon twig (CT) on the EBNH was also evaluated at same concentration of 4% (w/v) as well. Results indicated EBNH exhibited higher chemical, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities than EBN. Besides, the physicochemical, chemical and antioxidant activities of EBNH were found significantly (p<0.05) affected by addition of G, ML and CT. Addition of G, ML and CT increase TPC, TFC and DPPH activity of EBNH. Nonetheless, DPPH activity of HEs were dropped after addition into EBNH and no significant AI activity detected when HEs being added into EBNH. Among the samples, ML incorporated into EBNH (S2) exhibited the highest TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity (86.39±1.66 % inhibition) followed by CT (S3) and G (S1). The present study suggests the addition of ML that significantly increase bioactive properties of EBNH (S2) provide the best strategy to improve health value of EBN.