Comparison of Physicochemical, Functional and Nutritional Properties between Proteins of Soybean and a Novel Mixture of Soybean-Maize

Featured Application The vegetable proteins represent a source of low-cost nutrients, but, unfortunately, not all of them fulfill highly digestible essential amino acids required for proper nutrition. This is why, in this study, a protein extracted from a mixture of soybean meal and maize germ was developed. The combination of soybean proteins with maize germ proteins represents an attractive alternative for elaborating nutritionally complete food products that contribute to the right physical and mental development of consumers. Vegetable proteins are potential low-cost alternatives to solve the protein deficiency of the world population. A protein extracted from a mixture of soybean meal and maize germ was developed to offer more protein alternatives with high nutritional value. In this study, physicochemical, functional, and nutritional characteristics of isolates and hydrolysates of soybean and counterparts extracted from a soybean meal-maize germ were compared. The isolate and hydrolysate of the soybean-maize blend had a protein content of 93.9% and 73.6%, respectively. These protein mixtures contained 10% and 52% more solubility, 303.9%, and 22.7% more emulsifying capacity, 4.5% and 4.2% higher foam density and 36.3% and 1.2% more coagulation capacity compared to the soybean isolate and hydrolysate. Electrophoretic profiles of soybean-maize proteins showed four additional bands to the typical soybean pattern of 56, 55, 52 and 18 kDa, which could correspond to globulins and zeins from maize. The isolate extracted from the mixture of soybean meal and maize is a new alternative to provide the necessary amino acids for proper physical and mental development. Additionally, it has a high potential to be used as an ingredient by the food industry due to its excellent functionality and nutritional value.