Starch Pasting Properties, and the Effects of Banana Flour and Cassava Flour Addition to Semolina Flour on Starch and Amino Acid Digestion

This study evaluates the proximate composition, amylose, resistant starch, pasting properties, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacities, and amino acid profiles of banana flour and cassava flour in comparison to semolina flour. Banana flour and cassava flour have a lower protein content (4.54% and 1.41%) but higher total dietary fiber (16.46% and 10.99%) than semolina flour (12.36% and 7.07%, respectively). The two gluten-free flours have a lower amylopectin content compared to semolina flour. Banana flour shows high nutritional qualities (resistant starch, TPC, and antioxidant capacities) compared to cassava and semolina flours. The amino acid evaluation shows that banana and cassava flours have a better ratio of total essential amino acid to total amino acid (35.37% and 29.95% vs 23.34%) but have lower limiting essential amino acid values (0.98% and 1.51% vs 11.12%) than semolina flour. Understanding the different physicochemical, functional, and nutritional properties of banana and cassava flours helps to inform the development of gluten-free cereal products based on these flours.