Physicochemical properties of Venezuelan breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) starch.

Artocarpus altilis, seedless variety, is a fruit-producing plant which is cultived in Margarita Island, Venezuela, and is consumed by the inhabitants of the region. Its chemical composition and physical characteristics were determined. The chemical (AOAC and AACC methods), physicochemical, morphometric characteristics, viscoamylographic properties and digestibility in vitro of starch from Artocarpus were studied. The starch yield was 18.5 g/100 g (dw)w with a purity of 98.86%, 27.68 and 72.32% of amylose and amylopectin, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed irregular-rounded granules. Swelling power, water absorption and solubility values were determined and found to be higher than that of corn and amaranth starch. The amylographic study showed a gelatinization temperature at 73.3 degrees C, with high stability during heating and cooling cycles. Artocarpus starch could also be categorized in the group of mixed short chain branched/long chain branched glucan starches, this agrees with digestibility results that showed a high degree of digestibility in vitro. These results might be advantageous in medical and food use.