Modification and properties of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Harms starch I: Heat moisture treatments and annealing

African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) starch was subjected to heat moisture treatments at 18% (HMT-18), 21% (HMT-21), 24% (HMT-24), 27% (HMT-27) and excess (Annealing) moisture levels. Proximate chemical composition of the starch samples revealed that the moisture content of the starches ranged between 6.7% and 12.5%. Following modification of the native starch, there was a reduction in the moisture level of the heat moisture treated starches from HMT-18 to HMT-27. However, the annealed starch (HMT-ANN) retained higher moisture content compared to native starch (AYB-Native). The carbohydrate, protein, ash, amylose and fat content reduced with all the forms of heat treatments. At the temperature range studied (60–90 °C), increasing level of heat moisture treatments reduced the solubility and swelling capacity. pH also exert a profound effect both on the solubility and the swelling of the starch. Increasing degree of alkalinity increased both solubility and swelling capacity. In the native and modified starch samples, replacement of the wheat flour by the starch resulted in increased alkaline water retention of the blends. Water absorption capacity of the starch increased with the severity of moisture treatments, while the oil absorption capacity decreased. Apart from HMT-18, there was improved gel forming capacity of all the other heat-modified starches. Pasting temperature increased after hydrothermal modifications, whereas peak viscosity (Pv), Hot Paste Viscosity (Hv), setback and breakdown values all reduced after heat moisture treatments. All the starches were of type-B viscosity. Differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that heat moisture treatment shifted the onset temperature (To), peak temperature(Tp) and conclusion temperature (Tc) to higher values. The gelatinisation temperature of the annealed starch was comparable to native starch. In addition, gelatinisation band of the native starch increased progressively from HMT-18 to HMT-27. Heat moisture treatment reduced the gelatinsation enthalpy (ΔH), while the enthalpy of retrogradation(ΔHr) increased with the storage time of the gelatinised starch. Retrogradation enthalpy of the heat moisture conditioned starches were lower than the value obtained for the native starch. X-ray diffraction studies of the starch indicated that all the starch samples showed the type-C diffraction pattern. Differences were however observed in their degree of crystallinity. Native starch exhibited the lowest crystallinity (20%) while annealed starch had the highest crystallinity (27%) Microscopy studies revealed surface indentation, formation of groves in the central region, folding of starch granules and formation of doughnut-like appearance in some of the starch samples.