Date of Award
5-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
B.Sc. Biotechnology
Department
Department of Biotechnology
First Advisor
Dr. Nirmal Mazumder
Abstract
Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate produced by green plants for energy storage. Found in exceeding amounts in vital food items like rice, corn, potato, it is the most prevalent carbohydrate in human nourishment. Starch granules are made of amylose and amylopectin polymers that correspond to its amorphous and crystalline structures; the ratio of which dictates the extend of the starch digestion and studying this phenomenon is the main aim of this study. To study digestion, alpha amylase is used to digest the starch extracted from corn and rice samples. Structural and chemical changes observed in the starch before and after digestion are studied using various techniques. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and polarised light microscopy are used to study morphological changes; XRD to quantify crystalline structures present, FTIR to identify the specific functional groups present and DSC for thermal analysis. Data collected is correlated for better understanding of starch digestion which can lead to beneficial nutraceutical pursuits in areas of diabetes, obesity and nutrition; ultimately catering to clinical and personalised medicine.
Recommended Citation
Yusuf, Nada, "Structural and Chemical Characterization of Rice and Corn Starch Granules using Microscopy and Spectroscopy" (2019). Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Theses and Dissertations. 4.
https://impressions.manipal.edu/mlsc/4
