The study aims to investigate the effects of different drying methods on the changes in functional properties, physicochemical composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, sensory attributes, and microstructural quality of the banana flours. Two local banana cultivars, Mehersagar and Sabri, were dried to produce flour using four distinct drying methods: freeze drying (FD), cabinet drying (CD), microwave oven drying (MOD), and forced air oven drying (FOD). The functional properties of the developed banana flours were observed where the findings were as water holding capacity (0.93 ± 0.06–2.74 ± 0.04 g water/g dry sample), oil absorption capacity (0.87 ± 0.06–2.22 ± 0.10 g oil/g dry sample), swelling capacity (4.62 ± 0.02–5.05 ± 0.03 g paste/g dry sample), bulk density (0.54 ± 0.04–0.81 ± 0.02 g/ml), tapped density (0.62 ± 0.04–0.93 ± 0.03 g/ml) and Carr's Index (9.38 ± 0.47–13.58 ± 0.43%). Freeze-dried Mehersagar cultivar's flour showed the leading functional properties with good flowability and cohesiveness. The physicochemical parameters of the flours also revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in lightness (L*) (50.51 ± 1.49–72.21 ± 1.05), moisture content (3.96 ± 0.09–7.74 ± 0.13%), protein (2.72 ± 0.07–3.93 ± 0.06%), crude fat (0.11 ± 0.01–0.36 ± 0.04%), crude fiber (0.64 ± 0.03–1.22 ± 0.03%), carbohydrate (84.15 ± 0.24–88.26 ± 0.15%) and energy content (354.25 ± 0.57–370.02 ± 0.39 kcal/g). Total flavonoid content (21.44 ± 0.04–34.34 ± 0.03 mgQE/100g) and phenolic content (29.91 ± 0.01–71.46 ± 0.03 mgGAE/100g) was observed, while the highest retention of bioactive compounds was exhibited in Mehersagar cultivar's flour. In terms of appearance, fineness, taste, flavor, color, and overall acceptability, the dried banana flour of both the cultivars obtained from freeze-dried scored overall acceptability 8.04 ± 0.02 and 7.92 ± 0.17, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the microstructure of flour granules from each sample revealed a diverse morphological configuration in particle size and shape. According to the findings of this study, the freeze-drying technology is superior to others, and the Mehersagar banana cultivar is more satisfactory in terms of quality characteristics. Moreover, the quality parameters of banana flour may facilitate the formulation of different flour-based gluten-free baked products and food supplements.

The research was conducted to assess the variability and relationship regarding physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds in edible and nonedible portions (peel, flesh and seed) of dragon fruit cultivars native to Bangladesh. The most popular and largely cultivated Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) released BARI Dragon Fruit-1 and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) released BAU Dragon Fruit-1 cultivars were chosen in the study. The experiment was conducted in two factors completely randomized design where two cultivars and, three edible and nonedible portions were considered as treatments. The findings of the investigation revealed that there was a large discrepancy in the average weight in the selected cultivars where BAU Dragon Fruit-1 was found to be superior (347 g) to BARI Dragon Fruit-1 (284 g). These cultivars contained 31.86% to 35.44% peel, 59.74% to 65.08% flesh and 3.06% to 4.82% seed in their edible and non-edible portions. The BAU Dragon Fruit-1 provided a good recovery rate with the highest flesh to peel ratio (2.04:1). The highest amount of total soluble solids (10.20°Brix) was obtained in the flesh portion of BARI Dragon Fruit1. The utmost quantities of ascorbic acid were found in the seeds of each cultivar, ranging from 24.40 to 31.41 mg/100 g. The BARI Dragon Fruit-1 cultivar’s seed contained the highest tannin (444.64 mg TAE/100 g), whereas the flesh of the same cultivar had the lowest (335.04 mg TAE/100 g). In comparison, the phenolic content of BAU Dragon Fruit -1 cultivar's seed and flesh ranged from 162.86 to 163.13 mg GAE/100 g. The highest antioxidant activity (91.35%) was found in the seed portion of BARI Dragon Fruit-1. According to the findings, the edible and non-edible portions of Bangladesh's native dragon fruit cultivars have particular features, which will help in diverse food and pharmaceuticals product formulation and development.

Minor fruits are a potential source of antinutrients, but there is no complete primary data source in the Bangladeshi context. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to acquire documentation for a database of the composition of selected minor fruits. The total phenolic (TPH), vitamin C, total carotene, and ß-carotene contents and antioxidant activity of selected minor fruits were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and reducing power assays (RPA). Phenolic compounds were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and autosampler. Results revealed that minor fruits contain different phytochemicals, particularly TPH, ascorbic acid, total flavonoid (TF), ß-carotene, total carotenoid (TC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC); values ranged, respectively, 0.23-176.50 mg GAE/g, 16.67-664.92 mg/100 g, 2.26-150.02 mg QE/100 g, 1.41-6897.57 µg/100 g, 1.26-98.24 mg/100 g and 1.15-47.46 mg/100 g. In the parameters antioxidant activity, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, reducing power capacity (RPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating capacity (MCC), nitric oxide (NO), and free radical scavenging activity, IC50 ranged 0.01-278.24 µg of ascorbic acid/mg of extract, 39.70-250.00%, 3.21-634.00%, 0.02-1817.88 µM Fe2SO4/100g, 22.29-210.43%, 0.02-70.50%, and 4.98-856.70 µg/g, respectively. Among the identified and quantified phenolic acids, leading examples were gallic acid (279.06 mg/100 g), vanilic acid (43.77 mg/100 g), Þ-courmaric acid (178.96 mg/100 g), ferulic acid (20.44 mg/100 g), and lutein (91.13 µg/100 g) in aonla, day fruit, elephant apple, and bilimbi. Moreover, all selected minor fruits are rich sources of bioactive, biochemical, and antioxidant compounds with potential for use in therapeutic applications.

This research offers an in-depth comparative examination of the amino acid profiles and bioactive substances in two different varieties of mature wheat grains (Triticum aestivum) and the young shoots of wheatgrass BARI gom 33. The amino acid profiles were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after performing acid hydrolysis. Standardized methods were utilized to assess the bioactive compounds present. The results revealed significant variations in the amounts of both essential and non-essential amino acids, as well as bioactive compounds, between wheat and wheatgrass. Notably, wheatgrass exhibited higher concentrations of essential and non-essential amino acids, including histidine, lysine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, methionine, valine, threonine, serine, alanine, and tyrosine. This indicates that wheatgrass may have potential as a nutrient-dense dietary supplement. Wheatgrass exhibited significantly elevated levels of total phenols at 235 mg GAE/100g, total flavonoids at 166.3 mg QE/100g, and DPPH inhibition activity (70 %) compared with the mature wheat grain. Nonetheless, this research offers important information regarding the nutritional makeup of wheatgrass and mature wheat, emphasizing their unique amino acid and bioactive compound profiles. These results carry considerable implications for the possible health advantages related to wheatgrass consumption.

Minor fruits may contain antinutrients, but there is no comprehensive primary data available in Bangladesh. As a result, the current research was carried out in order to collect data for a database of minor fruit composition. The antioxidant activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and reducing power assays were used to evaluate the total phenolic (TPH), vitamin C, total carotene, and ß-carotene contents and antioxidant activity of selected minor fruits (RPA). High-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector and autosampler was used to analyse phenolic compounds. The findings revealed that minor fruits contain a variety of phytochemicals,, particularly TPH, ascorbic acid, total flavonoid (TF), ß-carotene, total carotenoid (TC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC); values ranged, respectively, 0.23-176.50 mg GAE/g, 16.67-664.92 mg/100 g, 2.26-150.02 mg QE/100 g, 1.41-6897.57 µg/100 g, 1.26-98.24 mg/100 g and 1.15-47.46 mg/100 g. In the parameters antioxidant activity, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, reducing power capacity (RPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating capacity (MCC), nitric oxide (NO), and free radical scavenging activity, IC₅₀ ranged 0.01-278.24 µg of ascorbic acid/mg of extract, 39.70-250.00%, 3.21-634.00%, 0.02-1817.88 µM Fe2SO4/100g, 22.29-210.43%, 0.02-70.50%, and 4.98-856.70 µg/g, respectively. Phenolic acids that have been found and quantified, leading examples were gallic acid (279.06 mg/100 g), vanilic acid (43.77 mg/100 g), Þ-courmaric acid (178.96 mg/100 g), ferulic acid (20.44 mg/100 g), and lutein (91.13 µg/100 g) in aonla, day fruit, elephant apple, and bilimbi. Furthermore, all of the minor fruits are high in bioactive, biochemical, and antioxidant compounds that could be used in therapeutic applications.