A Super Muffin: Scientists Develop a Delicious, Fluffy, and Healthy Muffin

Health and muffins are two words not typically linked in our minds. However, the use of a certain plant extract could help change that.

Do you love muffins? We’re referring to a delicious, fluffy muffin that is free from artificial additives and packed with nourishing nutrients. It may sound too good to be true, but a recent study published in the journal Foods details the creation of this new and improved muffin.

From Muffins to Functional Food

The new super muffin has been named Roselle, because it contains calyx extract from the tropical plant Hibiscus sabdariffa, which is often referred to by the same name.

Hibiscus flowers have a beautiful red color, and the calyx extract contains many valuable bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, betaine, and hibiscus acid. All of these components can be used to develop new products and functional food that may offer positive health effects, possibly also reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

The study also shows that Roselle muffins maintain their freshness for up to six days at room temperature, but with so many beneficial qualities, chances are they will be long gone by then.

Health Benefits

The study is part of Re-FOOD, a Norwegian-Indian collaborative project focusing on using and enhancing the value of rest raw materials of food processing.

• The muffin-study is part of the Re-FOOD project, and INTPART-project funded by the Research Council of Norway.
• INTPART is an abbreviation for International Partnerships for Excellent Education, Research, and Innovation
• The project builds collaboration between Norwegian and Indian research, education, and innovation.
• The aim is to achieve the highest possible utilization of resources in the food value chain.
• RE-FOOD also focuses on the importance of natural plant extracts for color, durability, and health effects in the food of the future.

Professor Nutan Kaushik at Amity University in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, points out the health benefits of antioxidants, especially when it comes to neutralizing free radicals, which can be an important contributing factor to serious illnesses.

Prefer Natural Food Coloring

Roselle is also rich in anthocyanins. This is a dye that can be dissolved in water and yields a red, pink, purple, blue, blue violet, or violet color. The color of food has a strong influence on how appetizing we think it is.

Artificial dyes are often clearer and more intense than natural substances. But the demand for natural dyes is increasing because of the concern that artificial dyes are harmful to our health.

Tasty, Nutritional, and Long Shelf-Life

In the muffin study, 30 people tested a total of 17 recipe variants.

The aim was to find the best version of Roselle muffins relative to three important qualities:

• The muffin should have a taste and texture that people like
• The muffin should have valuable nutritional properties
• The muffin should have the best possible shelf life without preservatives

Aim — the Best Possible Response

The researchers measured and surveyed the test subjects’ response to the pastry’s color, appearance, aroma, texture, fluffiness, elasticity, freshness, and chewing resistance. The researchers used the Response Surface Methodology, to model and analyze how the test subjects’ reactions were affected by various factors. The aim of the method is to achieve the most positive response to what is tested.

Natural Food Coloring — Good for Our Cells

In terms of nutrition, the results suggest that the hibiscus extract provides muffins with high levels of antioxidants like phenolics.

These are substances believed to be able to prevent processes in the body that can damage cell membranes or the genetic material in our cells. There are several thousand different phenols, most of which are found in fruit, juice, wine, cocoa, tea, coffee, vegetables, flax seed, whole grains, and legumes.

The Muffin Study

• Title: “Nutritionally Enriched Muffins from Roselle Calyx Extract Using Response Surface Methodology.”
• The control muffins were based on a standard vanilla muffin recipe.
• All ingredients were bought locally, and the taste panel had 30 test subjects.
• Compared to the control muffin, Roselle received the highest overall acceptability score (8.3).
• An average score of 7 or more on a nine-point scale approaches what the researchers call an “extremely acceptable sensory quality.”
• Products that achieve such a high score will be close to the quality that food manufacturers want to offer.
• Compared to the control muffin, the protein and fat content of the Roselle muffin was significantly lower. The carbohydrate content was very similar.
• The ascorbic acid content was 12.1 mg/100 g. The recommended daily dose for adults is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.

Maybe Not So Healthy

The Roselle calyx extract obviously provides health benefits, but the muffin research is primarily good news for those of us who already eat muffins. Because there are some bitter tastes — figuratively speaking — in this muffin batter, in the form of unhealthy sugar, saturated fat, and white flour.

Eva Falch is an associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, and a co-author on the study. She doubts that Roselle would be able to be classified as healthy in Norway.

Underused Resource

“Roselle calyx extract is an underutilized resource, and the study primarily shows the potential of the plant extract. The researchers use the muffin as a model to say something about how ingredients and steps in the manufacturing process affect and change the properties of the final product,” Falch says.

New Possibilities

Classifications and health recommendations, as well as taste and food culture, vary between countries.

“In food cultures where baked goods like this are part of the daily diet, Roselle muffins can contribute to increased nutritional value. To make a healthy version, the whole composition should be as good as possible, with little sugar, salt, saturated fat, and so on,” said Falch, who is also head of the NTNU Food Forum.

Animal Models and a Start-Up

A next step could be to test this ingredient in products with a better nutritional profile, such as whole grain products so that it can be part of a healthy diet.
Professor Nutan Kaushik, says the findings have helped in getting acceptance among consumers as well as regulators.

“Next, we plan to study the health benefits on animal models and launch a start-up company,” she says.

Moist Muffins Mold Easily

Shelf life was the third factor the researchers investigated. When dry and semi-dry baked goods such as biscuits are left for too long, they can deteriorate both physically and chemically. Muffins with higher moisture content, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to bacteria, fermentation, and mold. Mold and mold spores are destroyed by heat during baking, but as soon as the muffins are out of the oven, they are exposed to airborne mold spores.

… but Roselle Keeps Fresh Without Preservatives

Roselle muffins have no added preservatives. The beauty is that the antioxidant ascorbic acid is also found in the pastry. This is a chemical bond that can contribute to increased shelf life in food products. And when it comes to the effects of ascorbic acid on the human body, most of us know it by its common name, vitamin C. The tests showed that Roselle kept well for six days at room temperature, with no signs of mold or spores.

Reference: “Nutritionally Enriched Muffins from Roselle Calyx Extract Using Response Surface Methodology” by Sengnolotha Marak, Nutan Kaushik, Alexander Dikiy, Elena Shumilina and Eva Falch, 8 December 2022, Foods.
DOI: 10.3390/foods11243982

The study was funded by the Research Council of Norway.

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