Properties of Nutritional Compositions and Antioxidant Activity of Acorn Crude Starch by Geographical Origins

Nutritional compositions of acorn crude starch were analyzed according to country of origin, especially the mineral and sugar contents. Regarding the three kinds of starch of domestic (South Korea, KAS), Chinese (CAS), and North Korea (NAS) origins in the Korean market, NAS had the lowest moisture content as well as the highest contents of crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate. Regarding mineral contents, NAS contained the highest amounts of magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous, whereas CAS contained the highest iron and zinc contents. There were no significant differences in acidity and pH. Analysis of the monosaccharide contents of the starches showed that glucose was the highest in KAS while sucrose was the highest in CAS. The Hunter color L value was the lowest in NAS, whereas a and b values were the lowest in CAS. Total phenolic content was the highest in NAS. NAS had the highest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities (: 47.0 mg/mL for DPPH, 0.038 mg/mL for hydroxyl) whereas KAS had similar DPPH (: 73.7 mg/mL for CAS, 86.8 mg/mL for KAS) and hydroxyl radical activities (: 0.041 mg/mL for CAS, 0.044 mg/mL for KAS) as compared to CAS.