Nutritional and antioxidant properties of non-centrifugal cane sugar derived from membrane clarified juice

Abstract Sugarcane is a very rich source of nutrients, phytocompounds, and unique flavor and aroma, so unrefined sugars (e.g., non-centrifugal sugar, NCS) produced from it contains high proportions of these compounds that are beneficial to human health. This study examined the nutritional and antioxidant properties of a sugar product obtained from sugarcane juice clarified with 50 nm ceramic membrane (M-NCS) and compares these properties with commercially available NCS products. M-NCS contains the potent antioxidants caffeic acid (313 mg/100 g) and gallic acids (508 mg/100 g), and the overall antioxidant properties based on α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and reducing power are comparable to the commercial products. M-NCS's stability and storage shelf-life (as reflected by the moisture content, water activity (aw), and reducing sugar content) are similar to those of NCS products. However, it contains 22–34% less essential amino acids, although comparable proportions of arginine, glutamine and leucine. As M-NCS has a lower turbidity, starch and amino acid contents than the NCS products, it would be a better choice for the beverage industry as it would significantly reduce the unpleasant haze formed in drink formulations. The study also compares the properties of M-NCS and NCS with granulated brown sugar (GBS).