Enhancing walnut butter with a pea protein isolate-pectin-pterostilbene complex: Physicochemical properties and stability analysis

To explore the potential applications of pea protein isolate-pectin-pterostilbene complex (PPI-PEC-PT) in the sauce industry, its solubility, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stability were measured. The results indicated that PPI-PEC-PT exhibited a solubility of 77.67 %, more than double that of PPI-PT (31.93 %). The DPPH radical scavenging capacity of PPI-PEC-PT reached up to 78.52 % at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. After accelerated oxidation (60 °C, 7 days), the peroxide value (8.15 mmol/L) and malondialdehyde content (11.50 mmol/L) of PPI-PEC-PT emulsion were significantly lower than those of PPI. Additionally, when applied to walnut butter, PPI-PEC-PT significantly enhanced its gel properties. In conclusion, PPI-PEC-PT could not only serve as a natural antioxidant but also be utilized as a food additive to enhance the gelling properties of products in the food industry.