Enhancing stability and flavor of mung bean-based milk through ultrasound treatment: Impacts on physical-chemical properties and protein structure.

Mung bean-based milk (MBM) is a novel plant-based milk that offers several benefits. However, being a legume, the biggest challenge of MBM is its instability and off-flavor. The present study investigated changes in physical-chemical properties and flavor compounds during the ultrasound treatment of MBM. Compared to the untreated and ultrasonic samples before enzyme hydrolysis (UBE), the ultrasonic samples after enzyme hydrolysis and before homogenization (UBH) exhibited a smaller average particle size, higher magnitude of zeta potential, a homogenous structure, and fewer fragments. Ultrasound treatment shifted the protein secondary structure from ordered to disordered. The sample treated by ultrasound after enzymatic hydrolysis for 25 min had the highest free SH group, the lowest surface tension and the highest surface hydrophobicity, preventing protein aggregation. The off-flavor compounds in MBM, including pentanol, hexanol, and hexanal were significantly reduced in UBH 25 min sample. In conclusion, ultrasonication impacted the physical-chemical properties and flavor compounds considerably to improve the stability and flavor of MBM.