Synergistic Effect of Multi-Millet Formulation on Polyphenol Stability and Antioxidant Potential: A Mixture Design Approach

Authors: Parinitha; Jyothi Lakshmi

Book: Sustainable Food Innovations: Product Development, Packaging, and Waste Valorization

Editors: K. Prasad, S. Shekhar and H. K. Sharma

Publisher: SLIET Longowal

Publication year: 2026

Publication date: 2026-10-02

ISBN: 978-81-990304-2-8 (e-book); 978-81-990304-3-5 (hardback)

Chapter pages: 137–144

DOI: To be added after DOI registration.

Abstract

Millets are increasingly recognized as functional foods owing to their rich polyphenols and antioxidant compounds that contribute to health-promoting effects. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic potential of multi-millet formulations in enhancing polyphenol stability and antioxidant activity through optimized blending. A simplex centroid mixture design approach was employed to combine finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum in varying ratios. Functional responses, including total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP assay, were evaluated across experimental runs. Results revealed that the optimized blend (53% finger millet, 28% pearl millet, 18% sorghum) maximized TPC (639.59 mg/100g), TFC (57.17 mg/100g), and antioxidant responses, confirming finger millet as the primary contributor. Principal component analysis indicated a positive contribution of finger millet (0.345), whereas pearl millet and sorghum exerted negative effects on variance. The synergy index (SI > 1) demonstrated that optimized ratios enhanced functional properties beyond the additive effects of individual millets. These findings confirm the potential of millet-based formulations to deliver improved bioactivity and nutritional integrity through strategic ratio optimization. This study provides a scientific basis for developing multi-millet functional foods with superior health benefits.

Keywords: Multi-millet formulation; Polyphenol stability; Antioxidant potential; Product optimization; Synergy Index

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