Development, Formulation, and Physicochemical Evaluation of a Multitargeted Plant-Based Nutraceutical Protein Supplements Enriched with Adaptogenic Herbs

Research Article

Abstract

Preparation of a plant-derived multinutritional protein mixture helps in meeting the growing demand for sustainable, clean-label athletic and therapeutic dietary aids. A combination blend combining defatted Arachis hypogaea L. and Cucurbita pepo L. seed flours as main leucine-rich protein sources, fortified with Arthrospira platensis biomass, yields a high-protein density of 44 % with a balanced essential amino acid profile. Functional bulk, textural stability, and metabolic support are established using Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. seed powder and Avena sativa L. beta-glucans. Stress-adaptive and digestion-enhancing properties are integrated via adaptogenic Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots and carminative Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizomes, targeting cortisol modulation and systemic bioavailability of proteins. Sensory optimization using Theobroma cacao L. solids and Stevia rebaudiana glycosides provides a low-glycemic, palatable chocolate-spice organoleptic character. Nutritional evaluation confirms a low-fat lipid content of 8%, generating an energy density of approximately 110 kilocalories per thirty-gram serving. Physical characterization of the blend shows exceptional powder flow properties, evidenced by an angle of repose of twenty-eight degrees, bulk density of 0.44 g/cm³, tapped density of 0.49 g/cm³, and a Carr’s index of approximately 10%. Qualitative assays validate the structural integrity of the macro-nutritional mixture, confirming the preservation of peptide structures, aromatic residues, and sulfur-bearing amino acids post-homogenization. This multi-ingredient plant-based mixture provides a biochemically viable, highly digestible alternative to conventional bovine dairy proteins.