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Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2025.12.013

Optimization of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Flour-enriched Bread Formulation Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

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Ngoné Fall Beye1,2,3,4,*, Seynabou Cisse1, Alioune Sow2,3,4, Francisca Nadège Sètondji Vodounnou1, Semou Diouf5, Nicolas Cyrille Ayessou3,4, Codou Mar Diop3,4

1Department of Food Technologies, UFR of Agronomic Sciences, Aquaculture and Food Technologies, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis BP 234, Senegal.

2Laboratory for Biological Sciences, Agronomy and Complex Systems Modeling (LaBAM)/Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis BP 234, Senegal.

3Center for Studies on Food Safety and Functional Molecules (CESAM-RESCIF), Polytechnic School (ESP-UCAD), Dakar BP 5085, Senegal.

4Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory (L3EPI), Polytechnic School (ESP), Dakar BP 5085, Senegal.

5Olam Agri, Dakar BP 25900, Senegal.

*Corresponding author: Ngoné Fall Beye

Published: January 20,2026

Abstract

Cowpea is an important source of plant-based proteins and provides an essential amino acid profile that complements wheat, which is deficient in lysine and threonine. This study aimed to determine the optimal incorporation level of cowpea flour (Vigna unguiculata L.) in the formulation of bread comparable to conventional wheat bread. To achieve this, the amounts of yeast, improver, the ice/water ratio, and the cowpea flour proportion were varied using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to analyze interactions among the factors, and multiple regression models were subsequently developed. The results indicated that incorporating 5% cowpea flour constituted the optimal level for nutritional enrichment. The optimal processing conditions were identified as an ice/water ratio of 0.45%, 14.66 g of yeast, and 7.07 g of improver to obtain a bread with characteristics comparable to the control (100% wheat flour). Sensory evaluation further revealed that the optimized bread exhibited good overall acceptability. These findings highlight the relevance of the Box-Behnken design in identifying factor interactions and optimizing baking conditions. Furthermore, the moderate incorporation of cowpea flour appears to be a promising strategy for improving the nutritional value of bread without significantly compromising its technological and sensory quality. These findings confirm the relevance of the Box-Behnken design for optimizing bread-making conditions and suggest that the moderate incorporation of cowpea flour represents a promising approach to enhance the nutritional value of bread without compromising its technological or sensory quality.

Keywords

Vigna unguiculata L.; Bread fortification; Response Surface Methodology; Box-Behnken design; Sensory evaluation

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How to cite this paper

Optimization of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Flour-enriched Bread Formulation Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

How to cite this paper: Ngoné Fall Beye, Seynabou Cisse, Alioune Sow, Francisca Nadège Sètondji Vodounnou, Semou Diouf, Nicolas Cyrille Ayessou, Codou Mar Diop. (2025) Optimization of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Flour-enriched Bread Formulation Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture9(4), 368-380.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2025.12.013