Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide found ubiquitously in terrestrial plants. It finds diverse food applications such as that of a gelling agent, stabilizer, and fat replacer.

Abstract: Proteins extracted from three millet varieties - foxtail millet, pearl millet and proso millet were used for the study. Millet protein loaded α-tocopherol nano complex was prepared using ultrasonication. The prepared solution was used as feed solution for developing nanofibres using electrospinning method with diameter in the range of 250.20 to 347.48 nm. The prepared nanofibres viz., FxTN, PrTN and PeTN representing foxtail protein, proso protein, pearl protein loaded α-tocopherol, respectively were characterised for morphological characteristics using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectral analysis using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The encapsulation efficiency of millet nanofibres for α-tocopherol was also evaluated and found to be 78.98%, 80.32% and 83.09% for PeTN, FxTN and PrTN respectively. The in vitro release behaviour in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions was determined. The findings of the current study revealed the in vitro bioactivity in terms of antioxidant activity with DPPH inhibition activity highest for FxTN (72.87%), metal chelation ability highest for PrTN (72.87 %) and anti- microbial activity (inhibition zone in the range from 1.0-4.2 mm) was well retained.