Are virgin olive oils obtained below 27 °C better than those produced at higher temperatures?

Within the European Union, indications of ‘first cold pressing’ and ‘cold extraction’ can only be used for virgin olive oil (VOO) obtained below 27 °C from mechanical processing. Three different malaxing temperatures (25, 35 and 45 °C) are here evaluated for the quality of the VOO obtained in a continuous industrial plant. The oils were stored at room temperature in the dark for 12 months. Initially, oil obtained from a blend of Frantoio/Leccino cultivars (F/L) had higher acidity and peroxide levels and lower phenolic content than a Coratina cultivar (Cor). The oxidative stability of the oils positively correlated with malaxation temperature (F/L, R² = 0.818; Cor, R² = 0.987) as the phenolic content was directly proportional to the temperature (F/L, R² = 0.887; Cor, R² = 0.992). Only oils obtained at 45 °C were rejected because of ‘heated or burnt’ off-flavour. Decarboxymethylation of secoiridoids and further hydrolysis of phenolic esters occurred during storage. The oxidation products of derivatives of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol were detected after nine months in both the F/L and Cor samples. Thus, VOO obtained at a processing temperature lower than 27 °C does not show higher chemical and sensory qualities than VOO obtained at 35 °C.     

Oxidative and thermal stabilities of genetically modified high oleic sunflower oil

The oxidative and thermal stabilities of genetically modified high oleic sunflower oil (87% oleic acid) were compared with those of regular sunflower (17% oleic acid), soybean, corn, and peanut oils during storage at 55 °C and simulated deep fat frying at 185 °C. Oxidative stability was evaluated by measuring the oxygen content and volatile compounds in the sample bottle headspace and peroxide value. The coefficient variations (CVs) for volatile compound, headspace oxygen, and peroxide value analyses were 2.02%, 1.41%, and 3.18%, respectively. The oxidative stability of high oleic sunflower oil was greater than those of regular sunflower and soybean oil (P < 0.05) and as good as those of corn and peanut oils (P > 0.05). The thermal stabilities of oils during deep fat frying were evaluated by measuring the infrared absorption at 2.9 μm and conjugated diene content. The CV of conjugated diene content was 1.07%. Infrared and conjugated diene results showed that the high oleic sunflower oil had greater thermal stability than had regular sunflower, soybean, corn, and peanut oils (P < 0.05). The genetically modified high oleic sunflower oil, with 5.5% linoleic acid, had better oxidative and thermal stabilities than had the regular sunflower oil with 71.6% linoleic acid.     

Physicochemical changes in fresh-cut wax apple (Syzygium samarangenese [Blume] Merrill & L.M. Perry) during storage

Physicochemical changes, such as peel and flesh colours, total anthocyanin content, browning index, firmness, total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), sugar acid ratio (TSS/TA), antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and ascorbic acid content, in fresh-cut Taaptimjan wax apple fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C and 12 ± 2 °C for 7 days were investigated. The skin of fresh-cut fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C showed higher a^∗ value, chroma and total anthocyanin content and lower hue angle than those stored at 12 ± 2 °C. Lightness (L^∗ value) and whiteness index of the fresh-cut fruit flesh stored at 12 ± 2 °C showed significantly lower than those stored at 4 ± 2 °C which related to an significant increase in browning index. Firmness, total soluble solid, titratable acidity and sugar acid ratio did not significant changes during storage. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content increased throughout storage. Ascorbic acid content of the fresh-cut fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C remained constant throughout storage whilst ascorbic content at 12 ± 2 °C decreased and was lower than that at 4 ± 2 °C. At 4 ± 2 °C antioxidant capacity and ascorbic acid content were higher than that stored at 12 ± 2 °C whilst there was no significant difference in total phenolic content. In conclusion, the reduction of whiteness index and the increase in browning index of fresh-cut wax apple flesh were the key factors affecting its quality and storage at 4 ± 2 °C could reduce the change in the flesh colour and maintained the peel colour and nutritional values of fresh-cut wax apple fruit during storage.     

Hydrodynamic, thermo-analytical and molecular structural investigations of enzyme interesterified oil and its thermo-oxidative stability by thermogravimetric analysis

This paper deals with the effect of lipase-catalyzed interesterification of oil on hydrodynamic, thermo-analytical, structural properties and its stability. Interesterification of rice bran oil (RBO) and refined, bleached, deodorized palm olein (RBDPO) blend in 1:1 ratio was carried out at 60 ± 1 °C under stirring for 6 h. Results showed that hydrodynamic property of oils decreased from 3.61 × 10⁻⁶ in RBDPO to 2.91 × 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹ in enzyme interesterified oil (EI) and heat transfer coefficient increased from 221.0 in RBDPO to 250.7 Wm⁻² °C⁻¹ in EI over 170-190 °C. Peak melting point of triacylglycerols shifted from 10.36 °C in RBDPO to −4.76 °C in EI. Trisaturated triacylglycerols decreased from 4% in RBDPO to 0.6% in EI. The first step of thermal decomposition started at 190, 212.7 and 238.9 °C for RBDPO, RBO and EI, respectively. Sensory evaluation of poori fried using these oils revealed no significant (p > 0.05) differences in sensory attributes of the fried product.     

Changes occurring in phenolic content,tocopherol composition and oxidative stability of Camelina sativa oil during storage

Changes occurring during storage in the content of polar phenolic compounds, the composition of tocopherols (T), the presence of primary and secondary oxidative products and titratable acidity in oil obtained from the seeds of Camelina sativa were studied. In fresh oil the content of polar phenolic compounds amounted to 128 mg/kg (expressed as chlorogenic acid), the content of α-T was (41 ± 8) mg/kg, of γ-T (710 ± 19) mg/kg and of δ-T (12 ± 3) mg/kg. β-T and tocotrienols were not detected. In oil stored at 50 °C the concentration of total tocopherols decreased to a value of (440 ± 13) mg/kg in 15 days. In that time the content of polar phenolic compounds in the oil stored at 50 °C was reduced to 72% of its initial value. The content of polar phenolic compounds in oil stored at 65 °C for 15 days was reduced to 21% of its initial value. The content of polar phenolic compounds in the C. sativa oil investigated decreased linearly with peroxide value and with p-anisidine value. The antioxidative activity of polar phenolic compounds extracted from camelina oil was also elucidated. Analysis revealed that the phenolic extract obtained from camelina oil added to a model lipid system for a certain time significantly retarded the process of autooxidation.     

Oxidative stability of olive oil after food processing and comparison with other vegetable oils

The use of olive oil showed an important protection of meat and potatoes when compared with other vegetable oils, with sunflower oil samples being oxidised after 60 min of processing at 180 °C. Olive oil samples were not oxidised, independently of the olive oil quality used. Shelf life was longer for extra-virgin olive oil containing samples and this fact was positively correlated with their higher phenolic content. The radical-scavenging activity of extra-virgin olive oil was higher than for other olive oil samples and was also positively correlated with the phenolic content of the oil. Seed oil antioxidants showed little capacity in delaying the oxidative degradation of seed oils and meat processed with them. However, tocopherol content and the identity of tocopherols present in the oil were shown to have a more important role in the oxidative stability of seed oils than the fatty acid composition.     

Effect of storage on refined and husk olive oils composition: Stabilization by addition of natural antioxidants from Chemlali olive leaves

Two samples of refined olive and husk oils have been analysed in order to evaluate the influence of storage time on their quality. The following parameters were determined: peroxide values, absorption coefficients K270 and K232, Rancimat induction time, sterols and fatty acid contents. Six months storage at 50 °C in the dark revealed a loss in oil stability. This finding was reflected by the greater increase in peroxide value and a decrease of Rancimat induction time and sterol content. The enrichment of refined olive and husk oils with olive leaves and its hydrolysate extract resulted in an appreciable resistance to oxidative deterioration due to its phenolic antioxidants content. Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol were the major compounds in Chemlali olive leaves extract and hydrolysate solution, respectively. The antiradical activity of leaves extract as well as its hydrolysate solution was evaluated and compared to that of the BHT. The antioxidant activity of the enriched refined olive and husk oils with leaves and hydrolysate extracts at 400 ppm showed that the latter had the highest protective effect against oil oxidation. Oils with added hydrolysate extract had the lower peroxide value and the higher stability measured with a Rancimat method. After six months of storage the induction time increased from 23.3 to 83.5 h for refined olive oil and from 16.6 to 49 h for husk oil. Furthermore, during oil storage, there was no significant variation in fatty acid composition. However, the total sterol concentration of the oils treated with hydrolysate extract increased. The results suggested that hydrolysate and leaves extracts are excellent antioxidants and can serve as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants.     

Classification of extra virgin olive oils according to their genetic variety using linear discriminant analysis of sterol profiles established by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection

A method to classify extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) according to their genetic variety using sterol profiles obtained by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) detection has been developed. The optimal separation conditions were obtained using a gradient acetonitrile/water (0.01% acetic acid) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min^− 1 and 10 °C. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models were constructed with the 11 UPLC-APCI-MS sterol peaks taken from the selective ion recording mode chromatograms. Ratios of the peak areas selected by pairs were used as predictors. With the sequential application of two LDA models and using a 95% probability, the EVOO samples belonging to seven genetic varieties mainly produced at La Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, were correctly classified with a prediction capability higher than 97%.     

Antioxidant potential of curry (Murraya koenigii L.) and mint (Mentha spicata) leaf extracts and their effect on colour and oxidative stability of raw ground pork meat during refrigeration storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of different solvent extracts of curry and mint leaf and their effect on colour and oxidative stability of raw ground pork meat stored at 4 ± 1 °C. The results indicated that among the two individual leaf categories, the ethanol extract of curry leaf (EHEC) and the water extract of mint leaf (WEM) showed higher DPPH and ABTS⁺ activity. EHEC also exhibited the highest total phenolic contents while these were the lowest for WEM. WEM showed the highest superoxide anionic scavenging activity (%). The pork meat samples treated with EHEC and WEM showed a decrease in the Hunter L- and a-values and a increase in b-value during storage at 4 °C. However, the pH and TBARS values were higher in control samples irrespective of storage periods. In conclusion, EHEC and WEM have the potential to be used as natural antioxidants to minimise lipid oxidation of pork products.     

The influence of the malaxation temperature on the activity of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase and on the phenolic composition of virgin olive oil

The effect of the malaxation temperature under sealed conditions on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the phenolic compounds in virgin olive oils produced from four Italian cultivars was assessed for two atmospheric conditions. In both cases, the results show a positive relationship between temperature and the concentration of the derivatives of the secoiridoid aglycones; the effect of the temperature on the oxidoreductases that promote oxidation (polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase) was investigated to determine their optimal temperatures and thermal stability. While olive peroxidase (POD) showed the highest activity at 37 °C and high stability in the temperature range tested, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) exhibited the optimum activity at approximately 50 °C, but showed low stability at 40 °C, with a large variation in stability according to the olive cultivar. These results may contribute to an understanding of the increase in the phenol concentration found in virgin olive oils obtained following higher temperatures of malaxation.     

Stability of avocado oil during heating: Comparative study to olive oil

The stability of the saponifiable and unsaponifiable fractions of avocado oil, under a drastic heating treatment, was studied and compared to that of olive oil. Avocado and olive oil were characterised and compared at time 0 h and after different times of heating process (180 °C). PUFA/SFA (0.61 at t = 0) and ω-6/ω-3 (14.05 at t = 0) were higher in avocado oil than in olive oil during the whole experiment. Avocado oil was richer than olive oil in total phytosterols at time 0 h (339.64; 228.27 mg/100 g) and at 9 h (270.44; 210.30 mg/100 g) of heating. TBARs was higher in olive oil after 3 h, reaching the maximum values in both oils at 6 h of heating treatment. Vitamin E was higher in olive oil (35.52 vs. 24.5 mg/100 g) and it disappeared earlier in avocado oil (at 4 vs. 5 h). The stability of avocado oil was similar to that of olive oil.     

Metal oxide semiconductor sensors for monitoring of oxidative status evolution and sensory analysis of virgin olive oils with different phenolic content

An electronic nose based on an array of six metal oxide semiconductor sensors was used to monitor the oxidative status of virgin olive oils (VOO) during storage. VOO samples, with and without phenolic compounds, were stored at 60 °C for 7 weeks. Once a week, absorbance at 232 and 270 nm, oxidized stability index, electronic nose, and sensory analysis were evaluated. Linear discriminant analysis models were constructed in order to classify samples according to oxidative levels. Based on these models, VOO samples with and without phenolic compounds at different storage times, divided in eight categories, were correctly classified also achieving a good correlation for sensory analysis. The method is a fast and economical tool for on-line monitoring of VOO oxidation status.     

Effect of chemical and physical pretreatments on the convective drying of cape gooseberry fruits (Physalis peruviana)

Drying of cape gooseberry fruits is a slow process because of the low permeability to moisture of the fruit’s waxy skin. In this work, the effect of chemical pretreatments (sunflower oil/K₂CO₃ or olive oil/K₂CO₃ at 28 °C, and NaOH/olive oil at 96 °C) and physical pretreatments (blanching) to break down the waxy surface and accelerate moisture diffusion during drying, was assessed. Drying was carried out at 60 °C and 2 m/s air velocity for 10 h. The lowest moisture content (0.27 kg water/kg db), the highest vitamin C content (0.36 mg/g), and the greatest rehydration capacity (1.89) were obtained in fruits pretreated with olive oil (9.48%) and K₂CO₃ (4.74%). However, the greatest changes in color (ΔE^* = 15.05) and chroma (ΔC^* = 9.03) were also associated to fruits pretreated with olive oil and K₂CO₃. The effective diffusivity of water during drying was 7.37 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s in pretreated samples compared with 6.61×10⁻¹¹ m²/s for untreated samples.     

C NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of sucrose aqueous solutions at high pH: NMR measurement of sucrose dissociation constant

The ¹³C NMR technique is used for the measurement of the first dissociation constant of sucrose (HL) in highly alkaline solutions. In 1.0 M NaCl/NaOH medium and for 25 °C, the concentration dissociation constant (pK₁) was 13.1 ± 0.3; and, for 60 °C, pK₁ = 12.30 ± 0.05. The β-d-fructofuranosyl ring was found to be responsible for dissociation. The NMR data reveal no clear evidence of the second dissociation step below pH 14, either at 25 °C or at 60 °C. In the solutions with 4–10 mol dm⁻³ NaOH content the ¹³C NMR technique indicated the chemical shift changes, treated as the second dissociation step of sucrose and a sodium complex formation. A very rough estimation, for variable ionic strength, gives the value: pK₂ ∼ 15.8 ± 0.8. The anionic species L⁻ and NaH₋₁L⁻ have been registered by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-ToF MS) for 0.01 M sucrose solutions with initial pH 13.     

Thermal properties and resistant starch content of green banana flour (Musa cavendishii) produced at different drying conditions

The objective of this research was to verify the effect of drying conditions on thermal properties and resistant starch content of green banana flour (Musa cavendishii). The green banana flour is a complex-carbohydrates source, mainly of resistant starch, and quantifying its gelatinization is important to understand how it affects food processing and the functional properties of the flour. The green banana flour was obtained by drying unripe peeled bananas (first stage of ripening) in a dryer tunnel at 52 °C, 55 °C and 58 °C and air velocity at 0.6 m s⁻¹, 1.0 m s⁻¹ and 1.4 m s⁻¹. The results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves show a single endothermic transition and a flow of maximum heating at peak temperatures from (67.95 ± 0.31) °C to (68.63 ± 0.28) °C. ANOVA shows that only drying temperature influenced significantly (P < 0.05) the gelatinization peak temperature (Tp). Gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) varied from 9.04 J g⁻¹ to 11.63 J g⁻¹ and no significant difference was observed for either temperature or air velocity. The resistant starch content of the flour produced varied from (40.9 ± 0.4) g/100 g to (58.5 ± 5.4) g/100 g, on dry basis (d. b.), and was influenced by the combination of drying conditions: flour produced at 55 °C/1.4 m s⁻¹ and 55 °C/1.0 m s⁻¹ presented higher content of resistant starch.     

Shelf life prediction of aluminum foil laminated polyethylene packed vacuum dried coconut milk powder

Shelf life of vacuum dried coconut milk powder packed in aluminum foil laminated polyethylene packages was predicted using developed mathematical models based on two limiting criteria viz., onset of caking and lipid oxidation. Accelerated storage studies for coconut milk powder packed in aluminium foil laminated polyethylene pouches were conducted at 90 ± 1% relative humidity and 38 ± 2 °C temperature. Threshold value for the shelf life prediction based on moisture migration was taken as the critical moisture content at which lump formation was observed. Shelf life prediction based on lipid oxidation involved establishing relationships between rate of oxygen absorption, package oxygen concentration, volume of O₂ absorbed, peroxide value of the powder and storage time. A peroxide value of 10 mEq. of O₂ per kg fat was considered as the threshold limit for oxidative rancidity. A good fit between experimental and predicted data with relative deviation percent below 10% was observed during storage studies.     

Fatty acid profile and stability of oil from the belly flaps of Nile perch (Lates niloticus)

Oil extracted from the belly flaps of Lake Victoria Nile perch (Lates niloticus) was evaluated for fatty acid composition, contents of vitamin A, β-carotene and α-tocopherol, and oxidative stability. The oil was found to contain substantial amount of palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids (FAs) and had high vitamin A content (3.94 ± 0.02 to 5.90 ± 0.02 mg/100 g of oil). Docosahexaenoic acid (10.45 ± 0.38%), docosapentaenoic acid (5.30 ± 0.60%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (3.63 ± 0.05%) were the most dominant polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Ratios of PUFAs to saturated FAs were in the range 0.68 ± 0.02 to 0.74 ± 0.03, while the ratio of total ω-3 FAs to total ω-6 FAs was 0.85 ± 0.02 to 0.95 ± 0.08. The oils showed exceptional resistance to accelerated oxidation at 65 °C probably because of its high content of β-carotene (2.93 ± 0.03 to 4.69 ± 0.01 mg/100 g of oil) and α-tocopherol (2.11 ± 0.03 to 11.4 ± 0.92 mg/100 g of oil). From the results, it can be concluded that Nile perch oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids and vitamin A.     

Optimisation of the aqueous extraction conditions of phenols from meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria L.) for incorporation into beverages

Meadowsweet was extracted in water at a range of temperatures (60–100 °C), and the total phenols, tannins, quercetin, salicylic acid content and colour were analysed. The extraction of total phenols followed pseudo first-order kinetics, the rate constant (k) increased from 0.09 ± 0.02 min⁻¹ to 0.44 ± 0.09 min⁻¹, as the temperature increased from 60 to 100 °C. An increase in temperature from 60 to 100 °C increased the concentration of total phenols extracted from 39 ± 2 to 63 ± 3 mg g⁻¹ gallic acid equivalents, although it did not significantly affect the proportion of tannin and non-tannin fractions. The extraction of quercetin and salicyclic acid from meadowsweet also followed pseudo first-order kinetics, the rate constant of both compounds increasing with an increase in temperature up until 90 °C. Therefore, the aqueous extraction of meadowsweet at temperatures at or above 90 °C for 15 min yields extracts high in phenols, which may be added to beverages.     

Chemical changes in extra virgin olive oils from Slovenian Istra after thermal treatment

Changes in the physico-chemical parameters of extra virgin olive oils after heating for 142 h at 100 °C with an air flow 10 L/h were investigated. The experimental study was carried out on the two predominant olive cultivars in Slovenian Istra – cv. Istrska belica and cv. Leccino. The data obtained showed that oils from Istrska belica were more stable than those from Leccino. Peroxide values and spectrophotometric data showed higher amounts of oxidation products in oils from Leccino than in those from Istrska belica. After thermal treatment fatty acid composition was changed more in Leccino oils; particularly the amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids dropped significantly, while α-tocopherol was completely depleted in all samples. The content of total biophenols decreased from 598 mg/kg to 241 mg/kg in Istrska belica oils and from 391 mg/kg to 176 mg/kg in Leccino oils. HPLC data showed that transformation of secoiridoid biophenols to the simple biophenols, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol took place.     

Evaluation and characterisation of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad seed oil: Comparison with Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil

The physicochemical properties, fatty acid, tocopherol, thermal properties, ¹H NMR, FTIR and profiles of non-conventional oil extracted from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad seeds were evaluated and compared with conventional sunflower seed oil. In addition, the antioxidant properties of C. colocynthis seed oil were also evaluated. The oil content of the C. colocynthis seeds was 23.16%. The main fatty acids in the oil were linoleic acid (66.73%) followed by oleic acid (14.78%), palmitic acid (9.74%), and stearic acid (7.37%). The tocopherol content was 121.85 mg/100 g with γ-tocopherol as the major one (95.49%). The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the oil was thermally stable up to 286.57 °C, and then began to decompose in four stages namely at 377.4 °C, 408.4 °C, 434.9 °C and 559.2 °C. The present study showed that this non-conventional C. colocynthis seed oil can be used for food and non-food applications to supplement or replace some of the conventional oils.