Analysis of Fatty Acid and Lignan Composition of Indian Germplasm of Sesame to Evaluate Their Nutritional Merits

An attempt was made to individually analyze a germplasm collection of 54 indigenous Indian sesame cultivars for fatty acid and lignan composition of their seed oil by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The entries varied in their fatty acid and lignan composition. The mean percentage contents of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α‐linolenic acids ranged between 10–22, 5–10, 38–50, 18–43 and less than 1 whereas sesamol, sesamin and sesamolin scored between 3–37, 27–67, 20–59 of the total percentage of lignan, respectively. The highest percentage of α‐linolenic acid (ALA) was obtained in Var‐9 (1.3 % of the total fatty acids). Among the lignans, high sesamin content is considered to be significant, particularly in terms of long shelf life and nutraceutical value of sesame seed oil. The study has broadened our understanding related to differential biochemical composition of the rich sesame germplasms, thereby providing us with a useful groundwork for identifying potential targets and suitable cultivars for genetic engineering approaches to be undertaken in order to improve the nutritional quality of sesame oil, which in turn would be beneficial towards human health.     

A Comparative Study on Changes and Relationships of Kernel Biochemical Components in Different Types of Maize

A great deal of genetic variability and breeding efforts have yielded a number of specialty maize types. Little is known about how the off‐target traits in specialty maize kernel have changed and how they compare to those of standard maize genotypes. In this study, we compared the normal (NORMAL), high‐oil (HOM) and high‐protein maize (HPM) genotypes in terms of oil, protein, fatty acids and some mineral components. We also investigated the relationships among the evaluated traits in different kernel types. We detected a significant variation among the maize types for all of the investigated traits. Specialty maize genotypes had a superior performance for the traits they were specifically bred for, as well as kernel mineral content over the normal genotypes. HOM and HPM had similar values in terms of their fatty acid composition. However, they were different from the standard genotypes, with higher oleic and lower linolenic acid levels, which indicates that the specialty maize genotypes possess a better oil quality. Correlation analysis revealed that only three pairs of correlations out of 46 values had the same sign and a similar level of significance in different types. Such similarities or differences in correlation values for different types should be taken into account in the efforts for developing high quality maize genotypes.     

Characterisation of Seed Lipids from Bixa orellana and Trachyspermum copticum

Bixa orellana L. seeds possess a resinous lipid (6.3 %), which has a pungent and spicy odour. The seed is known for its medicinal properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antipyretic activity and as a cure for tonsilitis. Trachyspermum copticum L. seed is a well known digestive aid and relief from colic pain. T. copticum possesses essential oil rich in thymol (>50 %) and lipid (15.6 %). The present study was aimed to quantify lipid classes of these two species by silicic acid chromatography and analyze their fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). It was observed that the seed lipids are rich in neutral lipids with 98.1 and 95.2 % and lower quantities of glycolipids of 1.5 and 3.8 % and phospholipids of 0.36 and 1.0 % in B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively. The fatty acid composition of B. orellana seed lipid showed major quantities of palmitic (26.9 %), linoleic (26.1 %), oleic (17.5 %), linolenic (15.1 %), stearic acid (10.8 %) and small quantities of eicosanoic acid (3.6 %). In T. copticum seed lipids, petroselinic acid (68.3 %) and linoleic acid (25.3 %) together constituted 93 % of the total lipid. The results revealed that the lipids after recovery of the essential components namely, bixin and volatile oil from B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively can be further explored for industrial applications.     

Enzymatic Interesterification of High Oleic Sunflower Oil and Tripalmitin or Tristearin

The objective of this study was to produce low saturated, zero‐trans, interesterified fats with 20 or 30 % saturated fatty acids (SFA) such as C16:0 or C18:0. Tripalmitin (TP) or tristearin (TS) was blended with high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) at different ratios (0.1:1, 0.3:1, and 0.5:1 [w/w]). Total C16:0 and C18:0 compositions of the resulting TP/HOSO and TS/HOSO blends, respectively, were plotted against blending ratios. Linear interpolation was used to estimate blending ratios that would yield physical blends (PB) with 20 or 30 % SFA. Interesterified blends (IB) were then synthesized from the customized PB using Lipozyme TL IM as the biocatalyst. Total and sn‐2 fatty acid compositions, triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species, thermal behavior, and oxidative stability of PB and IB were compared. The total fatty acid compositions of PB and IB were similar but fatty acid positional distributions and TAG molecular species composition differed. IB contained 5–10 % more SFA at the sn‐2 position than corresponding PB. Furthermore, interesterification generated mono‐ and disaturated TAG species which resulted in broader melting profiles for IB. However, IB had lower oxidative stability than PB. The reformulation of food products with zero‐trans interesterified fats may be advantageous to the reduction of cardiovascular disease burden in the population.     

Effect of Industrial Chemical Refining on the Physicochemical Properties and the Bioactive Minor Components of Peanut Oil

The effect of the industrial chemical refining process on the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and bioactive minor components of peanut oil was studied. The results showed that the moisture and volatile matter content, acid value, peroxide value, and p‐anisidine value were significantly changed (P < 0.05) after the complete refining process. No significant variation (P > 0.05) in the iodine value was observed among all the peanut oil samples. Similar changes were observed in the DPPH radical scavenging activity and the total tocol content during chemical refining. In addition, chemical refining did not have much effect on the fatty acid composition, except for certain changes of several individual fatty acids. Moreover, the chemical refining resulted in 23.6, 23.1, and 9.5 % losses of squalene, total phytosterols, and total tocols (α, β, γ, δ‐tocopherols and α, β, γ, δ‐tocotrienols), respectively. The degumming–neutralization step caused the greatest overall reduction of these bioactive minor components. However, the concentrations of α‐tocotrienol and γ‐tocotrienol increased after full refining. Furthermore, chemical refining slightly changed the relative proportions of individual phytosterols and individual tocols.     

Seed Oils of Five Black Tartary Buckwheat Cultivars with Biochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Properties

Black tartary buckwheat oils (BTBOs) were extracted from five major industrial tartary buckwheat cultivars grown under similar agronomical activities and environmental conditions. These oils were characterized for the bioactive compounds containing fatty acids, β‐carotene, lutein, α‐, β‐, δ‐ and γ‐tocopherol, and for their antioxidant properties. The total tocopherol contents that were obtained ranged from 704.66 to 1156.19 mg/kg, with γ‐tocopherol (588.98–977.91 mg/kg) as the main component. The concentration of lutein ranged from 253.14 to 429.63 mg/kg, which was almost ten times higher than that of β‐carotenoid (46.71–69.2 mg/kg), indicating that black tartary buckwheat seed oils were a good source of lutein. The predominant fatty acids were unsaturated oleic acid (C18:1) (35.27–40.61 %) and linoleic acid (C18:2) (38.25–42.90 %). Excellent values of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were obtained and the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value of 13.89 mmol Trolox equiv/g oil was detected in the variety of Chuanqiao No. 1, which was clearly separated by principal component analysis (PCA) on the basis of the highest content of tocopherols and carotenoids. Moreover, the correlation analysis showed that tocopherols and carotenoids were the major contributors to the antioxidant activities of the BTBOs. This study demonstrates that lipophilic extraction in the tartary buckwheat seed contains many interesting bioactive compounds, which are beneficial for human health.     

Effects of Variety,Maturation and Growing Region on Chemical Properties,Fatty Acid and Sterol Compositions of Virgin Olive Oils

Chemical properties, fatty acid and sterol compositions of olive oils extracted from Gemlik and Halhal? varieties grown in Hatay and Mardin provinces in Turkey were investigated during four maturation stages. The olive oil samples were analyzed for their chemical properties such as free acidity, peroxide value, total carotenoid, total chlorophyll, total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, fatty acid and sterol compositions. Chemical properties, fatty acids and sterol profiles of olive oil samples generally showed statistically significant differences depending on the varieties, maturation and growing areas (p < 0.05). As free fatty acid contents and total phenolic contents increased, total carotenoid and chlorophyll contents decreased throughout the maturity stages. Total carotenoid and chlorophyll contents of oil samples from Mardin were higher than those of Hatay. The total phenolic compounds of olive oil samples ranged from 20.62 in Gemlik to 525.22 mg GAE/kg oil in Halhal? from Hatay. In general, the phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of olive oil samples were positively associated. Oleic acid content was the highest 71.53 % in H1 samples in Hatay. Total sterol contents were 1194.33 mg/kg in Halhal? and 2008.66 mg/kg in Gemlik from Hatay. Stigmasterol contents of oils obtained from Hatay were lower than those of Mardin. Oleic acid, palmitic acid, β‐sitosterol, ?‐5‐avenasterol and campesterol contents fluctuated with maturation for each of variety from both growing regions. These results showed that the variety, growing area and maturation influence the chemical properties, fatty acid and sterol compositions.     

Wax Ester Rich Oil From The Marine Crustacean,Calanus finmarchicus,is a Bioavailable Source of EPA and DHA for Human Consumption

Oil from the marine copepod, Calanus finmarchicus, which contains >86 % of fatty acids present as wax esters, is a novel source of n‐3 fatty acids for human consumption. In a randomized, two‐period crossover study, 18 healthy adults consumed 8 capsules providing 4 g of Calanus^® Oil supplying a total of 260 mg EPA and 156 mg DHA primarily as wax esters, or 1 capsule of Lovaza^® providing 465 mg EPA and 375 mg DHA as ethyl esters, each with an EPA‐ and DHA‐free breakfast. Plasma EPA and DHA were measured over a 72 h period (t = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). The positive incremental area under the curve over the 72 h test period (iAUC_{0‐72 h}) for both EPA and DHA was significantly different from zero (p < 0.0001) in both test conditions, with similar findings for the iAUC_{0–24 h} and iAUC_{0–48 h}, indicating the fatty acids were absorbed. There was no difference in the plasma iAUC_{0–72 h} for EPA + DHA, or DHA individually, in response to Calanus Oil vs the ethyl ester condition; however, the iAUC_{0–48 h} and iAUC_{0–72 h} for plasma EPA in response to Calanus Oil were both significantly increased relative to the ethyl ester condition (iAUC_{0–48 h}: 381 ± 31 vs 259 ± 39 μg*h/mL, p = 0.026; iAUC_{0‐72 h}: 514 ± 47 vs 313 ± 49 μg*h/mL, p = 0.009). These data demonstrate a novel wax ester rich marine oil is a suitable alternative source of EPA and DHA for human consumption.     

Acute β-Hydroxy-β-Methyl Butyrate Suppresses Regulators of Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Lipid Oxidation While Increasing Lipid Content in Myotubes

Leucine modulates synthetic and degradative pathways in muscle, possibly providing metabolic benefits for both athletes and diseased populations. Leucine has become popular among athletes for improving performance and body composition, however little is known about the metabolic effects of the commonly consumed leucine‐derived metabolite β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB). Our work measured the effects of HMB on metabolic protein expression, mitochondrial content and metabolism, as well as lipid content in skeletal muscle cells. Specifically, cultured C2C12 myotubes were treated with either a control or HMB ranging from 6.25 to 25 μM for 24 h and mRNA and/or protein expression, oxygen consumption, glucose uptake, and lipid content were measured. Contrary to leucine's stimulatory effect on metabolism, HMB‐treated cells exhibited significantly reduced regulators of lipid oxidation including peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and PPARβ/δ, as well as downstream target carnitine palmitoyl transferase, without alterations in glucose or palmitate oxidation. Furthermore, HMB significantly inhibited activation of the master regulator of energetics, AMP‐activated protein kinase. As a result, HMB‐treated cells also displayed reduced total mitochondrial content compared with true control or cells equivocally treated with leucine. Additionally, HMB treatment amplified markers of lipid biosynthesis (PPARγ and fatty acid synthase) as well as consistently promoted elevated total lipid content versus control cells. Collectively, our results demonstrate that HMB did not improve mitochondrial metabolism or content, and may promote elevated cellular lipid content possibly through heightened PPARγ expression. These observations suggest that HMB may be most beneficial for populations interested in stimulating anabolic cellular processes.