Low n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism,Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source

Lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial function play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be affected by an imbalance in the n‐6/n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio on these cardiovascular risk factors in rats fed a high‐fat diet using plant oils as the main n‐3 PUFA source. The 1:1 and 5:1 ratio groups had significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and proinflammatory cytokines compared with the 20:1 group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 20:1 group had significantly increased serum levels of E‐Selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and numerous markers of oxidative stress compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The 1:1 group had a significantly decreased lipid peroxide level compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and vWF tended to increase with n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratios increasing from 5:1 to 20:1. We demonstrated that low n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio (1:1 and 5:1) had a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors by enhancing favorable lipid profiles, having anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative stress effects, and improving endothelial function. A high n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio (20:1) had adverse effects. Our results indicated that low n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratios exerted beneficial cardiovascular effects, suggesting that plant oils could be used as a source of n‐3 fatty acids to prevent CVD. They also suggested that we should be aware of possible adverse effects from excessive n‐3 PUFA.     

Reduced Maternal Erythrocyte Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Exist in Early Pregnancy in Preeclampsia

The present prospective study examines proportions of maternal erythrocyte fatty acids across gestation and their association with cord erythrocyte fatty acids in normotensive control (NC) and preeclamptic pregnancies. We hypothesize that maternal fatty acid status in early pregnancy influences fetal fatty acid stores in preeclampsia. 137 NC women and 58 women with preeclampsia were included in this study. Maternal blood was collected at 3 time points during pregnancy (16–20th weeks, 26–30th weeks and at delivery). Cord blood was collected at delivery. Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. The proportions of maternal erythrocyte α‐linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, nervonic acid, and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (p < 0.05 for all) were lower while total n‐6 fatty acids were higher (p < 0.05) at 16–20th weeks of gestation in preeclampsia as compared with NC. Cord 18:3n‐3, 22:6n‐3, 24:1n‐9, MUFA, and total n‐3 fatty acids (p < 0.05 for all) were also lower in preeclampsia as compared with NC. A positive association was observed between maternal erythrocyte 22:6n‐3 and 24:1n‐9 at 16–20th weeks with the same fatty acids in cord erythrocytes (p < 0.05 for both) in preeclampsia. Our study for the first time indicates alteration in maternal erythrocyte fatty acids at 16th weeks of gestation which is further reflected in cord erythrocytes at delivery in preeclampsia.     

Monitoring of Changes in Composition of Soybean Oil During Deep-Fat Frying with Different Food Types

Changes in the composition of soybean oil during deep‐fat frying with wheat dough (WD) and chicken breast meat (CBM) were comparatively investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The amounts of saturated fatty acids (FAs) and short‐chain FAs were increased. The amount of unsaturated FAs was decreased as the processing time increased. An increase in the amount of tetradecanoic acid and 9‐cis‐hexadecanoic acid was observed during the CBM frying only. The FTIR spectrum of frying oil was analyzed by extracting the entire information as the area ratios based on vibration absorptions of the specific functional groups. Changes in content of functional groups, namely cis C=C, trans C=C, C=O, C–O, O–H, and C–H, were studied by the FTIR‐based method. Based on the changes in the content of FAs and functional groups, soybean oil fried with CBM degraded more quickly than that fried with WD. Moreover, good linear correlations between the change in contents of functional groups and the mass percentages of FAs were also observed. The FTIR‐based method could be used in real time to monitor the quality of frying oil during the deep‐fat frying.     

Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acid Profile of Phoenix Tree Seed and its Oil

Various components of Phoenix tree (Firmiana simplex) seed were determined. Oil, protein, moisture, ash, and fiber accounted for 27.8 ± 0.3, 19.7 ± 0.4, 7.5 ± 0.2, 4.4 ± 0.3, and 31.23 ± 0.93 % (w/w) of the seed, respectively. The acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, and unsaponifiable matter content of Phoenix tree seed oil extracted using the Soxhlet method were 3.73 ± 0.02 mg KOH/g, 1.97 ± 0.21 mmol/kg, 183.74 ± 2.37 mg KOH/g, and 0.90 ± 0.05 g/100 g, respectively. The total tocopherol content was 54.5 ± 0.5 mg/100 g oil, which consisted mainly of δ‐tocopherol (29.5 ± 0.6 mg/100 g oil) and γ‐tocopherol (13.8 ± 0.8 mg/100 g oil). Linoleic acid (L, 30.2 %), oleic acid (O, 22.2 %), and sterculic acid (S, 23.2 %) were the main unsaturated fatty acids of Phoenix tree seed oil. The saturated fatty acids included palmitic acid (17.4 %) and stearic acid (St, 2.9 %). The work shows the first report of sterculic acid in seeds of this species. This oil can be used as a raw material to produce sterculic acid.     

Effect of Roasting on Physicochemical Properties of Wild Almonds (Amygdalus scoparia)

Roasting enhances sensory quality of wild almonds (Amygdalus scoparia). The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of microwaves (480 W for 3 or 4 min) in roasting of wild almonds in comparison with traditional Spanish (165 °C for 20 min) and Iranian (soaking in 20 % NaCl in water for 30 min, drying at 60 °C for 2 h and roasting at 135 °C for 20 min) hot‐air processes. The influence of roasting wild almonds on moisture and oil contents, crispness, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and odour intensity was investigated. Roasting causes changes in appearance, texture and flavour, due to dehydration, browning, lipid oxidation, and diverse structural changes. The moisture content and hardness of the samples significantly decreased with all roasting methods. Roasting resulted in higher amounts of characteristics aroma compounds and only microwave roasting increased the oil content. The final recommendation is that microwave roasting at 480 W for 4 min led to roasted almonds of high physicochemical [dark and intense colour (L*44.9, a*8.4, and b*19.6), the highest content of total volatile compounds (132 mg kg^?1), 85.2 % of unsaturated fatty acids], and sensory (high intensity of “roasted almond” aroma) quality. Microwaves can be used for roasting wild almond as a quick, safe, and economical method.     

An Engineered Cholesterol Oxidase Catalyses Enantioselective Oxidation of Non-steroidal Secondary Alcohols

The enantioselective oxidation of 2° alcohols to ketones is an important reaction in synthetic chemistry, especially if it can be achieved using O₂-driven alcohol oxidases under mild reaction conditions. However to date, oxidation of secondary alcohols using alcohol oxidases has focused on activated benzylic or allylic substrates, with unactivated secondary alcohols showing poor activity. Here we show that cholesterol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.6) could be engineered for activity towards a range of aliphatic, cyclic, acyclic, allylic and benzylic secondary alcohols. Additionally, since the variants demonstrated high (S)-selectivity, deracemisation reactions were performed in the presence of ammonia borane to obtain enantiopure (R)-alcohols.     

Solvent-Assisted Crystallization of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters from Animal Fat

An easy and efficient method for the separation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid mono alkyl esters, prepared from animal fat, was developed. The most efficient separation was achieved by the use of solvents such as methanol and acetone at low temperatures. The dilution of the alkyl esters with 10 times the amount of solvent (10:1 v/w) and storage of the mixture for 4 h at ?22 °C could be defined as optimum conditions. After filtration of the saturated fraction at the corresponding temperature very pure fractions were obtained. For fatty acid methyl esters deriving from tallow, with an initial content of saturated fatty acids of almost 50 %, a saturated ester fraction with only 5 % unsaturated fatty acids and an unsaturated ester fraction with about 9 % of saturated fatty acids could be obtained. The solvent easily could be recovered by distillation. In addition fatty acid ethyl, 1‐propyl, 2‐propyl, 1‐butyl, tert‐butyl and 3‐methyl‐1‐butyl esters were prepared and separated into saturated and unsaturated fractions. All fractions were analyzed according to the fatty acid compositions and showed similar or slightly worse results compared to the methyl esters. The cold filter plugging points of the unsaturated fractions were measured, showing the lowest value for the unsaturated methyl ester fraction at ?26 °C. The fractionation with the use of solvents is an easy tool in order to obtain fatty acid alkyl esters with excellent cold temperature behavior out of animal fat.     

Physicochemical Property and Fatty Acid Profile of Cephalotaxus fortunei Nut Oils

This paper focused on the main composition of Cephalotaxus fortunei nuts, the physicochemical property of its oils, the fatty acid profiles and the content of alkaloids and tocopherol in the nuts oils. And these elements were compared among three kinds of C. fortunei nuts and their oil. The results showed the C. fortunei nuts contained about 65 % crude oil. Meanwhile, the content of crude protein, crude fiber, moisture, ash and reduced sugar were presented, respectively. The important physicochemical indicators of the crude C. fortunei nuts oils were presented, including specific gravity, refractive index, viscosity, acid value and saponification value, etc. The contents of alkaloids were 0.41 % in NUT1, 0.24 % in NUT2 and 0.31 % in NUT3. The contents of tocopherol were low. The analysis of the fatty acid composition showed that the three kinds of oils were all rich in unsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid and linoleic acid, and the main triacylglycerols were dioleoyl-monolinoleoyl (OLO) and triolein (OOO). This work might help with the exploration of the applications of C. fortunei nuts and its oil.