•Glycerides of unknown hybrid oleifera×guineensis oil were fully identified.•Hybridisation substantially modify the biosynthesis of fatty acids.•Hybridisation do not modify fatty acids distribution ...in triacylglycerols structure.•Thirty-four triacylglycerols molecular species have been identified.•Unsaturated fatty acids were mainly acylated in sn-2 position.
The composition and structure of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and partial glycerides of crude palm oil obtained from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera×Elaeis guineensis, grown in Colombia, were fully characterised and compared to data obtained by analysing crude African palm oil. Hybridisation appears to substantially modify the biosynthesis of fatty acids (FAs) rather than their assembly in TAGs. In fact, total FAs analysis showed significant differences between these two types of oil, with hybrid palm oil having a higher percentage of oleic acid (54.6±1.0 vs 41.4±0.3), together with a lower saturated fatty acid content (33.5±0.5 vs 47.3±0.1), while the percentage of essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, does not undergo significant changes. Furthermore, 34 TAG types were identified, with no qualitative differences between African and E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid palm oil samples. Short and medium chain FAs (8:0, 10:0, 12:0, 14:0) were utilised, together, to build a restricted number of TAG molecular species. Oil samples from the E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid showed higher contents of monosaturated TAGs (47.5–51.0% vs 36.7–37.1%) and triunsaturated TAGs (15.5–15.6% vs 5.2–5.4%). The sn-2 position of TAGs in hybrid palm oil was shown to be predominantly esterified with oleic acid (64.7–66.0mol% vs 55.1–58.2mol% in African palm oil) with only 10–15% of total palmitic acid and 6–20% of stearic acid acylated in the secondary position. The total amount of diacylglycerols (DAGs) was in agreement with the values of free acidity; DAG types found were in agreement with the representativeness of different TAG species.
Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. angustifolia is a plant with an age-old use for the production of manna. However, it is also a valuable source of fixed oil rich-seeds. In the present study we examined ...the chemical and biological properties of this oil in order to support a possible application in foodstuffs, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Fatty acid composition, volatile and phenolic substances were evaluated. Oleic and linoleic acid represented 45.5% and 50.0%, respectively, of the total fatty acid composition. Among polar phenolic substances identified (secoiridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, phenolic acids and alcohols, flavonoids, coumarins) isoverbascoside is for the first time reported in this species. Volatiles were mainly characterized by sesquiterpenes. The oil showed good antioxidant activity, in terms of ABTS radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 value of 28.2 μg/mL. The antiproliferative activity was also investigated: amelanotic melanoma (C32) and lung carcinoma (A549) cells were the most sensitive with IC50 values comparable to that of the positive control vinblastine. These findings shed light on the potential use of F. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia fixed oil in nutraceutics and cosmetics.
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•Fixed oil extracted from the seeds of F. angustifolia subsp. Angustifolia investigated.•Volatile substances are mainly characterized by sesquiterpenes.•Among phenolics, for the first time isoverbascoside is detected in this oil.•A promising ABTS radical scavenging activity was found (IC50 28.2 μg/mL).•IC50 values similar to vinblastine are provided against C32 and A549 cancer cells.
► A novel GC method predicting the roasted coffee composition (Arabica/Robusta) of blends based on two components. ► The method was validated on coffees blends from the Italian market and no ...statistically significant differences were found. ► The method is useful to ensure the validation of certified roasted coffee blends in routine analysis. ► No need to calculate the response factors, no need to quantify the GC components, no need to add internal standards.
Since the price of Arabica is currently more than twice higher than Robusta, a rapid and reliable method for the determination of the roasted coffee blend composition is fundamental for the authentication of commercial blends used for the Italian Espresso coffee. A GC-FID method based on the ratio between the integrated peak areas of kahweol (K) divided by the sum of K and 16-O-methylcafestol (16MCF) was developed. No internal/external standard was used. Moreover, the quantitation of the unsaponifiable compounds is not necessary, as well as the calculation of any response factors. The percentage of Robusta in 34 samples of coffee blends with known composition, and in 48 samples of pure varieties was used to build a cubic polynomial function with R2=0.998. The roasting conditions did not affect the results. Considering eight commercial blends (ranging 0–90% Robusta), no significant difference (two-tailed P=0.817) was registered between the claimed and the predicted composition.
A comparative analysis of ethanol extracts from peel, pulp and seed of Prunus persica var. platycarpa (Tabacchiera peach) was done. The total phenol, flavonoid and carotenoid content as well as the ...antioxidant properties by using different in vitro assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, Fe-chelating, β-carotene bleaching test) were evaluated. Pulp extract was subjected to liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were identified as main constituents. Pulp extract was characterized by the highest total phytonutrients content and exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all in vitro assays (IC₅₀ values of 2.2 μg/mL after 60 min of incubation by using β-carotene bleaching test and 2.9 μg/mL by using Fe-chelating assay). Overall, the obtained results suggest that P. persica var. platycarpa displays a good antioxidant activity and its consumption could be promoted.
Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids or myomas) are the most common benign tumors of premenopausal women and new medical treatments are needed. This study aimed to determine the effects of omega‐3 fatty ...acids on the lipid profile, membrane architecture and gene expression patterns of extracellular matrix components (collagen1A1, fibronectin, versican, or activin A), mechanical signaling (integrin β1, FAK, and AKAP13), sterol regulatory molecules (ABCG1, ABCA1, CAV1, and SREBF2), and mitochondrial enzyme (CYP11A1) in myometrial and leiomyoma cells. Myometrial tissues had a higher amount of arachidonic acid than leiomyoma tissues while leiomyoma tissues had a higher level of linoleic acid than myometrial tissues. Treatment of primary myometrial and leiomyoma cells with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduced the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in both cell types. Myometrial and leiomyoma cell membranes were in the liquid‐crystalline phase, but EPA‐ and DHA‐treated cells had decreased membrane fluidity. While we found no changes in the mRNA expression of ECM components, EPA and DHA treatment reduced levels of ABCG1, ABCA1, and AKAP13 in both cell types. EPA and DHA also reduced FAK and CYP11A1 expression in myometrial cells. The ability of omega‐3 fatty acids to remodel membrane architecture and downregulate the expression of genes involved in mechanical signaling and lipid accumulation in leiomyoma cells offers to further investigate this compound as preventive and/or therapeutic option.
Myometrial and leiomyoma cell membranes were in the liquid‐crystalline phase, but EPA‐ and DHA‐treated cells had decreased membrane fluidity. EPA and DHA treatment reduced levels of ABCG1, ABCA1, and AKAP13 in both cell types. EPA and DHA also reduced FAK and CYP11A1 expression in myometrial cells. The ability of omega‐3 fatty acids to remodel membrane architecture and downregulate the expression of genes involved in mechanical signaling and lipid accumulation in leiomyoma cells offers to further investigate this compound as preventive and/or therapeutic option.
Insulin resistance induces nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We used a high-fat, high-calorie solid diet (HFD) to create a model of insulin resistance and NASH ...in nongenetically modified rats and to study the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and liver. Obesity and insulin resistance occurred in HFD rats, accompanied by a progressive increase in visceral adipose tissue tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA and in circulating free fatty acids. HFD also decreased adiponectin mRNA and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha expression in the visceral adipose tissue and the liver, respectively, and induced hepatic insulin resistance through TNF-alpha-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent insulin receptor substrate-1Ser307 phosphorylation. These modifications lead to hepatic steatosis accompanied by oxidative stress phenomena, necroinflammation, and hepatocyte apoptosis at 4 weeks and by pericentral fibrosis at 6 months. Supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, a PPARalpha ligand, to HFD-treated animals restored hepatic adiponectin and PPARalpha expression, reduced TNF-alpha hepatic levels, and ameliorated fatty liver and the degree of liver injury. Thus, our model mimics the most common features of NASH in humans and provides an ideal tool to study the role of individual pathogenetic events (as for PPARalpha down-regulation) and to define any future experimental therapy, such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, which ameliorated the degree of liver injury.
This study investigates the seed oils obtained from two different varieties of Opuntia ficus‐indica (Sanguigna and Surfarina) growing in Sicily, Italy. Soxhlet and ultrasound‐assisted extraction ...procedures are used to obtain the seed oils. The fatty acid profile, γ‐tocopherols, carotenoid content, and the bioactivity in terms of the antioxidant effects (using ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and β‐carotene bleaching tests), and carbohydrate‐hydrolysing enzyme inhibitory activity (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase) are determined. The extraction procedure does not significantly affect the fatty acid composition of the oil, but it does affect the tocopherol and carotenoid contents, as well as the antioxidant and inhibitory activities. All the oil samples are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic, and oleic acids. Soxhlet extraction proves to be the best extraction procedure to enrich the oils in γ‐tocopherol. Relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) and global antioxidant score (GAS) analyses are applied to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the Sanguigna variety oil extracted with the Soxhlet apparatus that is shown to be the most active. The same oil also shows the highest α‐amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 value of 40.9 μg mL−1), which is better than that reported for acarbose used as a positive control.
Practical Applications: This study is the first to evaluate the effect of oil extraction technologies on the bioactive compound levels and antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activities of cactus pear seed oil, which is a by‐product of fruit processing. The findings will contribute to the valorization of food by‐products. The results provide useful information to select the most valuable technological conditions for oil extraction to preserve the bioactive compounds and the biological activity of the vegetable by‐product extracts, such as seed oil. Cactus pear seed oil obtained by the traditional extraction procedure (Soxhlet) represents a promising source of healthy compounds, particularly of carotenoids and γ‐tocopherol, used not only as antioxidants to preserve lipid components in food preparation but also as functional ingredients due to their hypoglycaemic effect.
Effect of extraction procedure on chemical composition, antioxidant potential, and hypoglycaemic activity of cactus pear seed oils.
Effect of extraction procedure on chemical composition, antioxidant potential, and hypoglycaemic activity of cactus pear seed oils.
The effects of deep-fat frying performed using different culinary fats (extra virgin olive oil, conventional sunflower oil and high-oleic sunflower oil) and different frying temperatures (160 and ...180 °C) on the composition of the preponderant fish phospholipid classes, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), were investigated on Sardina pilchardus. The total fish lipid fraction was injected into the HPLC system coupled on line with a second order mass spectrometer (MS–MS) by means of electronebulization interface (ESI), without a prior clean-up of the phospholipid fraction.
The deep-fat frying process caused significant changes on PE and PC molecular species composition of the fish fillet.
In all cases, the deep-fat frying process caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the relative proportions of the PE and PC species constituted by the combination of palmitic and docosahexaenoic acids. At the same time, a depletion of the percentage of the PE and PC species formed by two docosahexaenoic acid residues in fried fillets was registered. Anyway, this depletion was statistically significant for PC, but not for PE.
Both PE and PC compositions were not influenced by the frying temperature, whereas the nature of the culinary fat had an effect on the PC composition. Particularly, the frying tests with conventional sunflower oil produced a statistically significant increase of PC species containing saturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids and a significant decrease of PC species formed by the combination of two polyunsaturated fatty acids.
•Analysis of phospholipid play a key role on the control of the fried fish quality.•Frying led to a significant change on fish phospholipid molecular species profile.•Phosphatidylcholine profile was more affected by the frying than phosphatidylethanolamine.•Phosphatidylcholine profile changed according to the nature of frying oil.•Frying temperature had no effect on all phospholipid profiles.
Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) leaves and flowers from Italian wild and cultivated populations were herein investigated for their content of carotenoids and tocopherols using ...ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with the photodiode array and fluorimeter detectors to assess their functional value. Moreover, aqueous extracts were prepared to explore in vitro bioactivities never tested in this halophyte herb. Thus, chlorogenic acid-enriched sea fennel extracts were evaluated for their major bioactive compounds, antioxidant potential, pancreatic lipase, and carbohydrate hydrolase inhibitors. Neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, and α- and γ-tocopherols were identified. C. maritimum can be considered a high source of lutein, vitamin A, and vitamin E up to 19.1, 1.85 and 52.81 mg/100 g of dried leaves, respectively. Despite a low TPC content, a promising ABTS+. radical scavenging activity (CON-L-WT, IC50 value of 3.83 μg/mL) and the highest FRAP value were observed in the wild leaves extract of Conero Park of Marche Region. The water extract from the wild Sicilian leaves was the most active against pancreatic lipase. The evidence herein suggests that sea fennel extract might be potentially used in the formulation of nutraceuticals for the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress and hyperglycemic conditions.
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•Wild or cultivated C. maritimum leaves are a novel source of lutein and vitamin E.•C. maritimum has moderate inhibition of lipase and carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes.•Sicilian C. maritimum provides the most anti-diabetic bioactive aqueous extract.
The total fatty acid compositions, especially the furan fatty acid (F-acids) profile, from edible muscle (fillet) and organ tissues (brain, eye, ovaries, and testes) of spawning and nonspawning ...sardine and anchovy were examined. The spawning season had no effect on F-acid profiles of the fillet and all organ tissues, for both fishes. However, differences among the F-acid fraction of the organ tissues were revealed. The F-acid portion was less than 1% of total fatty acid in all samples. Five F-acid congeners were detected in the fillet, eye, and gonads, while the brain contained only four F-acids. Unlike the F-acids, spawning season affected the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) abundance in fillet and gonads. DHA enrichment occurred in fillets and gonads from spawning sardine and anchovy. The ratio ω3 PUFA/ω6 PUFA decreases between spawning and nonspawning fillets, thus the fillets from spawning fish have higher nutritional value.