Physicochemical, Functional, and In Vitro Digestibility of Protein Isolates from Thai and Peru Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) Oil Press-Cakes.

Proteins from Sacha inchi (SI) have been widely known for their health-benefiting properties. This study aimed to investigate the different protein isolates obtained from oil press-cakes of Thai and Peru SI. The protein content and protein recovery of Thai and Peru SI were estimated to be 93.27, 90.67%, and 49.15, 59.32%, respectively. The protein patterns of the Thai and Peru SI samples analyzed by SDS-PAGE showed glycoprotein as a major protein, with a molecular weight of 35 kDa. Both protein isolates (PI) showed water and oil holding capacities in the range of 2.97−3.09 g/g sample and 2.75−2.88 g/g sample, respectively. The emulsifying properties of the PI from Thai SI were higher than those of Peru (p < 0.05), while the foaming properties were not analogous to the emulsion properties. The Thai SI sample showed lower digestibility up to 120 min of in vitro digestion time than that of the Peru SI sample (p < 0.05). However, simulated in vitro pepsin digestion of Thai and Peru Si samples displayed hydrolyzed protein bands compared to trypsin digestion, which showed no protein patterns in both SI samples on a 4−20% gradient gel. These results suggest that the protein isolates from Thai and Peru SI exhibit marked variations in physical and techno-functional properties and have a high potential to be employed as plant-based protein additives for future non-animal-based protein-rich foods.

The Effect of Roasting on the Protein Profile and Antiradical Capacity of Flaxseed Meal.

Roasting is more and more often used as a pre-treatment of flaxseeds. However, the process can influence flaxseed proteins that may be crucial for their properties. The aim of this research was to study changes in the electrophoretic protein profile (SDS-PAGE) and the antiradical capacity of flaxseed meals after roasting. The roasting temperature (160, 180, and 200 °C) and flaxseed cultivars (golden and brown seed) were factors including in the study. The free (F-MRP) and bound-to-protein (B-MRP) Maillard reaction products were also analyzed. The most significant changes in the SDS-PAGE protein profiles of roasted seeds of each of the tested flax cultivars were observed for the 13 kDa protein fraction (decrease) and for the 19 kDa and 17 kDa fractions (increase). The research revealed a significant correlation between the roasting temperature and B-MRP content, and changes in the percentage share of those three protein fractions. The antiradical capacity of roasted flaxseeds decreased, as compared with untreated seeds. After roasting at 200 °C the antiradical capacity of flaxseeds improved slightly, probably due to the MRP formation, but it was still significantly lower than that of the raw seeds. The research provides novel information about key protein fractions that seem to be important changing during heat treatment.

Phorbol esters seed content and distribution in Latin American provenances of Jatropha curcas L.: potential for biopesticide, food and feed.

BACKGROUND: Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) is believed to have originated from Mexico and Central America. So far, characterization efforts have focused on Asia, Africa and Mexico. Non-toxic, low phorbol ester (PE) varieties have been found only in Mexico. Differences in PE content in seeds and its structural components, crude oil and cake from Jatropha provenances cultivated in Central and South America were evaluated. Seeds were dehulled, and kernels were separated into tegmen, cotyledons and embryo for PE quantitation by RP-HPLC. Crude oil and cake PE content was also measured. RESULTS: No phenotypic departures in seed size and structure were observed among Jatropha cultivated in Central and South America compared to provenances from Mexico, Asia and Africa. Cotyledons comprised 96.2-97.5 %, tegmen 1.6-2.4 % and embryo represented 0.9-1.4 % of dehulled kernel. Total PE content of all nine provenances categorized them as toxic. Significant differences in kernel PE content were observed among provenances from Mexico, Central and South America (P < 0.01), being Mexican the highest (7.6 mg/g) and Cabo Verde the lowest (2.57 mg/g). All accessions had >95 % of PEs concentrated in cotyledons, 0.5-3 % in the tegmen and 0.5-1 % in the embryo. Over 60 % of total PE in dehulled kernels accumulated in the crude oil, while 35-40 % remained in the cake after extraction. CONCLUSIONS: Low phenotypic variability in seed physical, structural traits and PE content was observed among provenances from Latin America. Very high-PE provenances with potential as biopesticide were found in Central America. No PE-free, edible Jatropha was found among provenances currently cultivated in Central America and Brazil that could be used for human consumption and feedstock. Furthermore, dehulled kernel structural parts as well as its crude oil and cake contained toxic PE levels.

Low-pressure solvent extraction of oil from macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) pulp: characterization of oil and defatted meal / Extração por solvente a baixa pressão do óleo da polpa de macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata): caracterização de óleo e farelo desengordurado

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to extract the oil from macauba pulp using a low-pressure solvent extraction, as well as characterisation of the extracts and defatted meal obtained using different solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and isopropanol). Results reported higher yields in oil, 27.43%, using isopropanol (P<0.05), wherein the highest levels of β-carotene in the extract, 348.30mg 100g-1, were obtained with this solvent. In the composition of the extracts, monounsaturated fatty acids were predominantly found, and it was reported that the type of solvent had no significant influence (P>0.05) on the composition; however, in the quantification of free glycerol compounds, isopropanol showed higher levels, 104.15mg 100g-1, of these compounds (P<0.05). Meals had higher ash, protein and fibre content when compared to pulp. Thus, oil removal can be stated to promote water retention capacity; however, it has no influence on the other technological characteristics evaluated.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho objetivou a extração do óleo da polpa de macaúba utilizando extração por solvente a baixa pressão, bem como a caracterização dos extratos e farelos obtidos, utilizando diferentes solventes (n-hexano, acetato de etila e isopropanol). Os resultados reportam maiores rendimentos em óleo, 27,43%, na utilização do isopropanol (P<0,05), sendo que os maiores teores em β-caroteno no extrato, 348,30mg 100g-1, foram obtidos com este solvente. Na composição dos extratos, predominam os ácidos graxos monoinsaturados e relata-se que o tipo de solvente não apresentou influência significativa (P>0,05) na composição, no entanto, na quantificação dos compostos livres de glicerol, o isopropanol apresentou os maiores teores, 104,15mg 100g-1, desses compostos (P<0,05). Os farelos apresentaram maiores teores de cinzas, proteína e fibras, quando comparados à polpa. A remoção do óleo favorece a capacidade de retenção de água, no entanto, não tem influência nas demais características tecnológicas avaliadas.

Development of protein enriched noodles using texturized defatted meal from sunflower, flaxseed and soybean.

Texturized defatted meals from sunflower, soybean and flaxseed prepared using extrusion technology were incorporated in noodles to improve the protein content of noodles. Noodles were also evaluated for chemical composition, cooking quality, color, functional, textural and sensory properties. Sensory, color and cooking characteristics of noodles were negatively affected with increasing level as texturized flour compared with the control. Noodles with 10 % texturized sunflower and flaxseed flour received the highest sensory scores. Overall acceptability scores were maximum for control and noodles with 10 % texturized defatted meal of sunflower and flaxseed. Further incorporation of 20 % texturized defatted flour from soybean in noodle making gave satisfactory results in terms of overall acceptability. It was concluded that texturized defatted meal serve as good substitute to wheat flour with increased protein content in noodles production and utilization.

Effect of Flaxseed Meals and Extracts on Lipid Stability in a Stored Meat Product.

Flaxseeds have been recently in focus due to the antioxidant capacity of some of their compounds. However, there is a lack of easily accessible information concerning their activity against lipid oxidation in food systems. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of defatted meals (DFM) and the aqueous extracts (AFE) obtained from brown and golden flaxseeds on lipid oxidation in pork meatballs. Fatty acid composition, peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and cholesterol content were monitored during 6 months of freezer storage. Cholesterol oxidation products were identified and quantified. Both DFM and AFE limited fatty acid and cholesterol oxidation during meatball storage. Their antioxidant effect depended on flax variety (brown or golden) and preparation type (DFM or AFE). Lower level of PV and TBARS, compared with the ones with AFE, were noted in meatballs with DFM. Both DFM and AFE, from the brown seed variety, protect the lipids against oxidation to a higher extent. During the storage, a cholesterol degradation was observed. AFE (particularly from the brown variety) limited changes in cholesterol content. Moreover, they stabilized fatty acid composition of stored meatballs. However, DFM efficiently inhibited cholesterol oxidation.