Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil enriched with conjugated linolenic acid (cLnA), phenolic compounds and tocopherols: Improved extraction of a specialty oil by supercritical CO2

Extraction Process Optimization of Curcumin from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using Ethanol as a Cosolvent

Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., known as temulawak, Javanese ginger, or Javanese turmeric, is a plant species belonging to the ginger family. This plant originated in Indonesia, more specifically on Java Island, and is usually used as medicine. It contains a high amount of a phenolic compound, namely, curcumin. A supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technique was employed to extract curcumin from C. xanthorrhiza. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, and CO2 flow rate on the extraction yield and curcumin recovery from C. xanthorrhiza, which was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol as a cosolvent. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) experimental design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the extraction yield and curcumin recovery. The extraction conditions at a temperature of 40 °C, a pressure of 25 MPa, and a CO2 flow rate of 5.34 mL/min produced the optimum extraction yield of 10.4% and curcumin recovery of 3.2%. From Fourier transform infrared analysis, although the physical-chemical structure in the residue of the starting material was almost similar, the quantity of all functional groups in the residue decreased from the starting material. From scanning electron microscopy analysis, it was confirmed that the cell was broken due to the high-pressure effect, so that the extraction process runs easily.

Microbial Conjugated Linolenic Acid-Enriched Fermented Milk Using Lipase-Hydrolyzed Flaxseed Oil: Biochemical, Organoleptic and Storage Traits

The bioactive conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) can be microbiologically produced by different probiotic strains when in the presence of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA). Food matrices are a good vector, such as has been previously demonstrated with fermented milk enriched with microbial CLNA by Bifidobacterium breve DSM 20091 from lipase-hydrolyzed flaxseed oil. The aim of the present work was to further assess the nutritional, biochemical and organoleptic properties of the developed dairy product, as well as its storage stability throughout 28 days at 4 °C, proving its suitability for consumption. Milk lactose hydrolyzed into glucose (0.89 g/100 g) and galactose (0.88 g/100 g), which were further metabolized into lactic (0.42 g/100 g), acetic (0.44 g/100 g) and propionic (0.85 g/100 g) acids. Titratable acidity reached 0.69% and pH 4.93. Compared with the control (no CLNA), fat content was slightly higher (2.0 g/100 g). Acetic acid was the major volatile (83.32%), lacking important dairy flavor contributors, like acetaldehyde. Sensory analysis revealed predominant astringency and bitterness. No microbial concerns arose during storage, but the CLNA content increased, and some saturated fatty acids seemed to oxidize. In conclusion, the CLNA-enriched fermented milk revealed reasonable compositional properties, yet further improvements are needed for optimal consumer acceptance and a prolonged shelf-life.

Anti-obesity potential of a yogurt functionalized with a CLNA-rich pomegranate oil

Pomegranate oil is rich in conjugated linolenic acids, compounds which have attracted attention due to their potential applicability in obesity management as they are capable of modulating leptin and adiponectin secretion and regulate fatty acids storage and glucose metabolism. Among the possible bioactive foodstuffs capable of delivering these bioactive compounds yogurts have shown potential. Thus, the purpose of this work was to develop functional yogurts through the addition of pomegranate oil either in its free or encapsulated (used as a protective strategy against oxidation and gastrointestinal tract passage) forms. To that end, the pomegranate oil (free and encapsulated) was incorporated in yogurt and the functional yogurt capacity to modulate hepatic lipid accumulation, adipocyte metabolism (in terms of lipolysis, and adipokines secretion) and immune response was evaluated. The results obtained showed that the pomegranate oil's incorporation led to an improvement in the yogurts' nutritional values, with a reduction in its atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes (more than 78% for atherogenic and 76% for thrombogenic index) and an enhancement of its hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (more than 62%) when compared to the control yogurt. Furthermore, data also showed for the first time how these functional yogurts promoted modulation of metabolic processes post GIT as they were capable of reducing by 40% triglycerides accumulation in steatosis-induced Hep G2 cells and by 30 % in differentiated adipocytes. Moreover, samples also showed a capacity to modulate the leptin and adiponectin secretion (56 % of increase in adiponectin) and reduce the IL-6 secretion (ca 44%) and TNF-α (ca 12%) in LPS-stimulated cells. Thus, the CLNA-rich yogurt here developed showed potential as a viable nutraceutical alternative for obesity management.

Functional Compounds of Cold-Pressed Pomegranate Seed Oil: Fatty Acids and Phytosterols Profile as Quality Biomarkers for Origin Discrimination

Cold-pressed pomegranate seed oil (PSO) is a product of the extraction of non-edible pomegranate seeds. Its unique chemical composition in terms of both polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially punicic acid (PA), and secondary metabolites, such as phytosterols, tocopherols and phenols, make it an interesting functional ingredient for food enrichment. It is not clear if the biomarkers profile of PSO depends to factors connected to the geographical origin of seeds. This work presents a statistical comparative analysis, concerning biomolecules composition and geographical origin of 32 commercial cold-pressed PSOs, performed by principal component analysis. The study discriminates between Turkish and Italian PSOs, on the base of the fatty acid profile and phytosterols, and not on the tocopherols and phenols. These results confirmed PA as the main characteristic biomarker of oil genuineness and, for the first time, disclosed a statistically relevant variability of phytosterols, which can be proposed as quality biomarkers for discrimination of geographical origins.

Phytochemical characterization of oil and protein fractions isolated from Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) wine by-product

The wine industry generates large quantities of by-products each year. Therefore, this work aimed to isolate and evaluate the oil and protein fractions of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica, JQ) press residue, offering a partial utilization of valuable bioactive compounds of wine industry by-products. To study the JQ oil extract yield, composition and oxidation stability, we modified the co-solvent composition during the supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) extraction of oil by adding different ethanol content. The remaining defatted material was used for the isolation of proteins. The SC-CO₂ extraction yielded oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols. The use of ethanol as a co-solvent increased the oil yield but did not enhance its oxidative stability or content of antioxidants. We recovered protein isolate after removing tannins with 70% ethanol extraction in the next step. The JQ protein isolate contained all essential amino acids. In addition to its balanced amino acid composition, the protein isolate exhibited excellent emulsifying properties highlighting its potential as a food additive. In conclusion, JQ wine by-products can be utilized for the extraction of oil and protein fractions which can be used in food or cosmetic product formulation.

Simultaneous Production and Immobilization of Lipase Using Pomegranate-Seed Residue: A New Biocatalyst for Hydrolysis Reactions and Structured Lipids Synthesis

Pomegranate-seed residue (PSR) was used in a new strategy for the simultaneous production of Yarrowia lipolytica lipase by submerged fermentation and its immobilization by adsorption. This biocatalyst—the fermented solid residue containing the adsorbed lipase (fermPSR)—was evaluated in hydrolysis reactions and in structured lipid synthesis. In shake flasks, yeast extract and urea were the best nitrogen sources for lipase production with PSR and their simultaneous use increased the lipase production even further. This result was confirmed in a 3.5-liter bioreactor, with lipase activity in an extracellular medium of 40 U/mL. A maximum reaction rate (Vmax) of 49.5 µmol/min/g, a Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) of 207 µmol/L, and a turnover number (Kcat) of 130 s−1 were determined for the new biocatalyst, fermPSR, for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl laurate (p-NPL) into p-nitrophenol. The conversion of p-NPL into p-nitrophenol in subsequent reactions confirmed fermPSR’s potential for industrial hydrolytic reactions. The production of structured lipids from vegetable oil and free fatty acids by fermPSR evidences the versatility of this new biocatalyst.

Pomegranate Oil’s Potential as an Anti-Obesity Ingredient

In recent years, pomegranate oil has obtained more attention due to its content of conjugated linolenic acids and possible application in the prevention of many diseases. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential ability of pomegranate oil to modulate obesity-related metabolism and immune response using in vitro models. In this regard, pomegranate oil was characterized in terms of fatty acids profile, tocopherols and phytosterols, and antioxidant capacity. After evaluation of the safety profile, pomegranate oil’s capacity to modulate obesity-related metabolism was evaluated through adipolysis and adipokines secretion quantification in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes and hepatic lipid accumulation assay in Hep G2 hepatocytes. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated in Caco-2 cells by quantification of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. This oil showed high antioxidant capacity and was mainly composed of conjugated fatty acid, namely punicic acid. Its chemical composition was responsible for its capacity to reduce the lipid accumulation in Hep G2 cells and 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. In short, pomegranate oil shows great potential for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals targeting obesity.

Baru (Dipteryx alata Vogel) Oil Extraction by Supercritical-CO2: Improved Composition by Using Water as Cosolvent

Baru (Dipteryx alata) almond is an emerging nut from the Brazilian savannah, that presents unique flavor and an interesting specialty oil. In this study, we aimed at investigating the effects of pressure, temperature, type (alcohol and/or water), and concentration of polar cosolvent on the extraction yield and tocopherol contents of baru oil obtained by supercritical-CO₂ extraction (SC-CO₂); and to investigate the effect of temperature and pressure on phytosterol, phenolic, and volatile compounds' profile in the oil when H₂O was the cosolvent. Baru oil extracted with SC-CO₂ using alcohol as a cosolvent showed a higher extraction yield (20.5-31.1%) than when using H₂O (4.16-22.7%). However, when 0.3% H₂O was used as cosolvent, baru oils presented the highest γ-tocopherol (107 and 43.7 mg/100 g) and total tocopherol (212 and 48.7 mg/100 g) contents, depending on the temperature and pressure used (50°C and 10 MPa or 70°C and 30 MPa, respectively). Consequently, the lowest pressure (10 MPa) and temperature (50°C) values resulted in baru oils with better γ/α-ratio, and the highest contents of β-sitosterol (107 mg/100 g) and phenolic compounds (166 mg/100 g). However, the highest pressure (30 MPa) and temperature (70°C) values improved the volatile profile of oils. Therefore, although alcohol as a cosolvent improved oil yield, small amounts of H₂O provided a value-added baru oil with either high content of bioactive compounds or with a distinctive volatile profile by tuning temperature and pressure used during SC-CO₂ extraction.

Vitamin E as an essential micronutrient for human health: Common, novel, and unexplored dietary sources

Vitamin E comprises a group of vitamers that includes tocopherols and tocotrienols. They occur in four homologues according to the number and position of methyl groups attached to the chromanol ring. Vitamin E, a liposoluble antioxidant, may participate as an adjuvant in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, neurological, and aging-related diseases. Furthermore, vitamin E has applications in the food industry as a natural additive. In this contribution, the most recent information on the dietary sources of vitamin E, including common, novel, and unexplored sources, is presented. Common edible oils, such as those of corn, olive, palm, rice bran, and peanut, represent the most prominent sources of vitamin E. However, specialty and underutilized oils such as those obtained from tree nuts, fruit seeds, and by-products, emerge as novel sources of this important micronutrient. Complementary studies should examine the tocotrienol content of vitamin E dietary sources to better understand the different biological functions of these vitamers.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Peel and Pulp

The potential of supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) for the extraction of bioactive compounds from mango by-products was assessed. Carotenoid extraction was optimized using a design of experiments based on temperature (35, 55 and 70 °C), pressure (10 and 35 MPa) and co-solvent addition (0%, 10% and 20% of ethanol or acetone). Moreover, the co-extraction of phenolic acids, flavonoids and xanthonoids was evaluated in a subset of parameters. Finally, a comparison was made between SC-CO₂ and a two-step organic solvent extraction of the bioactive compounds from the pulp and peel fractions of two Ecuadorian varieties. The optimal extraction temperature was found to be dependent on the bioactive type, with phenolics requiring higher temperature than carotenoids. The optimal overall conditions, focused on maximal carotenoids recovery, were found to be 55 °C, 35 MPa and 20% of ethanol. The main carotenoid was β-carotene, while phenolics differed among the varieties. The bioactive content of the peel was up to 4.1-fold higher than in the pulp fraction. Higher antioxidant activity was found in the extracts obtained with organic solvents. SC-CO₂ is a promising technology for the isolation of valuable compounds from mango by-products.

Novel trends in extraction and optimization methods of bioactives recovery from pomegranate fruit biowastes: Valorization purposes for industrial applications

Pomegranate biowastes present potential economic value worldwide owing to their several health benefits mediated by a complex mixture of unique bioactives. The exploitation of these bioactives has motivated the exploration of eco-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective extraction techniques to maximize their recovery. The current review aims to provide updated technical information about bioactives extraction mechanisms from pomegranate wastes (seeds and peel), their advantages and disadvantages, and factors towards optimization. A comparative overview of the modern green extraction techniques viz., supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and eutectic solvent mixture as alternatives to conventional extraction methods for seeds and peel is presented. Approaches focused on biowastes modification for properties improvement are also discussed. Such comprehensive review shall provide the best valorization practices of pomegranate biowastes and its application in food and non-food areas focusing on original methods, innovation, protocols, and development to be considered for other fruit biowastes.

Evaluation of antioxidant capacity, fatty acid profile, and bioactive compounds from buritirana (Mauritiella armata Mart.) oil: A little-explored native Brazilian fruit

Buritirana (Mauritiella armata Mart.) is a fruit species native to the Amazon and Cerrado region, belonging to the Arecaceae family. It has high nutritional and functional potential, yet little explored. In this study, we evaluated for the first time the overall yield, behavior of total carotenoids in the extraction kinetics, fatty acid profile, bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant capacity of the oil from buritirana fractions obtained by supercritical CO₂. The highest extraction yield was found in the pulp and whole without seed at 60 °C (18.06 ± 0.40 and 14.55 ± 1.10 g 100 g^-1 of the freeze-dried sample (fdw), respectively), and in the peel at 40 °C (8.31 ± 0.73 g 100 g^-1 fdw). During the extraction kinetics, the pulp had the highest yields of oil (41.57%) and total carotenoids (8.34 mg g^-1) after 61 min at 40 °C. The antioxidant potential, fatty acid profile, and α-tocopherol content were dependent on both fraction and temperature, with oleic acid being the main fatty acid. The oil from the whole fraction without seed had the largest number (20) of identified phenolic compounds. The extraction at 60 °C reduced the relative intensity of most compounds in the whole without seed and pulp. Moreover, it increased the intensity of the compounds in the peel. These results suggest that buritirana is a good oil source with great bioactive potential to produce new products with functional claims.

Quality and Antioxidant Properties of Cold-Pressed Oil from Blanched and Microwave-Pretreated Pomegranate Seed

The present research studied the influence of blanching and microwave pretreatment of seeds on the quality of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) extracted by cold pressing. Pomegranate seeds (cv. Acco) were independently blanched (95 ± 2 °C/3 min) and microwave heated (261 W/102 s) before cold pressing. The quality of the extracted oil was evaluated with respect to oxidation indices, refractive index, yellowness index, total carotenoids content, total phenolic content, flavor compounds, fatty acid composition, and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2.2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity. Blanching and microwave pretreatments of seeds before pressing enhanced oil yield, total phenolic content, flavor compounds, and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity. Although the levels of oxidation indices, including the peroxide value, free fatty acids, acid value, ρ-anisidine value, and total oxidation value, also increased, and the oil quality conformed to the requirements of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX STAN 19-1981) standard for cold-pressed vegetable oils. On the other hand, blanching and microwave heating of seeds decreased the pomegranate seed oil’s yellowness index, whilst the refractive index was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected. Even though both blanching and microwave pretreatment of seeds added value to the cold-pressed PSO, the oil extracted from blanched seeds exhibited lower oxidation indices. Regarding fatty acids, microwave pretreatment of seeds before cold pressing significantly increased palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, whilst it decreased the level of punicic acid. On the contrary, blanching of seeds did not significantly affect the fatty acid composition of PSO, indicating that the nutritional quality of the oil was not significantly affected. Therefore, blanching of seeds is an appropriate and valuable step that could be incorporated into the mechanical processing of PSO.

Chemical Composition and Physicochemical Analysis of Opuntia dillenii Extracts Grown in Morocco

The chemical composition and physicochemical properties of hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of skin, juice, and seeds of Opuntia dillenii fruit collected from three Moroccan regions (Oujda, Nador, and Essaouira) were studied. The study revealed that the seed oil extracts presented the highest yield of 13.12%, followed by the skin fraction (1.77%) and the juice extract (0.49%). The evaluation of fatty acid compositions using GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of linoleic acid as a dominating unsaturated fatty acid with a value of 72.39%, followed by palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid in all localities. Otherwise, the juice extract of Oujda locality was richer in margaric acid (37.41%), followed by Essaouira skin extract (10.7%) and Oujda seed extract (6.18%). However, the campesterol was detected only in trace in the juice extract. The physicochemical properties of O. dillenii seed oils such as acid value, peroxide value, ester value, pH value, saponification value, density, and refractive index were all found to be in good agreement with the quality criteria for pure and fresh oils. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were implemented to compare the difference in the chemical composition of the different O. dillenii extracts.

Pomegranate variety and pomegranate plant part, relevance from bioactive point of view: a review

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the Punicaceae plant family. It is an important fruit due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Pomegranates are widely distributed around the world and, therefore, have a broad genetic diversity, resulting in differences in their phytochemical composition. The scientific community has focused on the positive health effects of pomegranate as a whole, but the different varieties have rarely been compared according to their bioactive compounds and bioactivity. This review aims to provide a holistic overview of the current knowledge on the bioactivity of pomegranate trees, with an emphasis on differentiating both the varieties and the different plant parts. This review intends to provide a general and organized overview of the accumulated knowledge on pomegranates, the identification of the most bioactive varieties, their potential consumption pathways and seeks to provide knowledge on the present gaps to guide future research.

Valorization of Tropical Biomass Waste by Supercritical Fluid Extraction Technology

The inception of sustainable and cleaner extraction technology has paved the way for the innovative development of nonconventional extractions, such as supercritical fluid extraction, apart from conventional extraction counterparts. The concept of biomass waste-to-wealth for the conversion of biomass waste or by-products into value-added products for diversified applications had piqued the prominent interest of researchers and industry players, especially with the abundance of biomass resources readily available in tropical regions that have yet to be tapped into to reach their full potential. In this paper, a critical review of the developments of supercritical fluid technology from its initial inception up to commercialized scalability, including its limitations, extraction of potential tropical biomass wastes for various types of applications, such as biopesticides, bio-repellents, phenolics, and lipids for biofuel, and its role in circular bioeconomy and sustainable development approaches, are discussed in detail.

Quantification of phenolic compounds in vegetable oils by mixed-mode solid-phase extraction isotope chemical labeling coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS

In the present work, a rapid, accurate and cost-effective method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of phenolic compounds in oil using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with chemical labeling UHPLC-MS/MS. Mix-mode SPE weak cation cartridges were selected to enrich and purify phenolic compounds in oil, and hydroxyl moiety was dansylation as stable-isotope internal standard. The major parameters that affected the extraction and chemical labeling efficiency were investigated, and the method was fully validated. The limit of quantifications and the limit of detections were 0.002 µg kg^-1 ~ 0.10 µg kg^-1 and 0.006 µg kg^-1 ~ 0.30 µg kg^-1, respectively. The recoveries were 61.2% ~ 129.3% with intra-day and inter-day precision less than 12%. The results for 38 rapeseed oils revealed that 14 phenolic compounds, including canolol, phenolic acids, phenolic alcohols, tyrosol and vanillin from trace levels to relatively high content.