Rapeseed Protein. pH Solubility and Electrophoretic Characteristics

Extraction, nutrition, functionality and commercial applications of canola proteins as an underutilized plant protein source for human nutrition

Concerns about sustainability and nutrition security have encouraged the food sector to replace animal proteins in food formulations with underutilized plant protein sources and their co-products. In this scenario, canola protein-rich materials produced after oil extraction, including canola cold-pressed cakes and meals, offer an excellent opportunity, considering their nutritional advantages such as a well-balanced amino acid composition and their potential bioactivity. However, radical differences among major proteins (i.e., cruciferin and napin) in terms of the physicochemical properties, and the presence of a wide array of antinutritional factors in canola, impede the production of a highly pure protein extract with a reasonable extraction yield. In this manuscript, principles regarding the extraction methods applicable for the production of canola protein concentrates and isolates are explored in detail. Alkaline and salt extraction methods are presented as the primary isolation methods, which result in cruciferin-rich and napin-rich isolates with different nutritional and functional properties. Since a harsh alkaline condition would result in an inferior functionality in protein isolates, strategies are recommended to reduce the required solvent alkalinity, including using a combination of salt and alkaline and employing membrane technologies, application of proteases and carbohydrases to facilitate the protein solubilization from biomass, and novel green physical methods, such as ultrasound and microwave treatments. In terms of the commercialization progress, several canola protein products have received a GRAS notification so far, which facilitates their incorporation in food formulations, such as bakery, beverages, salad dressings, meat products and meat analogues, and dairies.

The Effect of Precipitation pH on Protein Recovery Yield and Emulsifying Properties in the Extraction of Protein from Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Press Cake

Rapeseed is the second most cultivated oilseed after soybean and is mainly used to produce vegetable oil. The by-product rapeseed press cake is rich in high-quality proteins, thus having the possibility of becoming a new plant protein food source. This study aimed to investigate how the precipitation pH affects the protein yield, protein content, and emulsifying properties when industrially cold-pressed rapeseed press cake is used as the starting material. Proteins were extracted under alkaline conditions (pH 10.5) with an extraction coefficient of 52 ± 2% followed by precipitation at various pH (3.0–6.5). The most preferred condition in terms of process efficiency was pH 4.0, which is reflected in the zeta potential results, where the proteins’ net charge was 0 at pH 4.2. pH 4.0 also exhibited the highest protein recovery yield (33 ± 0%) and the highest protein concentration (64 ± 1%, dry basis). Proteins precipitated at pH 6.0–6.5 stabilized emulsions with the smallest initial droplet size, although emulsions stabilized by rapeseed protein precipitated at pH 5.0–6.0 showed the highest emulsion stability at 37 °C for 21 days, with a limited layer of free oil. Overall, emulsion stabilized by protein precipitated at pH 5.0 was the most stable formulation, with no layer of free oil after 21 days of incubation.

Study of total dry matter and protein extraction from canola meal as affected by the pH, salt addition and use of zeta-potential/turbidimetry analysis to optimize the extraction conditions

Total dry matter and proteins were differentially and preferentially extracted from canola meal (CM) under different conditions. The effect of the extraction medium pH, CM concentration and salt concentrations were found to have different influences on the extractability of total dry matter and proteins from CM. The pH of the extracting medium had the most significant effect. The maximal total dry matter (42.8±1.18%) extractability was obtained with 5% CM at pH 12 without salt addition, whereas the maximal for total protein (58.12±1.47%) was obtained with 15% CM under the same conditions. The minimal extractability for the dry matter (26.63±0.67%) was obtained with 5% CM at pH 10 without salt added and the minimal protein extractability was observed in a 10% CM at pH 10, in 0.01 NaCl. Turbidity and ζ-potential measurements indicated that pH 5 was the optimum condition for the highest protein extraction yield. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that salt addition contributes to higher solubility of canola proteins specifically cruciferin fraction, although it reduces napin extraction.

Physicochemical properties of oilseed proteins

This review attempts to consolidate the information on the physicochemical properties of proteins from groundnut, soybean, sesame seed, mustard seed, rapeseed, sunflower seed, cottonseed, and other oilseeds. It deals with the extraction and characterization of the oilseed proteins and describes the methods for isolation of the various protein fractions and determination of their physicochemical characteristics. Also discussed are the subunit composition of the oligomeric proteins, their hydrodynamic properties, and the effect of denaturants on these proteins. The similarity in the properties of the proteins from various oilseed materials is discussed. The review article aims to indicate the gaps in our knowledge about the physicochemical properties of oilseed proteins and suggests areas for future investigation.

Comparative study of the high molecular weight protein fraction of mustard (B. juncea) and rapeseed (B. campestris)

A method is described for isolating the high mol. wt. protein fraction of mustard and rapeseed in a homogeneous form. The protein from the two species had nearly identical sedimentation coefficients, molecular weights, intrinsic viscosity and fluorescence emission spectrum. However, differences in the amino acid composition were observed. Data on circular dichroism and rate of hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes suggested differences in the secondary structures and possibly amino acids sequence.