Comparative study on the quality of oil extracted from two tucumã varieties using supercritical carbon dioxide

Application of spray drying, spray chilling and the combination of both methods to produce tucumã oil microparticles: characterization, stability, and β-carotene bioaccessibility

The aim of this work was to produce tucumã oil (PO) microparticles using different encapsulation methods, and to evaluate their properties, storage stability and bioaccessibility of the encapsulated β-carotene. Gum Arabic was used as carrier for spray drying (SD), while vegetable fat was the wall material for spray chilling (SC) and the combination of the methods (SDC). Powders were yellow (hue angle around 80°) and presented particles with small mean diameters (1.57-2.30 µm). PO and the microparticles possess high β-carotene contents (∼0.35-22 mg/g). However, some carotenoid loss was observed in the particles after encapsulation by SD and SDC (around 20%). After 90 days of storage, SDC particles presented the lowest degradation of total carotenoids (∼5%), while SD samples showed the highest loss (∼21%). Yet, the latter had the lowest contents of conjugated dienes (4.1-5.3 µmol/g) among treatments. At the end of simulated digestion, PO and the microparticles provided low β-carotene bioaccessibility (<10%), and only SC increased this parameter compared to the pure oil. In conclusion, carotenoid-rich microparticles with attractive color were obtained through microencapsulation of PO by SD, SC and SDC, revealing their potential as natural additives for the development of food products with improved nutritional properties. The SC method stood out for providing microparticles with high carotenoid content and retention, high oxidative stability, and improved β-carotene bioaccessibility.

Emerging Lipids from Arecaceae Palm Fruits in Brazil

Arecaceae palm tree fruits (APTFs) with pulp or kernel rich in oil are widely distributed in six Brazilian biomes. APTFs represent a great potential for the sustainable exploitation of products with high added value, but few literature studies have reported their properties and industrial applications. The lack of information leads to underutilization, low consumption, commercialization, and processing of these fruit species. This review presents and discusses the occurrence of 13 APTFs and the composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and potential applications of their 25 oils and fats. The reported studies showed that the species present different lipid profiles. Multivariate analysis based on principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated a correlation between the composition of pulp and kernel oils. Myristic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids are the main saturated fatty acids, while oleic acid is the main unsaturated. Carotenoids and phenolic compounds are the main bioactive compounds in APTFs, contributing to their high oxidative stability. The APTFs oils have a potential for use as foods and ingredients in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and biofuel industries. However, more studies are still necessary to better understand and exploit these species.

Brazilian tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) and tucumã-do-Pará (Astrocaryum vulgare) fruits: bioactive composition, health benefits, and technological potential

Latin America has a wide range of native plants spread through its territory. The palms of the Astrocaryum genus are examples of crops occurring in Central and South America, including the large plant life in Brazil. Although not very well known, the Astrocaryum spp. possess edible and non-edible fractions with potential technological and medicinal uses, as evidenced by recent research. Two native Brazilian fruits, tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) and tucumã-do-Pará (Astrocaryum vulgare), typically found in the north and northeast of the country, respectively, stand out for their high antioxidant capacity and rich content in bioactive compounds, mainly carotenoids and phenolic compounds. Accordingly, experimental studies indicate their potential to prevent and treat inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions, including cancer. The tucumã plants have also been suggested as tools in the industry, for example for biofuel production, activated carbon technology, and as alternative packaging. Considering the importance of bringing light to underestimated yet culturally relevant native crops with potential benefits for small and large communities, this review aims to present and discuss the characteristics, bioactive composition, health effects, and technological potential of tucumã-do-Amazonas and tucumã-do-Pará fruits.

Essential and fixed oils from Amazonian fruits: proprieties and applications

The Amazon biome is rich in oilseed plant species, which have essential physical-chemical, nutritional and pharmacological properties, in addition to potential economic value for different biotechnological and industrial applications. In the extraction of fixed oils, some Amazon fruit that are oleaginous matrices are acquiring more prominence, such as tucumã (Astrocaryum vulgare), pupunha (Bactris gasipaes), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba), patawa (Oenocarpus bataua), among others. These oilseed fruits have natural antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and good oxidative stability. The essential oils from these oilseed species have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to the presence of natural antioxidants, such as carotenoids and tocopherols. Thus, Amazonian oilseed species are valuable resources. For these properties to be preserved during fruit processing, the process of extracting the oil is critical. More studies are needed on their properties and applications, seeking to add commercial value, and the optimization of oils and fats processing to obtain quality products. Therefore, this article aims to present Amazonian fruits' potential to obtain fixed and essential oils and possible application in the food industry.

Non-nutrients and nutrients from Latin American fruits for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been rapidly increasing; among them, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for around 1/3 of deaths in the world. Environmental factors play a central role in their development. Diet is a very important factor in this scenario, and the intake of fruits and vegetables has been considered as one of the critical strategies for reducing the risk of CVDs. Fruits are a source of micronutrients and bioactive compounds that could have cardioprotective effects through several distinct mechanisms, such as antioxidant, antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities, vasodilatation, improvement of plasma lipid profiles, and modulation of inflammatory signaling. Brazil has a very rich and unexplored biodiversity in its different biomes, with several types of fruit, which are a source of bioactive compounds and micronutrients with therapeutic properties. In this sense, this review shows the current knowledge regarding the cardioprotective properties of selected Latin American and Brazilian fruits, including their effects on the activation of platelets and on the inflammation processes involved in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Optimization Methods for the Extraction of Vegetable Oils: A Review

Most seed oils are edible while some are used generally as raw material for soap production, chocolate, margarine, and recently in biodiesel formulations as potential candidates capable of replacing fossil fuels which are costly and destructive to the environment. Oilseeds are a green and major reservoir which when properly exploited can be used sustainably for the production of chemicals at both the laboratory and industrial scales. Oil extraction is one of the most critical steps in seed oil processing because it determines the quality and quantity of oil extracted. Optimization of the extraction conditions for each extraction method enhances yield and quality meanwhile a carefully chosen optimization process equally has the potential of saving time and heat requirements with an associated consequence on cost reduction of the entire process. In this review, the techniques used to optimize oil extraction from plant materials which can be consulted by stakeholders in the field are brought to focus and the merits and demerits of these methods highlighted. Additionally, different types of optimization techniques used for various processes including modeling and the software employed in the optimization processes are discussed. Finally, the quality of the oil as affected by the methods of extraction and the optimization process used are also presented.

Chromatographic profile and bioactive compounds found in the composition of pupunha oil (Bactris gasipaes Kunth): implications for human health

ABSTRACT Objective The presence of dietary bioactive compounds in the human diet becomes a major factor in combating the etiology of different pathologies. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the fatty acids profile, cardiovascular functionality indices, bioactive compounds and spectroscopic pattern of peach palm oil (pupunha oil) and their impact on human health. Methods The oil was obtained by soxhlet extraction; the oil yield and qualities were determined according to the standards of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. For the fatty acids profile, the practical recommendations of the American Oil Chemists’ Society and of the International Organization for Standardization were followed. Total carotenoids and polyphenols were determined by spectrophotometry; the composition of the chemical groups was determined by infrared spectroscopy. The anti-atherogenic, antithrombogenic and hypocholesterolemic indices were obtained using mathematical models. Results The results showed good quality oil based on acid and peroxyde indices (2.45±0.33mg KOH g-1 and 5.47±1.05mEq kg-1). The main fruit bioactive compound was β-carotene (832.4±0.64µg/100g). The chromatographic profile showed a high saturated fatty acid content (53.74%); unsaturated (46.25%); fats were monounsaturated (39.66%) and polyunsaturated (6.59%). The antiatherogenic, antithrombogenic and hypocholesterolemic indices were, on average, 1.10, 2.04 and 0.84, respectively. The spectroscopic profile exhibited bands with variation from 2918.8cm-1 to 714cm-1. Conclusion The results indicate that the consumption of isolated lipid content of the pupunha palm oil provides health protection with emphasis on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.