Assessment of the impact of microwave roasting on nutrient content, lipid profile, and oxidative stability of pomegranate seed oil

The pomegranate, Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae), stands as one of the most widely employed oils in the cosmetic industry. However, due to its higher content of conjugated linoleic acid, its susceptibility to oxidation is a major challenge, with the most prominent being punicic acid. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of traditional roasting in a microwave on the lipid content, nutritional value, and oxidative stability of Moroccan pomegranate seed oil. The findings indicated a rise in the amount of oil after 15 min of roasting at 650 W, the amount of oil rose from 27.03 to 30.10 (g/100 g). However, the protein content, UV absorbance values, iodine, and saponification values were not significantly affected by a longer roasting time. The peroxide value increases with roasting (1.00 to 5.00 M.eq. O2/kg oil). The roasting process under 350 W did not significantly alter the fatty acid composition. The total tocopherol content exhibits a decrease with increasing roasting time and power, ranging from 333.36 mg/100 g for unroasted seeds to 316.84 mg/100 g for seeds roasted under the conditions of 650 W for 15 min. The roasting process has proven to be critical for the immediate and long-term preservation of the nutritional and physico-chemical properties of pomegranate seed oil.

Enhanced cold plasma hydrogenation with glycerol as hydrogen source for production of trans-fat-free margarine

The quest for better nutritious foods has encouraged novel scientific investigations to find trans-fat reduction methods. This research proposes an innovative approach for the production of healthier trans-fat-free margarine from palm oil by the use of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma technology with glycerol serving as the principal source of hydrogen. The effectiveness of DBD plasma in hydrogenating palm olein was investigated. By employing a methodical series of experiments and thorough analytical approaches, examination of the saturated fatty acid conversion experienced its iodine value (IV) reduction from 67.16 ± 0.70 to 31.61 ± 1.10 under the optimal process parameters of 1 L min-1 He flow rate, 35 W plasma discharge power, 10 mm gap size, ambient initial temperature, and 12 h reaction time with solid texture. According to the method for producing trans-fat-free margarine in the absence of a catalyst and H2 gas, the hydrogenation rate of the prepared mixture of palm olein-glycerol was remarkably improved; the trans-fat content in the produced product was zero; the efficacy of incorporating cis- and trans-isomerization was lowered, and the method has a promising industrial application prospect.

Quantifying Cardinal Temperatures of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Using Non-Linear Regression Models

Temperature is the main factor that impacts germination and therefore the success of annual crops, such as chia (Salvia hispanica L.), whose seeds are known for their high nutritional value related to its oil. The effect of temperature on germination is related to cardinal-temperature concepts that describe the range of temperature over which seeds of a particular species can germinate. Therefore, in this study, in addition to calculated germinative parameters such as total germination and germination rate of S. hispanica seeds, the effectiveness of non-linear models for estimating the cardinal temperatures of chia seeds was also determined. We observed that germination of S. hispanica occurred in cold to moderate-high temperatures (10-35 °C), having an optimal range between 25 and 35 °C, with the highest GR and t₅₀ at 30 °C. Temperatures higher than 35 °C significantly reduced germination. Output parameters of the different non-linear models showed that the response of chia germination to temperature was best explained by beta models (B). Cardinal temperatures calculated by the B1 model for chia germination were: 2.52 ± 6.82 °C for the base, 30.45 ± 0.32 °C for the optimum, and 48.58 ± 2.93 °C for the ceiling temperature.

Synthesis of Pyrethroids and Jasmonoids through Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

The synthesis of jasmone and related jasmonoids and pyrethroids is described. These compounds play a defensive role in plants and share a common cyclopentenone core with variations in the side chains. Jasmone, cinerone, allylrethrone, and derivatives were synthesized through π-allyl palladium cross-coupling of stannane derivatives. With selective hydrogenation, dihydrojasmone, and dihydrocinerone were also synthesized.

Glyceridic and Unsaponifiable Components of Microencapsulated Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana L. and Plukenetia volubilis L.) Edible Oils

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana L. and Plukenetia volubilis L.) edible oils were microencapsulated and the lipid fraction of the microparticles was characterized. Hi-cap^®, Capsule^®, Arabic gum, and the binary combination of Arabic gum + maltodextrin and the ternary combination of Arabic gum + maltodextrin + whey protein isolate, were used as coating materials for the encapsulation process using spray-drying. The surface and the total oils obtained from the microparticles were evaluated in terms of fatty acid composition, minor glyceride polar compounds, polymers, oxidized triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids, along with their unsaponifiable components, sterols, and tocopherols. Differences between the original oils and the microencapsulated ones were determined. The most remarkable results included the presence of polymers when there were none in the original oils, the slight loss in ω3-fatty acids, up to 6%, the loss in tocopherols, in some of the cases around 30%, the maintaining of the phytosterol in their initial levels and the presence of cholesterol in the oils encapsulated with whey protein isolate.