Physicochemical Properties of Conjugated Linoleic Acid-Rich Soy Oil

Co-encapsulation of L-ascorbic acid and quercetin by gelatin/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose coacervates using different interlayer oils

A two-step emulsification prior to complex coacervation was employed to develop a co-encapsulation technology of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components for nutrition enhancement. Processing parameters of mononuclear ellipse-like microcapsules using gelatin and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as wall materials were evaluated. The particle size and morphology of microcapsules and the encapsulation efficiency of L-ascorbic acid were significantly affected by the water-oil phase ratio and total biopolymer concentration. The L-ascorbic acid and quercetin co-encapsulated microcapsules with an average size of 65.26 µm showed good physical and chemical stability. The encapsulation efficiencies of L-ascorbic acid and quercetin were 69.91% and 88.21%, respectively. To predict the potential of functional lipids as hydrophobic carriers, microcapsules using soybean oil, olive oil, fish oil, and conjugated linoleic acid as interlayer oils were developed. The encapsulation efficiencies of hydrophobic compounds carried by different oils were similarly high (88.21-93.08%), whereas, hydrophilic ones carried by conjugated linoleic acid had the lowest encapsulation efficiency (32.54%). The interface tension results indicated that the interfacial stability was impaired by a competitive relation between conjugated linoleic acid and hydrophobic emulsifier at the interface, due to their structural similarity. These results provided the guidance for improving the quality of interlayer oils from microcapsules.

Identification of the metabolites regulated in soybean-Rhizobia symbiosis through solid phase microextraction coupled with LC-MS

Legumes provide one of the uniquely nutrient-rich food sources to the population and are one of the primary field crops that play significant roles in agricultural sustainability. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum is necessary for the high yield of leguminous crops, i.e. soybean. Nodulation of soybean by Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a complex process that is essential for cultivation of these legumes and external stress factors, such as draught and soil acidity, that influence the nodulation and crop yield. Alterations in the nodule metabolites are known to identify the type of stress that mitigates nodulation and lowers crop yield. Current techniques aimed at understanding the metabolic activities in the symbiont, such as in the case of metabolic regulations in varying nodule growth phases, rely on exhaustive techniques based on the removal of nodules or other plant tissue. Aiming to capture a more in-depth, accurate profile of this system without quenching the metabolic activity in the nodules, or removing the nodules, a workflow was prepared for the metabolite sampling through in vivo solid phase microextraction in thin film format (TF-SPME). This technique was followed by LC-QTOF-MS instrumental analysis with subsequent metabolite annotation and reference standard validation. Our approach is unique in terms of eliminating the effects that arise due to analyte partition coefficients. We show that the symbiont undergoes metabolic regulations throughout the cultivation period, displaying the efficacy of TF-SPME as a non-exhaustive sampling method that can be used as a tool to investigate the metabolic alterations in nodules. These alterations would potentially fingerprint the environmental effects on soybean yield.

Strategies for Producing and Incorporating Conjugated Linoleic Acid–Rich Oils in Foods

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is in ruminant-derived foods and is known to combat obesity-related diseases. However, CLA levels in a healthy diet are too low to produce a clinical effect. Therefore, CLA has been produced by linoleic isomerization through fermentation and chemical catalysis. Many of these techniques are not practical for food production, but a recent development has enabled production of CLA-rich triglyceride vegetable oils from high linoleic acid oils by a minor modification of conventional food-oil processing techniques. These oils were used to produce common lipid-based food, such as margarine, shortenings, and salad dressings, whose quality was enhanced by the presence of CLA-rich oil and provided a significant CLA source. Meat and egg CLA content and subsequent food quality can also be increased by addition of dietary CLA. However, consumer awareness of CLA benefits needs to increase prior to commercial-scale production of CLA-rich oil.

Effect of trans, trans CLA egg enrichment from CLA-rich soy oil on yolk fatty acid composition, viscosity and physical properties

CLA egg accumulation studies using cis, trans (c,t) isomers have been effective, but they reported adverse egg quality. trans, trans (t,t) CLA isomers have shown superior nutritional effects in rodent studies, but reports of t,t CLA-rich yolks are limited. The objectives were to determine the effect of t,t CLA-rich soy oil in feed on egg yolk viscosity, and yolk quality during refrigerated storage. Yolk fatty acids, viscosity, weight, index, moisture, pH, and vitelline membrane strength (VMS) were determined at 0, 20, and 30 storage days. CLA had minimal effect on fatty acid profiles, relative to c,t reports. CLA-rich yolk viscosity was greater than controls, and CLA yolks maintained higher viscosities during storage. Yolk weight and index were not affected by t,t CLA-rich soy oil. Yolks with the greatest CLA concentrations had the greatest VMS after 20 days of storage, and yolks containing lower CLA levels maintained greater VMS throughout 30 days of storage, relative to controls.