Simultaneous determination of tocols, γ-oryzanols, phytosterols, squalene, cholecalciferol and phylloquinone in rice bran and vegetable oil samples

Rice bran as a potent ingredient: unveiling its potential for value-added applications

Rice bran production significantly contributes to global environmental deterioration, yet its potential remains underutilized. This review discusses the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, health benefits, limitations, and potential application of rice bran in both food and non-food sectors. While minor variations exist between pigmented and non-pigmented rice bran, the former is abundant in phytochemicals, which offer therapeutic benefits. The primary limitations hindering rice bran's food application include rancidity, toxic heavy metals, and antinutrients. Effective stabilization is crucial to extend rice bran's shelf life. Despite these challenges, rice bran holds significant potential for value-added products. Hence, its rich composition and diverse applications underscore its importance as a valuable resource for sustainable production practices.

Phytosterols in Plant-Derived Foods: Recent Updates in Extraction and Analysis Methods

The physiological and officinal functions of phytosterols are of great significance, and recent dietary guidelines have underscored the significance of incorporating them into a balanced diet. Furthermore, it exhibits inhibitory effects on tumor growth, stimulates cellular immunity, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of phytosterols in public health, it is crucial to establish simple, rapid, eco-conscious, efficient, and highly sensitive techniques for their extraction and determination across various matrices. This review presents a thorough overview of various techniques used for extracting and analyzing phytosterols in diverse plant-derived foods, encompassing a range of advanced technologies like solid-phase extraction, microextraction, supercritical fluid extraction, QuEChERS, alongside traditional approaches. The detection techniques include liquid chromatography-based methods, gas chromatography-based methods, supercritical fluid chromatography, and other methodologies. Additionally, we conduct a thorough examination and comparison of various techniques while proposing future prospects.

Microbial Squalene: A Sustainable Alternative for the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Industry - A Review

Squalene is a natural triterpenoid and a biosynthetic precursor of steroids and hopanoids in microorganisms, plants, humans, and other animals. Squalene has exceptional properties, such as its antioxidant activity, a high penetrability of the skin, and the ability to trigger the immune system, promoting its application in the cosmetic, sustenance, and pharmaceutical industries. Because sharks are the primary source of squalene, there is a need to identify low-cost, environment friendly, and sustainable alternatives for producing squalene commercially. This shift has prompted scientists to apply biotechnological advances to research microorganisms for synthesizing squalene. This review summarizes recent metabolic and bioprocess engineering strategies in various microorganisms for the biotechnological production of this valuable molecule.

Bioregenerative dietary supplementation in space: Brassica rapa var. nipposinica and other Brassica cultivars

Despite the precise environmental manipulation enabled by controlled environment agriculture (CEA), plant genotype remains a key factor in producing desirable traits. Brassica rapa var. nipposinica (mizuna) is a leading candidate for supplementing deficiencies in the space diet, however, which cultivar of mizuna will respond best to the environment of the international space station (ISS) is unknown. It is also unclear if there are more inter-varietal (mizuna - mustards) or intra-varietal (mizuna - mizuna) differences in response to the ISS environment. Twenty-two cultivars of mustard greens, including 13 cultivars of mizuna, were grown under ISS-like conditions to determine which would provide the greatest yield and highest concentrations of carotenoids, anthocyanins, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, ascorbic acid, thiamine, and phylloquinone. The experiment was conducted thrice, and data were analyzed to determine which cultivar is most suited for further optimization of space-based cultivation. It was found that phylloquinone and β-carotene concentrations did not vary between cultivars, while all other metrics of interest showed some variation. 'Amara' mustard (B. carinata) provided the best overall nutritional profile, despite its low biomass yield of 36.8 g, producing concentrations of 27.85, 0.40, and 0.65 mg·g - 1 of ascorbic acid, thiamine, and lutein, respectively. Of the mizuna cultivars evaluated, open pollinated mibuna provided the best profile, while 'Red Hybrid' mizuna provided a complimentary profile to that of 'Amara', minimally increasing dietary iron while providing beneficial anthocyanins lacking in 'Amara'.

Lipidomics analysis of rice bran during storage unveils mechanisms behind dynamic changes in functional lipid molecular species

Rice bran, recognized for its rich lipids and health-beneficial bioactive compounds, holds considerable promise in applications such as rice bran oil production. However, its susceptibility to lipid hydrolysis and oxidation during storage presents a significant challenge. In response, we conducted an in-depth metabolic profiling of rice bran over a storage period of 14 days. We focused on the identification of bioactive compounds and functional lipid species (25 acylglycerols and 53 phospholipids), closely tracking their dynamic changes over time. Our findings revealed significant reductions in these lipid molecular species, highlighting the impact of rancidity processes. Furthermore, we identified 19 characteristic lipid markers and elucidated that phospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism were key metabolic pathways involved. By shedding light on the mechanisms driving lipid degradation in stored rice bran, our study significantly advanced the understanding of lipid stability. These information provided valuable insights for countering rancidity and optimizing rice bran preservation strategies.

Optimization of QuEChERS cleanup for quantification of γ-oryzanol in vegetable oils by UHPLC-MS/MS

This study was based on QuEChERS cleanup coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS for the determination of γ-oryzanol compounds in vegetable oils. Several parameters of QuEChERS and UHPLC-MS/MS were studied for purification and detection of γ-oryzanol compounds in oil samples. Under the optimized conditions, the whole pretreatment procedure could be accomplished within 10 min without tedious procedure, larger volume of organic solvent and complicated apparatus. The limit of detections and the limit of quantifications for γ-oryzanol compounds were ranging from 0.1-0.3 µg kg-1 and 0.4-1.0 µg kg-1, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries of all analyts were ranging from 72.2 % to 101.3 %, and the intra-day and inter-day precision were less than 10.6 %. The validation indicated that rice band oil and corn oil were rich in 24-mCAF, CAF, β-SIF, CMF and STF. The QuEChERS-UHPLC-MS/MS simultaneously quantified five γ-oryzanol compounds in lipid matrices and assessed the nutritional and functional substances of vegetable oils.

Nutrients in rice bran oil and their nutritional functions: a review

Rice is an important food crop throughout the world. Rice bran, the outer layer of rice grain, is a by-product generated during the rice milling process. Rice bran oil (RBO) is extracted from rice bran and has also become increasingly popular. RBO is considered to be one of the healthiest cooking oils due to its balanced proportion of fatty acids, as well as high content of γ-oryzanol together with phytosterols, vitamin E, wax ester, trace and macro elements, carotenoids, and phenolics. The existence of these compounds provides RBO with various functions, including hypotensive and hypolipidemic functions, antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory functions, antidiabetic function, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic functions, hepatoprotective activity function, and in preventing neurological diseases. Recently, research on the nutrients in RBO focused on the detection of nutrients, functions, and processing methods. However, the processing and utilization of rice bran remain sufficiently ineffective, and the processing steps will also affect the nutrients in RBO to different degrees. Therefore, this review focuses on the contents and nutritional functions of different nutrients in RBO and the possible effects of processing methods on nutrients.

Development of a Simultaneous Normal-Phase HPLC Analysis of Lignans, Tocopherols, Phytosterols, and Squalene in Sesame Oil Samples

The objective of this study was to develop a simultaneous analytical method for the determination of lignans, tocols, phytosterols, and squalene using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array and fluorescence detector (HPLC-DAD-FLD). The method employed a VertisepTM UPS silica HPLC column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase mixture of n-hexane/tetrahydrofuran/2-propanol. This approach enabled the simultaneous analysis of ten compounds within 22 min. The linear correlation (R2) exceeded 0.9901. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were up to 0.43 µg mL-1 for lignans and tocopherols and up to 326.23 µg mL-1 for phytosterol and squalene. The precision and accuracy of the intra-day and inter-day variation were less than 1.09 and 3.32% relative standard deviations (RSDs). Furthermore, the developed method was applied for the analysis of targeted compounds in twenty-eight sesame oil samples (1775-8965 µg g-1 total lignans, 29.7-687.9 µg g-1 total tocopherols, 2640-9500 µg g-1 phytosterol, and 245-4030 µg g-1 squalene). The HPLC method that has been developed was proven to be a reliable and effective tool for the determination of those functional compounds among sesame oil samples.

Eco-friendly extraction of antibacterial compounds from enriched olive pomace: a design-of-experiments approach to sustainability

The increasing interest in utilizing olive pomace bioactive molecules to advance functional elements and produce antioxidant and antimicrobial additives underscores the need for eco-friendly extraction and purification methods. This study aims to develop an eco-friendly extraction method to evaluate the effect of extraction parameters on the recovery of bioactive molecules from enriched olive pomace. The effects were identified based on total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity, employing a design of experimental methodology. The positive and the negative simultaneous effects showed that among the tested enrichments, those incorporating Nigella Sativa, dates, and coffee demonstrated superior results in terms of the measured responses. Furthermore, chromatographic analysis unveiled the existence of intriguing compounds such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and squalene in distinct proportions. Beyond this, our study delved into the structural composition of the enriched pomace through FTIR analysis, providing valuable insights into the functional groups and chemical bonds present. Concurrently, antimicrobial assays demonstrated the potent inhibitory effects of these enriched extracts against various microorganisms, underscoring their potential applications in food preservation and safety. These findings highlight enriched olive pomace as a valuable reservoir of bioactive molecules for food products since they can enhance their anti-oxidative activity and contribute to a sustainable circular economy model for olive oil industries.

Optimization of high-efficient pre-column sample treatments and C18-UFLC method for selective quantification of selected chemical forms of tocopherol and tocotrienol in diverse foods

The improved pre-column methods followed by gradient elution C18-chromatography (C18-UFLC) with photodiode (DAD) and fluorescence (FLD) detection for analysis of tocotrienols (T3s), tocopherols (Ts), α-tocopheryl acetate and cholesterol in plant, algae and fish oils, milk and animal tissues have been described. C18-chromatography without saponification permitted quantification of T3s and Ts in oils. Quantification of tocols in milk involved saponification followed by C18-chromatography. β-tocol and γ-tocol were unseparated using C18-chromatography. Esterification of hydroxyl group of tocols with trifluoroacetic anhydride allows their satisfactory separation. The combination of esterification of tocols, C18-chromatography and DAD monitoring at 278 and 205 nm provide the suitable analytical tool for quantification of β- and γ-forms of tocols in biological samples. Our original C18-chromatographic methods are satisfactory precise, accurate, repeatable and offer low values of limit of detection (<10 ng/mL) and limit of quantification (<27 ng/mL) for assayed tocols and cholesterol.

Bioactive Constituents in Cold-Pressed Plant Oils: Their Structure, Bioactivity and Chromatographic Analysis

Cold-pressed oils are oils prepared from pressing plant materials with a screw or hydraulic press, yielding oils with little contamination of harmful chemicals and high content of nutrients and functional constituents. Cold-pressed oils have gained increasing recognition as food supplements for preventing and ameliorating body deterioration due to ageing and the progression of lifestyle diseases or non-communicable diseases. This article aimed to review their structure, bioactivity, and chromatographic analysis of the mostly found functional compounds in cold-pressed oils, including phytosterols, carotenoids, tocols (tocopherols and tocotrienols), phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, stilbenes, and lignans), and squalene.

Trends and advances in pre- and post-harvest processing of linseed oil for quality food and health products

Linseed is an ancient crop used for diverse purposes since the beginning of civilization. In recent times, linseed has emerged as a superfood due to its high content of health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids and other bioactive compounds. Among primary health effects, it has potential to manage hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis, neurological, cardiovascular diseases including blood cholesterol levels, constipation, diarrhea, and autoimmune disorders etc. due to the presence of omega-3 fatty acid, lignans, high dietary fibers, and proteins, whereas, secondary health effects comprise of relieving from various skin disorders. Due to these health-beneficial properties, interest in linseed oil necessitates the intensification of research efforts on various aspects. These include cultivation technology, varietal and genetic improvement, post-harvest processing, profiling of nutrients and bioactive compounds, pre-clinical and clinical studies, etc. The present review discussed the advances in linseed research including pre- and post-harvest processing. However, focus on the bioactive compounds present in linseed oil and their health effects are also presented. Linseed cultivation, pre- and post-harvest processing aspects are covered including climatic, edaphic, agronomic factors, type of cultivar and storage conditions etc, which impact the overall oil yield and its nutritional quality. Various emerging applications of linseed oil in functional food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical preparations were also presented in detail. Further, recommendations were made on linseed oil research in the field of genetics, breeding germplasm resources and genome editing for exploring its full applications as a nutrition and health product.

The Chemical Composition and Health-Promoting Benefits of Vegetable Oils-A Review

With population and economic development increasing worldwide, the public is increasingly concerned with the health benefits and nutritional properties of vegetable oils (VOs). In this review, the chemical composition and health-promoting benefits of 39 kinds of VOs were selected and summarized using Web of Science TM as the main bibliographic databases. The characteristic chemical compositions were analyzed from fatty acid composition, tocols, phytosterols, squalene, carotenoids, phenolics, and phospholipids. Health benefits including antioxidant activity, prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, diabetes treatment, and kidney and liver protection were examined according to the key components in representative VOs. Every type of vegetable oil has shown its own unique chemical composition with significant variation in each key component and thereby illustrated their own specific advantages and health effects. Therefore, different types of VOs can be selected to meet individual needs accordingly. For example, to prevent CVD, more unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols should be supplied by consuming pomegranate seed oil, flaxseed oil, or rice bran oil, while coconut oil or perilla seed oil have higher contents of total phenolics and might be better choices for diabetics. Several oils such as olive oil, corn oil, cress oil, and rice bran oil were recommended for their abundant nutritional ingredients, but the intake of only one type of vegetable oil might have drawbacks. This review increases the comprehensive understanding of the correlation between health effects and the characteristic composition of VOs, and provides future trends towards their utilization for the general public's nutrition, balanced diet, and as a reference for disease prevention. Nevertheless, some VOs are in the early stages of research and lack enough reliable data and long-term or large consumption information of the effect on the human body, therefore further investigations will be needed for their health benefits.

Composition, Microbiota, Mechanisms, and Anti-Obesity Properties of Rice Bran

Rice is a major cereal crop and a staple food for nearly 50% of people worldwide. Rice bran (RB) is a nutrient-rich by-product of rice processing. RB is rich in carbohydrates, fibers, proteins, lipids, minerals, and several trace elements (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese). The extraction process and storage have influenced RB extracts and RB oil's quality. The RB composition has also varied on the rice cultivars. The color of RB indicates the richness of the bioactive compounds, especially anthocyanins. γ-oryzanol, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and unsaturated fatty acids are major components of RB oil. It has been established that RB supplementation could improve the host's health status. Several preclinical and clinical studies have reported that RB has antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anticolitis, and antidiabetic properties. The beneficial biological properties of RB are partially attributed to its ability to alter the host microbiome and help to maintain and restore eubiosis. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and lung disease, account for 74% of deaths worldwide. Obesity is a global health problem and is a major reason for the development of NCDs. The medical procedures for managing obesity are expensive and long-term health supplements are required to maintain a healthy weight. Thus, cost-effective natural adjuvant therapeutic strategy is crucial to treat and manage obesity. Several studies have revealed that RB could be a complementary pharmacological candidate to treat obesity. A comprehensive document with basic information and recent scientific results on the anti-obesity activity of RB and RB compounds is obligatory. Thus, the current manuscript was prepared to summarize the composition of RB and the influence of RB on the host microbiome, possible mechanisms, and preclinical and clinical studies on the anti-obesity properties of RB. This study suggested that the consumption of RB oil and dietary RB extracts might assist in managing obesity-associated health consequences. Further, extended clinical studies in several ethnic groups are required to develop dietary RB-based functional and nutritional supplements, which could serve as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy to treat obesity.

Optimization of Vitamin E Extraction from Rice Bran Oil Deodorizer Distillate using Response Surface Methodology

Rice bran oil deodorizer distillate (RBODD) is the low valuable secondary product of refinery rice bran oil. However, RBODD contains bioactive compounds such as vitamin E, gamma-oryzanols, and phytosterols. To increase value of vitamin E obtained from underutilized product, tocopherols and tocotrienols were extracted from RBODD using ethanol followed by a freezing step. The response surface method (RSM) is known as a potential tool for optimizing processing parameters in order to save time, energy, and chemical material. In current study, vitamin E extract (VEE) was extracted using ethanol and response surface method (RSM) was employed to investigate the optimum condition. The ratio of RBODD: ethanol (1:5, 1:10, and 1:15) and the incubation temperature (0, -20, and -40℃) of vitamin E extraction were used to design the experiment using a central composite design (CCD). Once the optimization process was completed, the RSM was executed using the following 5 responses simultaneously: VEET3, VEEToc, VEETot, RecoveryVEE, and YieldVEE. Results showed that values of each parameter were VEET3 (10.69-89.60 mg/g), VEEToc (2.85-23.37 mg/g), VEETot (13.53-112.97mg/g), RecoveryVEE (16.15-134.76%), and YieldVEE (12.64-44.48%). All model predictions were significant (p-value < 0.05), with non-significant lack of fit (> 0.05). In addition, the values of R2 and R2(Adj) of model were in the range of 0.922-0.988 and 0.893-0.982, respectively. According to these findings, response values were associated with RBODD:ethanol ratio and the incubation temperature. The ratio 1:9.5 (RBODD: Ethanol) and incubation temperature at -26.5 ℃ provided the optimal condition for vitamin E extraction from RBODD. At this optimum condition, it was determined that the predicted responses for VEET3, VEEToc, VEETot, RecoveryVEE, and YieldVEE were 81.87 mg/g, 23.70 mg/g, 103.64 mg/g, 123.63 %, and 20.05%, respectively. The obtained product with high content of tocopherol and tocotrienol can be used as ingredient in food as well as pharmaceutical applications.

Enhancement Methods of Antioxidant Capacity in Rice Bran: A Review

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a primary food that is widely consumed throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. The two main subspecies of rice are japonica and indica which are different in physical characteristics. In general, both indica and japonica rice consist of three types of grain colors, namely white, red, and black. Furthermore, rice and rice by-products contain secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tocopherols that have bioactivities such as antioxidants, antimicrobial, cancer chemopreventive, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic agents. The existence of health benefits in rice bran, especially as antioxidants, gives rice bran the opportunity to be used as a functional food. Most of the bioactive compounds in plants are found in bound form with cell wall components such as cellulose and lignin. The process of releasing bonds between bioactive components and cell wall components in rice bran can increase the antioxidant capacity. Fermentation and treatment with enzymes were able to increase the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, tocotrienols, tocopherols, and γ-oryzanol in rice bran.

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.

Microwave treatment of rice bran and its effect on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity

An alternative approach for rice bran stabilization is microwave treatment. However, the effects of the microwave treatment on the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of the rice bran have rarely been reported in detail. In this study, microwave pretreatment (130-880 W for 0.5-5.0 min) of rice bran was proposed where the antioxidant activity, total flavonoids, and total phenolic contents were determined using UV-Vis spectrometry. Tocols, γ-oryzanols, squalene, phytosterols and phenolic compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed an increase in the antioxidant activity (0.5 folds), total phenolic contents (1.3 folds), total flavonoid contents (0.9 folds), total tocols (2.6 folds), total γ-oryzanols (1.6 folds), and total phytosterols (1.4 folds). Phytochemicals were enhanced, especially trans-p-coumaric acid (10.3 folds) and kaempferol (8.6 folds). The microwave treatment at 440 W for 2.5 min provided the best contents of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. This work revealed the microwave treatment as a potential tool for stabilizing rice bran and increasing the usability of its phytochemicals, which applies to several industries concerning the use of rice bran as an ingredient.

Rice Bran Stabilisation and Oil Extraction Using the Microwave-Assisted Method and Its Effects on GABA and Gamma-Oryzanol Compounds

Rice bran oil (RBO) is a valuable ingredient extracted from rice bran (RB), a side stream of polishing rice grain in the milling process. RBO is rich in bioactive ingredients with potential health benefits, such as gamma-oryzanol (GO) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Despite its benefits, the quality of RBO depends on the degree of stabilisation of the RB, which is easily affected by lipase enzymes, and thus needs an effective treatment prior to RBO production. To assess the potential of the microwave-assisted method for RB stabilisation and RBO extraction, three Carolino rice varieties (Ariete, Teti, Luna) were tested. The effect of RB stabilisation was evaluated via acid value, water absorption, and GO and GABA levels. The RBO yield was optimised by solvent, temperature, and solvent-to-sample ratio, and the GO and fatty acid levels were determined. The RB stabilisation for the Luna variety did not affect the GO and GABA; for the Ariete and Teti varieties, the GO decreased by 34.4% and 24.2%, and the GABA increased by 26.5% and 47.0%, respectively. The GO levels in RBO samples were not affected by RB stabilisation. The RBO nutritional value was confirmed by the suitable ratio (>2) between polyunsaturated (PUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), with the Teti variety presenting the highest ratio.

From Sharks to Yeasts: Squalene in the Development of Vaccine Adjuvants

Squalene is a natural linear triterpene that can be found in high amounts in certain fish liver oils, especially from deep-sea sharks, and to a lesser extent in a wide variety of vegeTable oils. It is currently used for numerous vaccine and drug delivery emulsions due to its stability-enhancing properties and biocompatibility. Squalene-based vaccine adjuvants, such as MF59 (Novartis), AS03 (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals), or AF03 (Sanofi) are included in seasonal vaccines against influenza viruses and are presently being considered for inclusion in several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemic threats. However, harvesting sharks for this purpose raises serious ecological concerns that the exceptional demand of the pandemic has exacerbated. In this line, the use of plants to obtain phytosqualene has been seen as a more sustainable alternative, yet the lower yields and the need for huge investments in infrastructures and equipment makes this solution economically ineffective. More recently, the enormous advances in the field of synthetic biology provided innovative approaches to make squalene production more sustainable, flexible, and cheaper by using genetically modified microbes to produce pharmaceutical-grade squalene. Here, we review the biological mechanisms by which squalene-based vaccine adjuvants boost the immune response, and further compare the existing sources of squalene and their environmental impact. We propose that genetically engineered microbes are a sustainable alternative to produce squalene at industrial scale, which are likely to become the sole source of pharmaceutical-grade squalene in the foreseeable future.

Extraction of Squalene From Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis) and Its Variations With Leaf Maturity and Tea Cultivar

Squalene is a precursor of steroids with diverse bioactivities. Tea was previously found to contain squalene, but its variation between tea cultivars remains unknown. In this study, tea leaf squalene sample preparation was optimized and the squalene variation among 30 tea cultivars was investigated. It shows that squalene in the unsaponified tea leaf extracts was well separated on gas chromatography profile. Saponification led to a partial loss of squalene in tea leaf extract and so it is not an essential step for preparing squalene samples from tea leaves. The tea leaf squalene content increased with the maturity of tea leaf and the old leaves grown in the previous year had the highest level of squalene among the tested samples. The squalene levels in the old leaves of the 30 tested cultivars differentiated greatly, ranging from 0.289 to 3.682 mg/g, in which cultivar “Pingyun” had the highest level of squalene. The old tea leaves and pruned littering, which are not used in tea production, are an alternative source for natural squalene 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.

Rice Compounds with Impact on Diabetes Control

Rice is one of the most cultivated and consumed cereals worldwide. It is composed of starch, which is an important source of diet energy, hypoallergenic proteins, and other bioactive compounds with known nutritional functionalities. Noteworthy is that the rice bran (outer layer of rice grains), a side-stream product of the rice milling process, has a higher content of bioactive compounds than white rice (polished rice grains). Bran functional ingredients such as γ-oryzanol, phytic acid, ferulic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, tocopherols, and tocotrienols (vitamin E) have been linked to several health benefits. In this study, we reviewed the effects of rice glycemic index, macronutrients, and bioactive compounds on the pathological mechanisms associated with diabetes, identifying the rice compounds potentially exerting protective activities towards disease control. The effects of starch, proteins, and bran bioactive compounds for diabetic control were reviewed and provide important insights about the nutritional quality of rice-based foods.

Determination of singlet oxygen quenching rate and mechanism of γ-oryzanol

Photooxidation is one of the causes of quality deterioration in food. An antioxidant or singlet oxygen quencher is urgently needed to prevent photooxidation. γ-Oryzanol was recognized as a naturally present antioxidant in rice bran products. This research aimed to calculate the singlet oxygen quenching rate and its mechanism of γ-oryzanol to evaluate the potency of γ-oryzanol as singlet oxygen quencher. A series of linoleic acid (50 and 100 mM) or γ-oryzanol (0.7 and 1.5 mM) were prepared separately in ethanol: chloroform (96:4, v/v) containing 25 ppm of erythrosine. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography quantified the degradation of γ-oryzanol. Meanwhile, Gas Chromatography determined the changes in linoleic acid content during photooxidation. The singlet oxygen quenching rate was calculated by steady-state. The singlet oxygen quenching rate of γ-oryzanol was 3.04 × 106/M/s by physical and chemical quenching mechanism. Photooxidation caused the declined of γ-oryzanol by 0.1421 mM/h. Based on singlet oxygen quenching rate calculation, it suggests that γ-oryzanol can perform as a singlet oxygen quencher with slightly dominated by physical quenching mechanism (52.28%). The rest it performed via a chemical quenching mechanism.

Comparative Studies on the Hepatoprotective Effect of White and Coloured Rice Bran Oil against Acetaminophen-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mice through Antioxidant- and Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Systems

Rice bran oil (RBO) comprises various nutrients and phytochemicals which exhibit several health benefits. There are no studies regarding the functional effects of different colours of RBO. This study was aimed to compare the constituents and antioxidant activities of white rice bran oil (WRBO) and coloured rice bran oil (CRBO). Each RBO showed similar free fatty acid profiles. However, greater amounts of vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were found in CRBO, which had lower γ-oryzanol content than WRBO. Oxidative stress was induced in male mice by an overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) at 300 mg/kg body weight. The mice were then fed with RBO at the equivalent dose to 100 mg/kg body weight of γ-oryzanol three hours later and sacrificed six hours after APAP treatment. The administration of 100 mg γ-oryzanol equivalent in CRBO ameliorated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice more strongly than 100 mg γ-oryzanol equivalent in WRBO, as evidenced by the significant reduction of serum ALT, hepatocellular necrosis, and hepatic lipid peroxidation. CRBO could improve xenobiotic-metabolizing and antioxidant enzyme activities, including glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and also increase mRNA expression of various antioxidant-responsive genes. Vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll might be the protective compounds in CRBO that alleviate APAP-induced hepatotoxicity through the interruption of APAP metabolism and the activation of antioxidant systems at both transcriptional and enzymatic levels. These findings might provide a protective role of CRBO on oxidative stress associated with several degenerative diseases.

GC-MS and HPLC-DAD analysis of fatty acid profile and functional phytochemicals in fifty cold-pressed plant oils in Thailand

Cold-pressed oil is one of the healthiest plant extracts, but its use is limited only in some kinds of plants. Therefore, we aimed to investigate some potential cold-pressed oils with attractive fatty acid profiles and high amounts of functional phytochemicals. Fifty cold-pressed plant oils were prepared from various plant materials in Thailand, in which some of them were from uncommon or unattended plant materials. The oils included were nut oils (n = 9), pseudo-cereal oils (n = 9), legume oils (n = 3), amaranth oils (n = 3), marrow seed oils (n = 8), cruciferous seed oils (n = 7), and leafy green seed oils (n = 11). Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) were employed to analyze fatty acid profile and five functional phytochemicals (e.g., phytosterols, cholecalciferol, and squalene). Saturated fatty acids were detected around 7.87-36.04%, monounsaturated fatty acids 10.17-80.25%, and polyunsaturated fatty acids nondetectable (ND)-78.25%, phytosterols 663-15123 μg g-1, squalene 265-5979 μg g-1, and cholecalciferol ND-1287.75 μg g-1. The study showed chemical characteristic of the analyzed oils: some contained good fatty acid composition and some were rich in functional phytochemical content. Among the obtained oils, marrow seed oils are a good source of phytosterol, cholecalciferol, and linoleic acid. Pseudo-cereal oils are rich in squalene and linolenic acid. Legume oils are rich in phytosterols and oleic acid. Besides, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify the significance of oils that share compositional similarity (e.g., the samples from pseudo-cereal oil were found on the lower side of the PCA space, which separated them from marrow and leafy green seed oils distributed on the upper part of the plot). In summary, the qualitative and quantitative data would provide a good foundation for further application or selection of those plant oils for health purposes.

Nutritional Component and Chemical Characterization of Chinese Highland Barley Bran Oil

The nutritional composition and chemical properties of the Chinese highland barley bran oil were characterized in this study. The barley bran oil extracted with solvent possessed relatively high acid value and peroxide value, indicating that the oil should be further refined before using. The fatty acid composition of the oil showed that the content of unsaturated fatty acids was 80.12 g/100 g, in which the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was as high as 60.41 g/100 g. The overall triacylglycerol profile showed that the oil contained 27 TAGs including 21 regioisomers. Major TAGs included LLL (21.08 g/100 g), PLL (19.27 g/100 g), LLO (12.24 g/100 g), and LLLn (12.17 g/100 g). The total unsaponifiable matter of the oil reached up to 10.74 g/100 g oil. The total phytosterol content reached 7.90 g/100 g oil, in which β-sitosterol was the most predominant, with the content of 5.69 g/100 g oil. Other important sterols included campesterol (1.32 g/100 g oil), lanosterol (0.70 g/100 g oil) and stigmasterol (0.19 g/100 g oil).

Development and validation of a novel approach based on ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction and RP-UHPLC for simultaneous determination of astaxanthin isomers and alpha-tocopherol in Haematococcuspluvialis derived supplements

A rapid, effective andgreenmethod was developed for simultaneous determination of total (free and esterified) astaxanthin (AX) isomers (all-E, 9Z and 13Z) and alpha-tocopherol(AT) in Haematococcuspluvialis derived supplements. The new method employed a highly efficient ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) techniqueto perform deesterificationwith Cholesterol esterase from Pseudomonas fluorescenspermitting the concurrent detection. The subsequent RP-UHPLC method for separating and measuring was performed on a simple C18 column within 10.5 min by using methanol and ammonium acetate as mobile phase with a gradient elution. The proposed method was validated according to international guidelines and itproved to be highly accurate and robust. The optimized UHPLC method allowed easy transfer to HPLC, and allowed rapid analysis of active ingredients profiling in H. derived supplements.To our knowledge, this is the first quantification approach describing the rapid simultaneous analysis of the functional lipophilic substances including AX isomers in H. derived supplements using UAEE technique combined with RP-UHPLC.Moreover, this holistic approachcan be used to identify whether AX products are of natural origin or chemical synthesis, and may find more applications in new forms of H. derived productswith complexbiological matrix for more research on the bioavailability of AXisomersfrom natural source.

Remedial role of exercise training to deep-fried oil-induced metabolic and histological changes in Wistar rats

Exercise training is a well-known lifestyle to maintain good health. The present study was conducted to explore the effect of regular exercise training (for 15 min) on biochemical, physiological, and histological changes in fried oil intake (5 g/kg body weight, for 5 weeks) with or without raw oil supplementation. Liver disease and heart muscle injury were accounted for by significant (p < .05) increase in liver and heart biomarker enzymes in serum. Creatinine and urea level were also significantly increased in the fried oil-fed group as a sign of kidney injury. But all the biological markers including triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was decreased significantly (p < .05) in the exercise-trained rat group. These metabolic changes were substantiated by the histological study of respective organs. Therefore, people should avoid repeatedly deep-fried oil consumption rather than fresh ones though regular exercise training has been found to resolve these metabolic abnormalities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Exercise training is a common practice to reduce the onset of some metabolic abnormalities for example cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and also prevents various cell and tissue damages. Repeated frying of vegetable oil not only reduces its nutritional value but also produce free fatty acids and other toxic compounds. The present study revealed that repeatedly heated vegetable oil consumption causes injuries in the heart, liver, kidney, and small intestine by the oxidative products. As a result, the level of biomarkers of these responsive organs was found to be elevated. But regular exercise training ameliorated these detrimental effects. So, in terms of public health concern, regular exercise is one of the best ways to keep the body fit especially those who are consuming deep-fried oil.

Effects of enzymatic free fatty acid reduction process on the composition and phytochemicals of rice bran oil

The effects of enzymatic free fatty acid reduction process (EFFARP) on the composition and phytochemicals of dewaxed and degummed rice bran oil (DDRBO) were investigated and compared with the effects observed using internal acyl acceptors. The acid value of DDRBO was effectively decreased from 16.99 mg KOH/g to approximately 0.36 mg KOH/g by EFFARP. EFFARP significantly decreased the moisture content and peroxide value of DDRBO and increased the induction period. The Sn-2 fatty acid comoposition of DDRBO after EFFARP was very reaching the total fatty acid composition. EFFARP significantly increased the triacylglycerol content compared to the control, while the oryzanol content was not obviously affected. The contents of free sterol, and total tocopherol and tocotrienol were increased slightly by EFFARP compared to the control. When conducted under vacuum with added nitrogen, EFFARP shows great application potential in the edible oil industry.

Development, Optimization, and Comparison of Different Sample Pre-Treatments for Simultaneous Determination of Vitamin E and Vitamin K in Vegetables

The absence of vitamin E from the diet can lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer, cataracts, and premature aging. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to bleeding disorders. These fat-soluble vitamins are important nutritional factors that can be determined in different methods in vegetables. In this work, the simultaneous determination of α-tocopherol, α-tocopheryl acetate, phylloquinone, and menaquinone-4 by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been optimized using both direct injection and solid phase microextraction (SPME). Three different sample pre-treatment approaches based on: (A) solid–liquid–liquid–liquid extraction (SLE–LLE), (B) SLE, and (C) SPME were then applied to extract the target analytes from vegetables samples using menaquinone as internal standard. All the procedures allowed the determination of the target analytes in onion, carrot, celery, and curly kale samples. Similar results were obtained with the three different approaches, even if the one based on SPME offers the best performance, together with a reduced use of solvent, time consumption, and experimental complexity, which makes it the preferable option for industrial applications.

Extraction and Determination of Vitamin K1 in Foods by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, SPE, and LC-MS/MS

Vitamin K₁ is one of the important hydrophobic vitamins in fat-containing foods. Traditionally, lipase is employed in the determination of vitamin K₁ to remove the lipids, which makes the detection complex, time-consuming, and insensitive. In this study, the determination of vitamin K₁ in fat-containing foods was developed based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The optimal conditions for extraction of vitamin K₁ were material–liquid ratio of 1:70 (g/mL), extraction temperature of 50 °C, extraction power of 700 W, extraction time of 50 min, material-wash fluid ratio of 1:60 (g/mL), and 8 mL of hexane/anhydrous ether (97:3, v/v) as the elution solvent. Then, vitamin K₁ was analyzed on a ZORBAX SB-C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) by gradient elution with water (0.01% formic acid) and methanol (0.01 formic acid + 2.5 mmol/L ammonium formate) as the mobile phase. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.05 and 0.16 μg/kg, respectively. Calibration curve was linear over the range of 10–500 ng/mL (R² > 0.9988). The recoveries at three spiked levels were between 80.9% and 119.1%. The validation and application indicated that the proposed method was simple and sensitive in determination of vitamin K₁ in fat-containing foods.

Hexane extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves is an exceptionally rich source of squalene

Squalene is a cancer chemo-preventive and skin protective agent with high commercial demand. Here, we report for the first time that the green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves is a surprisingly rich plant-based source of squalene. Young and tender leaves and old and turf leaves were collected at four different collecting seasons (April-August). Lipophilic compounds in the leaves and commercial green teas were extracted with hexane. The squalene contents in the hexane extracts varied greatly with the types of the leaves and collecting seasons. The hexane extract of turf leaves contained significantly higher contents of squalene than the extract of tender leaves. The hexane extract of the turf leaves collected in August contained the highest content of squalene (29.2 g/kg extract). This represents the first report on the qualitative and quantitative information on squalene in green tea leaves.

Cho W, Martins N. Avocado-Soybean Unsaponifiables: A Panoply of Potentialities to Be Exploited

Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) constitute vegetable extracts made from fruits and seeds of avocado and soybean oil. Characterized by its potent anti-inflammatory effects, this ASU mixture is recommended to act as an adjuvant treatment for osteoarthritic pain and slow-acting symptomatic treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis; autoimmune diseases; diffuse scleroderma and scleroderma-like states (e.g., morphea, sclerodactyly, scleroderma in bands). Besides, it was reported that it can improve the mood and quality of life of postmenopausal women in reducing menopause-related symptoms. This article aims to summarize the studies on biological effects of the avocado-soybean unsaponifiable, its chemical composition, pharmacotherapy as well as applications in auto-immune, osteoarticular and menopausal disorders. Finally, we will also discuss on its safety, toxicological and regulatory practices.

Exploiting the bioactive properties of γ-oryzanol from bran of different exotic rice varieties

The rice industry is one of the most significant food industries since rice is a widely consumed cereal in the world. As a result of this substantial production, the rice industry has a significant amount of side streams, including bran, representing millions of tons of raw materials mainly designated to animal feed. Rice bran is a rich source of γ-oryzanol, a bioactive compound with substantial health benefits. In this perspective, different bran rice samples from distinct germplasm origins (Philippines, Italy and Portugal) were studied for their γ-oryzanol content by HPLC-PDA, cytotoxicity in four human tumour cell lines, hepatotoxicity in a normal cell line and for their antimicrobial effects on different bacterial and fungal strains. The Ballatinao sample presented the strongest activity against all the tumour cell lines, and was also the sample showing the highest amount of γ-oryzanol, suggesting its contribution to the exhibited cytotoxic properties. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the tested samples were able to inhibit the majority of bacterial and fungal strains, with the Portuguese Ceres sample being the one presenting the highest bacterial inhibition and the Maluit and Dinorado samples, the highest fungal inhibition. Overall, the results show that rice bran extracts may be considered as potential candidates for antimicrobial agents when incorporated into food matrices.

Improvement of Resveratrol Effects When Combined with Rice Oil in Rat Models of Inflammation

This study investigated the effects of systemic treatment with a new formulation of resveratrol (RSV) vehicled in rice oil (RSVO) in experimental rat models of inflammation. Male Wistar rats were evaluated in the following in vivo models: carrageenan-induced acute edema, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-evoked sub-chronic edema, and CFA-induced polyarthritis. The animals were treated orally with RSVO (10-15 mg/kg) or RSV (100-200 mg/kg), depending on the experimental protocol. RSV was more effective than RSVO in carrageenan-elicited acute edema when dosed in either prophylactic or therapeutic schemes of administration. However, the repeated RSVO administration, at 10-fold lower doses, exhibited superior anti-inflammatory actions in either the sub-chronic edema or the chronic polyarthritis model elicited by CFA, when compared with RSV. The novel formulation RSVO displayed a lower plasma biotransformation when compared with the RSV-treated group-46% versus 88% of metabolites, respectively. RSVO also prevented polyarthritis-related cartilage destruction, an effect that might rely on the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), associated with an increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Noteworthy, the long-term administration of RSVO did not elicit any gastrointestinal harm. Our study revealed that RSVO was notably effective in the long-term inflammatory and degenerative responses triggered by CFA. This innovative formulation might well represent a promising alternative for treating chronic inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.

Rapid electroanalytical procedure for sesamol determination in real samples

In this study, the development of an electroanalytical assay based on square wave voltammetry technique for determining sesamol (Ses) in sesame oil samples is described. The influence of various factors such as pH of the supporting electrolyte, its composition, and SW (square wave) parameters was studied. Linearity of the peak current depended on the concentration of Ses in the range from 3.0 to 140.0 μmol L^-1 with a limit of detection of 0.71 μmol L^-1. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetric behavior of Ses and the effects of scan rate and pH on the peak current and peak potential of Ses were determined. Moreover, the electrode process was found to be diffusion-controlled. The proposed methodology was successfully applied for determining Ses in commercial sesame oil samples. The obtained results were in good agreement with the results from the HPLC-UV reference method.

Suitability of stationary phase for LC analysis of biomolecules

Biologically active compounds such as carotenoids/isoprenoids, vitamins, steroids, saponins, sugars, long chain fatty acids, and amino acids play a very important role in coordinating functions in living organisms. Determination of those substances is indispensable in advanced biological sciences. Engineered stationary phase in LC for the analysis of biomolecules has become easier with the development of chromatographic science. In general, C₁₈ column is being used for routine analysis but specific columns are being used for specific molecule. Monolithic columns are found to have higher efficiency than normal column. Among recent introduction, triacontyl stationary phases, designed for the separation of carotenoid isomers, are widely used for the estimation of carotenoids. In comparison to conventional C₁₈ phases, C₃₀ phases exhibited superior shape selectivity for the separation of isomers of carotenoids. It is also found useful for better elution and analysis of tocopherols, vitamin K, sterols, and fatty acids. Vitamin K, E, and their isomers are also successfully resoluted and analyzed by using C₃₀ column. Amino bonded phase column is specifically used for better elution of sugars, whereas phenyl columns are suitable for the separation and analysis of curcuminoids and taxol. Like triacontyl stationary phase, pentafluorophenyl columns are also used for the separation and analysis of carotenoids. Similarly, HILIC column are best suited for sugar analysis. All the stationary phases are made possible to resolute and analyze the target biomolecules better, which are the future of liquid chromatography. The present article focuses on the differential interaction between stationary phase and target biomolecules. The applicability of these stationary phases are reported in different matrices.

Corrigendum: Engineering Strategies in Microorganisms for the Enhanced Production of Squalene: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00050.].