Production of vegetable oil blends and structured lipids and their effect on wound healing

<p>Two oil blends (sunflower/canola oils 85/15 (BL1) and canola/linseed oils 70/30 (BL2)), were prepared and enzymatically interesterified to be applied to surgically-induced wounds in rats. Following surgery, the animals were submitted to the Treatment with Physiological Saline (TPS) (control group), Blends (TBL), and Structured Lipids (TSL). The control group (TPS) received physiological saline solution for 15 days. In TBL, BL1 was administered during the inflammation phase (days 0-3) and BL2 in the tissue formation and remodeling phase (days 4-15). In TSL, Structured Lipid 1 (SL1) and Structured Lipid 2 (SL2) were used instead of BL1 and BL2, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare wound closure evolution among rats treated with the blends or structured lipids versus control rats treated with physiological saline. The wound healing process was evaluated by measuring the wound areas along the treatments and the concentrations of cytokines. An increase in the areas of wounds treated with the blends and structured lipids in the inflammatory phase was observed, followed by a steeper closure curve compared to wounds treated with physiological saline. The changes observed during the inflammatory phase suggest a potential therapeutic application in cutaneous wound healing which should be further investigated.</p>

Estudo reológico de chocolates elaborados com diferentes cultivares de cacau (Theobroma cacao L.)

O chocolate pode ser definido como uma suspensão de partículas sólidas (açúcar, sólidos de cacau e sólidos de leite) em uma fase gordurosa contínua, que contribui para o aroma, o sabor e a cor, além de promover forma ao produto final. A reologia de chocolates é quantificada durante a produção usando-se dois parâmetros: tensão inicial (yield stress) e viscosidade aparente (plástica), em que, geralmente, se utiliza o modelo de Casson. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar reologicamente formulações de chocolates produzidos a partir de diferentes cultivares de cacau. As amostras de chocolate foram formuladas com 73,6% de cacau e foram realizadas as seguintes análises: determinação do teor de lipídeos; composição em triacilgliceróis; testes reológicos, e análise do tamanho máximo de partículas. O chocolate proveniente da cultivar PH16 apresentou menor conteúdo de gordura (36,53 g.100 g–1), maior tamanho de partículas (21 µm), maior valor de tensão inicial (20,91 Pa) e maior área de histerese, com mais ampla tixotropia quando comparada às amostras dos chocolates provenientes das cultivares SR162 e Convencional. Os resultados encontrados no estudo reológico mostraram a interferência do conteúdo de gordura e do tamanho de partículas na tensão inicial dos produtos.

Chemical interesterification of blends of palm stearin, coconut oil, and canola oil: physicochemical properties

trans-Free interesterified fat was produced for possible usage as a margarine. Palm stearin, coconut oil, and canola oil were used as substrates for chemical interesterification. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of blends of palm stearin, coconut oil, and canola oil submitted to chemical interesterification using sodium methoxide as the catalyst. The original and interesterified blends were examined for fatty acid composition, softening and melting points, solid fat content, and consistency. Chemical interesterification reduced softening and melting points, consistency, and solid fat content. The interesterified fats showed desirable physicochemical properties for possible use as a margarine. Therefore, our result suggested that the interesterified fat without trans-fatty acids could be used as an alternative to partially hydrogenated fat.