Whey protein isolate and inulin-glycosylated conjugate affect the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of pomegranate seed oil emulsion

Glycosylated protein was obtained by the reaction of whey protein isolate(WPI) with inulin of different polymerization degrees and was used to stabilize a pomegranate seed oil emulsion. The physicochemical and antioxidative properties of the emulsions were assessed, and the impacts of accelerated oxidation on pomegranate seed oil were examined. The interfacial tension of WPI and short-chain inulin (SCI)-glycosylated conjugate (WPI-SCI) gradually decreased with increasing glycosylation reaction time. Emulsions stabilized by WPI-SCI (72 h) were the most stable, with a thick interfacial film on the surface of the droplets. After accelerated oxidation for 72 h, WPI-SCI inhibited the oxidation of oil in the emulsion. GC-IMS results showed that the production of harmful volatile components in oil was inhibited, and the peroxide strength was less than 30 mmol/kg oil. This study contributes to understanding of stable storage of lipids.

A new test for plant bioaccessibility in sulphidic wastes and soils: A case study from the Wheal Maid historic tailings repository in Cornwall, UK

Currently, bioaccessibility testing at contaminated sites is dominated by techniques designed to assess oral bioaccessibility to humans. Determining the plant bioaccessibility of toxic trace elements is also important. In mining landscapes, sulphides are an important source of potentially toxic elements. Simple tests to evaluate readily leachable metals and metalloids exist but do not extract elements temporarily constrained within the sulphide fraction. Sequential extractions describe the association of trace elements with different geochemical fractions but are time consuming, costly and provide excessive detail. This paper proposes a new test for plant bioaccessibility in sulphidic mine wastes and soils that uses hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental oxidation. The bioaccessible fraction determined is operationally defined and does not predict actual plant uptake. The test targets a) the portion of an element that is currently available in the pore water for uptake by plant roots and also b) the fraction that is temporarily constrained in sulphide minerals but may become available upon oxidation of the substrate. A case study was conducted at a historic mine waste repository site in Cornwall, U.K. where near total As concentrations were extremely elevated and Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn were also high. Our test determined that bioaccessible concentrations of As, Cd, Cu and Zn and to a lesser extent Sb and Pb were highest in samples of pyritic grey tailings. This is attributed to sulphide mineral oxidation and, particularly for Cd and Zn, the dissolution of soluble secondary minerals. High As concentrations in the marbled tailings were not bioaccessible. Results from the case study show that this new test provides useful information on the future bioaccessibility of contaminants, allowing for classification of mineralised sulphidic waste materials which otherwise cannot be obtained using established geochemical and mineralogical techniques. Furthermore, the test is rapid, repeatable and cost effective.

Effect of the phytochemicals curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, thymol and carvacrol on the oxidative stability of corn and palm oils at frying temperatures

Several active components naturally available in plants are strongly considered as good antioxidants to retard the lipid oxidation. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of frying temperature (150-180 °C) and concentration of four plant-based active components (60-350 mg/kg oil); curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, thymol and carvacrol on oxidative stability of corn and palm oils. According to induction time values, the stability of oils drastically decreased with increasing temperature. Curcumin and cinnamaldehyde showed no significant effect (p > 0.05) on both oils. Carvacrol significantly increased induction times of corn and palm oils, but thymol was effective in palm oil only (p < 0.05). An actual frying experiment was carried out with only corn oil to confirm efficiency of carvacrol. The free fatty acid (%), peroxide value (meq/kg), para-anisidine, and total polar component values (%) of the fresh oil were 0.080, 2.55, 2.85, and 7.5, respectively. These values changed to 0.144, 1.47, 12.01, 10.0, respectively for the control oil; 0.138, 2.27, 11.49, 10.0 for BHT-added oil; 0.132, 1.42, 5.66, 9.5 for carvacrol-added oil after 30 frying cycles. Therefore, carvacrol could be considered as a good alternative to BHT for preservation of oils at frying temperatures.