Chemometric and Physico-Chemical Characterization of Fruit and Olive Oils from Autochthonous Cultivars Grown in Aragon (Spain)

Olive tree crops and the olive oil market are becoming less and less diverse due to the rise of intensive growth varieties, with the consequent loss of varietal richness provided by oils from minority and autochthonous cultivars. "Royal de Calatayud" and "Negral de Sabiñán" are two local minority cultivars in Aragon (Spain). Fruit parameters such as ripening, fresh weight, and oil yield were evaluated, as well as physico-chemical and chemical composition parameters in olive oil in comparison with "Arbequina", a cultivar widespread in Spain and other countries. Fruits were harvested from October to December in 2017 and 2019. Chemometric analysis revealed significant varietal differences among the three cultivars. In comparison with "Arbequina", higher oil yields were obtained in the two local cultivars. "Royal de Calatayud" has a higher oleic acid content and a greater quantity of phenolic compounds. It thus displays a better nutritional profile than "Arbequina". This preliminary study shows that "Royal de Calatayud" could be regarded as an excellent alternative to the "Arbequina" cultivar in the parameters analyzed.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity to human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (HT-29) potential of olive oil extraction residue

In the Olive drupe (Olea europaea L.) oil extraction process, 80% of the volume generated is waste (bagasse). Advancing the expansion of the olive oil market, it is necessary to develop alternatives that, in addition to adding value to industrial waste, also reduce possible environmental damage. Our study aimed to understand the antimicrobial and Cytotoxic activity potential of the residues from the extraction of olive oil from the blend of the varieties Arbequina and Arbosana. The extract shows cytotoxic activity, inhibiting about 75% of cancer cells in the human colon at a concentration of 0.15 mg of Gallic Acid equivalent (GAE)/mL. The effectiveness of the extract against microorganisms often associated with foodborne diseases and food decomposition has also been discovered, without compromising the microorganisms responsible for fermentation. Thus, this study provides future perspectives for the use of active ingredients extracted from the residue from the extraction of olive oil.

Characterization of olive oil flavored with Brazilian pink pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) in different maceration processes

The present study aimed to evaluate two different processes of olive oil aromatization with Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, conventional maceration (CM) and ultrasound-assisted maceration (UM), and their influence on quality parameters, total phenolic compounds (TPC), fatty acid profile (FA), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stability. Flavoring reduced peroxide values, although it increased free fatty acids and extinction coefficients. The flavorization process did not change the FA profile, which showed oleic acid as a major compound. The VOCs varied and the migration of oxygenated monoterpenes were more effective in UM-flavored olive oil compared to its CM counterpart. All flavored olive oils presented higher oxidative stability than the control samples and UM-flavored olive oil was highlighted for its higher antioxidant activity. These findings proved that aromatization with pink pepper assisted by ultrasound may be an alternative to improve olive oil quality and create a new competitive flavored product.

Evaluating Quality Parameters, the Metabolic Profile, and Other Typical Features of Selected Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Brazil

The production of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in Brazil developed quite recently, and information on commercial Brazilian EVOO's typical features is very scarce. In just one of the previously published works on Brazilian olive oil, the assessed samples were commercially available. In this study, a comprehensive characterization of EVOO samples acquired at local stores (at Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul, from the two most prevalent cultivars, Arbequina and Koroneiki) was carried out considering the most relevant quality parameters, antioxidant capacity, oxidative stability, total phenolic content, fatty acid composition, and minor component metabolic profiling. The latter included: (1) the determination of individual phenolic compounds (belonging to four diverse chemical classes) and triterpenic acids by means of a powerful multi-class reversed-phase LC-MS method; (2) the quantitative profiling of tocopherols, phytosterols, and pigments by normal-phase LC-DAD/fluorescence; and (3) the quantitative appraisal of the volatile pattern of the oils by solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography (GC)-MS. By applying these methods, the concentrations of approximately 70 minor compounds were determined in commercial EVOOs from Brazil. To the best of our knowledge, the content of a very large number of phenolic compounds of those determined in the current report (mainly secoiridoids), the three triterpenic acids (maslinic, betulinic, and oleanolic acids), and the individual chlorophyll derivatives had not been previously evaluated in Brazilian EVOOs. The present work provides a broad picture of the compositional profile and other parameters of relevance of selected commercial Brazilian EVOOs available on local markets, describing their typicity and most particular features, some of which are known to have potential impacts on consumers' health.

Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil Regarding Cultivar, Harvest Year and Crop Stage

The health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are related to its chemical composition and the presence of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant compounds (pigments, coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) and phenolic compounds) and antioxidant properties of EVOO from the same region comparing different cultivars (Hojiblanca and Arbequina), harvest year and crop stage. Antioxidant properties of oils were studied before and after a gastrointestinal digestion process, by in vitro assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) and antioxidant markers in Caco-2 cells (reactive oxygen species production). The content of bioactive compounds measured was significantly affected by cultivar and harvest year (except for carotenoids) and by the crop stage (except for coenzyme Q₁₀). Higher amounts of coenzyme Q₁₀ were observed in Hojiblanca than in Arbequina EVOO. Total phenol content and antioxidant properties were also different depending on cultivar and harvest year and the in vitro digestion process strongly improved antioxidant marker values. Antioxidant potential in bioaccessible fractions was mainly related to the content of coenzyme Q₁₀ and phenolic compounds in EVOO. Chemometric analysis showed that the oils were clearly classified by cultivars, harvest and crop stage, according to the chemical composition and antioxidant activity analyzed in the present study.

Factors Influencing the Contents of Coenzyme Q10 and Q9 in Olive Oils

The health effects of olive oil are attributed to its high content of oleic acid and other constituents, particularly its phenolic fraction. Olive oil also contains other substances with potential health effects such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9). The objective of our study was to investigate some factors that could influence the quantity of coenzyme Q (CoQ) in olive oils. We analyzed almost 100 samples of commercial oil blends and fresh extra virgin olive oils of various cultivars using high-performance liquid chromatography. With the investigation of various monocultivar samples we determined that genetic parameters (cultivars) have an important influence on the composition of olive oils, particularly the content of CoQ10. Possible effects of the degree of ripeness were also studied for the cultivars Istrska belica and Leccino. We determined that the highest levels of both CoQ10 and CoQ9 can be found in early maturation stages.