Influence of palm oil ( Elaesis guineensis) on health

In recent times there has been a growing research interest in palm oil, one of the major edible plant oils in the tropical countries, because of the link between dietary fats and coronary heart disease. Obtained from a tropical plant, Elaesis guineensis, it has a polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio close to unity and a high amount of antioxidant vitamin A precursors and vitamin E. Palm oil is consumed in the fresh state and/or at various levels of oxidation. Feeding experiments in various animal species and humans have highlighted the beneficial role of fresh palm oil to health. These benefits include reduction in the risk of arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis, inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and platelet aggregation, and reduction in blood pressure. However, a considerable amount of the commonly used palm oil is in the oxidized state which possesses potential dangers to the physiological and biochemical functions of the body. Oxidation is as a result of processing the oil for various culinary purposes. Studies have revealed that relative to fresh palm oil, oxidized palm oil induces an adverse plasma lipid profile, free fatty acids, phospholipids and cerebrosides. Additionally, oxidized palm oil induces reproductive toxicity and organotoxicity particularly of the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart. Available evidence suggests that at least part of the oxidized oil impact on health reflects generation of toxicants due to oxidation. The reduction of the dietary level of oxidized oil and/or the level of oxidation may reduce the health risk associated with consumption of oxidized fats.     

Reactivity of red palm oil and cyanide ion: Implications for the cyanogen content of palm oil-treated gari

Red palm oil was tested for the reactivity of its components with CN^-, and alkaline picrate as the color developing reagent. Palm oil components have a low-level absorbance at 490 nm which is reduced significantly (p0.01) after reaction with CN^-. Hydrolysis of palm oil components, and reaction of the hydrolysis products with CN^- significantly increased the absorbance at 490 nm. In contrast, after reaction of palm oil with alkaline picrate, the absorbance at 490 nm is very high; this is reduced significantly by reaction with CN^-, hydrolysis with 0.2 M NaOH , and reaction of the hydrolysis products with CN^- before treatment with alkaline picrate. The results indicate that palm oil component(s) sequester CN^- into a complex which may not be correctly estimated during cyanide quantification, resulting in the absence, or low levels of cyanide in palm oil-fried gari as earlier reported.     

Development and Acceptability of a Ready-to-Eat Β-Carotene Rich,Maize Based Supplementary Product

Low cost supplementary products using maize were developed and made using extrusion. -carotene rich sources like curry leaf, carrot, red palm oil were used at different level to increase vitamin A precursor Levels and, therefore, vitamin A. Incorporation of curry leaf powder and carrot powder at 30 percent level and 30:70 blend of red palm oil and groundnut oil were found to be more acceptable than the products made with other levels. These products were tasted for acceptability by preschool children and were analysed for energy, protein, fat and -carotene contents. The control, fresh and stored supplementary products contained 1.707, 1.922, 1.919 MJ, 11.0, 11.6, 10.36 g protein, 10.2, 10.4, 9.64 g fat, 0, 7.37,6.72 mg -carotene per 100g, respectively. The loss of -carotene in processing and storage of curry leaf and carrot supplemented products was 13.69, 6.25 and 20.24, 8.06 percent, respectively.     

棕榈油的营养及功能性成分分析

棕榈油是全球第一大植物油脂，也是我国植物油脂供给的重要组成部分，具有营养成分较为丰富，应用途径广泛、产品价格低廉等特点。本文详细介绍棕榈油的脂肪酸组成和营养成分含量，为棕榈油认知度的提升以及市场推广提供理论依据。     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acrocomia aculeata</Emphasis> Kernel Oil on Adiposity in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

The macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is native of tropical America and is found mostly in the Cerrados and Pantanal biomes. The fruits provide an oily pulp, rich in long chain fatty acids, and a kernel that encompass more than 50% of lipids rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). Based on biochemical and nutritional evidences MCFA is readily catabolized and can reduce body fat accumulation. In this study, an animal model was employed to evaluate the effect of Acrocomia aculeata kernel oil (AKO) on the blood glucose level and the fatty acid deposit in the epididymal adipose tissue. The A. aculeata kernel oil obtained by cold pressing presented suitable quality as edible oil. Its fatty acid profile indicates high concentration of MCFA, mainly lauric, capric and caprilic. Type 2 diabetic rats fed with that kernel oil showed reduction of blood glucose level in comparison with the diabetic control group. Acrocomia aculeata kernel oil showed hypoglycemic effect. A small fraction of total dietary medium chain fatty acid was accumulated in the epididymal adipose tissue of rats fed with AKO at both low and high doses and caprilic acid did not deposit at all.     

棕榈油生物柴油加工技术研究进展

棕榈油是世界上最经济的植物油,与其他油料作物相比,油棕果及油的产量均最高,棕榈油作为生物质能源的原料越来越被重视,成为生产生物柴油最有竞争力的原料.目前.世界各国对棕榈油生物柴油的高效加工技术均展开了广泛的研究.本文介绍了国内外棕榈油生物柴油的加工技术,包括化学法、酶法、多相固体催化法及其他一些方法.     

油棕脂肪酸外运蛋白基因FAX1的克隆及表达分析

油棕(Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)原产非洲,是重要的热带木本油料作物,产油效率极高.目前油棕广泛种植在东南亚、非洲、中南美洲和我国的海南、云南、广东、广西等省(区),油棕果实压榨的棕榈油是重要的食用油和工业原料.脂肪酸在植物质体中合成,然后转运到内质网上进行加工和修饰.为了研究油棕脂肪酸的转运机制,...     

In Vitro Accessibility and Intake of β-Carotene From Cooked Green Leafy Vegetables and Their Estimated Contribution to Vitamin A Requirements

Provitamin A carotenoids from green leafy vegetables constitute a major dietary source of vitamin A in Tanzania. The efficiency of different vegetable preparations in contributing to the daily safe intake level of vitamin A for children was evaluated in the present study. The amount of bioaccessible (available for absorption) all-trans--carotene from green leafy vegetable dishes prepared either traditionally in households or with an improved method was estimated by an in vitro digestion method that simulates human digestion. The median vegetable portion size consumed by 34 children (2--12 years old) in the surveyed households was determined by weighing. The amount of all-trans--carotene available for absorption from the same type of vegetables cooked without oil by traditional or a modified method ranged from 5 to 12% and 4 to 15%, respectively. Vegetables cooked with modified method with oil had 2–5 times higher amount of in vitro accessible all-trans--carotene than vegetables cooked without oil. A median portion (84 g) of such a relish then provided 88–477% of the daily safe intake level of vitamin A, while portions cooked without oil only provided between 23 and 46%. In this study, a wide variation in all-trans--carotene content and bioaccessibility among studied green leaves was obtained. Still, to supply daily safe intake level of vitamin A for children from a median vegetable relish portion it is necessary to add oil in the preparation.     

Beta-carotene content of postharvest orange-fleshed muskmelon fruit: Effect of cultivar,growing location and fruit size

The influence of two growing locations (soil types), six fruit sizes, and two years on the postharvestBeta-carotene content of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud.) fruit was studied with two different cultivars. Fully abscised commercial size fruit: 9, 12, 15, 18, 23, and 30 (fruit/0.04 M³ shipping box) had highly variableBeta-carotene contents (5.3 to 33.8 µg/g fresh weight) that varied by size class, soil type and cultivar.Beta-carotene content increased with fruit size up to a maximum, though fruit size continued to increase. Find sandy loam soil produced fruit with lessBeta-carotene content than silty clay loam soil. The cultivar Primo contained higherBeta-carotene content levels than cultivar Cruiser. Mesocarp percent moisture content for both Cruiser and Primo at both locations by fruit size was not significantly correlated (r=0.40) withBeta-carotene content. Indicating fruit cell dilution may not contribute to the differences inBeta-carotene content in different fruit size classes.Beta-carotene content of size class 18 fruit from six cultivars grown on the silty clay loam soil for two consecutive years, showed a year, and year by cultivar effect for some cultivars. Whereas, some cultivars did not differ inBeta-carotene content between the two years. This indicates a potential for controllingBeta-carotene content of muskmelon fruit at a constant, high level by careful selection of production cultivar.Mention of a trademark of propriety does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the US Department of Agriculture or Texas A&M University and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that also may be suitable.     

Effect of Sea-Buckthorn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippophaë rhamnoides</Emphasis> L.) Pulp Oil Consumption on Fatty Acids and Vitamin A and E Accumulation in Adipose Tissue and Liver of Rats

An in vivo experiment was conducted to determine the effect of sea-buckthorn pulp oil feeding on the fatty acid composition of liver and adipose tissue of Wistar rats and the liver accumulation of retinol, its esters and α-tocopherol. For a period of 28 days, rats were given a modified casein diet (AIN-93) in which sea-buckthorn pulp oil, soybean oil and pork lard were used as sources of fat. Compared to the other fat sources, sea-buckthorn pulp oil was the most abundant in C16 fatty acids, carotenoids (mainly β-carotene) and tocopherols (mainly α-tocopherol). Its consumption was reflected in an increased share of palmitoleic acid in adipose tissue and the liver and an increased level of retinol in liver tissues (this was not observed for its esters). Although the type of fat did not have a significant effect on the average content of α-tocopherol in the liver, the variation of saturation of this tissue with α-tocopherol was the lowest when rats were fed a diet containing sea-buckthorn oil. This experiment indicates the possibility of affecting adipose tissue and liver by a diet.     

Proximate composition and mineral content of two edible species of Cnidoscolus (tree spinach)

Proximate composition and mineral content of raw and cooked leaves of two edible tree spinach species (Cnidoscolus chayamansa and C. aconitifolius), known locally as chaya, were determined and compared with that of a traditional green vegetable, spinach (Spinicia oleraceae). Results of the study indicated that the edible leafy parts of the two chaya species contained significantly (p<0.05) greater amounts of crude protein, crude fiber, Ca, K, Fe, ascorbic acid and -carotene than the spinach leaf. However, no significant (p>0.05) differences were found in nutritional composition and mineral content between the chaya species, except minor differences in the relative composition of fatty acids, protein and amino acids. Cooking of chaya leaves slightly reduced nutritional composition of both chaya species. Cooking is essential prior to consumption to inactivate the toxic hydrocyanic glycosides present in chaya leaves. Based on the results of this study, the edible chaya leaves may be good dietary sources of minerals (Ca, K and Fe) and vitamins (ascorbic acid and -carotene).     

Newly synthesized palm esters for cosmetics industry

Palm esters were synthesized through enzymatic transesterification of various palm oil fractions with oleyl alcohol using Lipozyme RM IM as the catalyst. At the optimized alcoholysis reaction condition, after 5 h reaction time all palm oil fractions exhibited a high percentage yields of esters (>80%). Simultaneous differential scanning calorimeter-thermal gravity analysis showed a high thermal stability profile of palm esters. Other physicochemical properties of palm esters such as refractive index, density, surface tension, slip melting point, saponification value, iodine value and acid value were analyzed following standard test methods modified from the American Oil Chemists’ Society standards. The dermal irritation assay of palm oil esters shows the non-irritancy of the esters with a Human Irritancy Equivalent (HIE) score below 0.9. Furthermore, an increase in skin hydration of 40.7% after 90 min after application in an acute moisturizing test, has proven the suitably of palm oil esters to be used in the cosmetics formulation.     

Red palm oil as a source of β-carotene for combating vitamin A deficiency

Twenty four school children of 7–9 years of age were divided into two groups of six boys and six girls each. One group was given a daily supplement of Suji halwa, a sweet snack made with semolina and red palm oil, supplying 2400 µg of -carotene and the second group was the control group which was given 600 µg of oral vitamin A palmitate, for 60 days. Vitamin A status before and after supplementation was assessed by the Modified Relative Dose Response Assay (MRDR). Results indicated that serum vitamin A levels increased from the basal level of 0.86±0.13 µmol/l to 1.89±0.23 µmol/l in the Red Palmoil (RPO) group and from 0.74±0.09 to 1.94±0.21 µmol/l in the control vitamin A group. Dehydroretinol/Retinol (DR/R) ratio decreased from 0.073±0.025 to 0.023±0.004 in the RPO group and from 0.090±0.023 to 0.023±0.004 in the vitamin A group, indicating liver saturation with vitamin A after feeding RPO snacks, comparable to synthetic vitamin A. This study indicates that RPO is an efficient source of -carotene which is found to be bioavailable in all the subjects tested, hence it can be used for supplementary feeding programmes to combat vitamin A deficiency in target population.     

油棕花粉活力和贮藏性研究

棕榈油是由油棕树的棕榈果压榨而成,是重要的食用油及工业用油。自然状态下,油棕的产量受到授粉率的制约。将油棕花粉在适宜的条件下贮存并保持其活力,在适当时间对油棕人工授粉对于提高油棕的产量有实际的意义。本研究运用培养基萌发法研究干燥时间、保存温度、培养温度和培养基成分对油棕花粉活力的影响。结果表明：油棕花粉保存的最佳条件为在38℃干燥36 h后保存于-20℃;油棕花粉萌发的最佳培养温度为35℃;适宜浓度的蔗糖和硼酸能促进花粉萌发,高浓度则抑制;硝酸钾的浓度对油棕花粉萌发没有显著影响。     

Effect of home processing on ascorbic acid and β-carotene content of spinach (Spinacia oleracia) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves

The present investigation was conducted to study the concentration of ascorbic acid and -carotene in spinach and amaranth leaves as affected by various domestic processing and cooking methods which included storage of leaves in polythene bags or without packing for 24 and 48 hours in refrigerator at 5 °C; at 30 °C in polythene bags; drying (sun and oven); blanching (5, 10, 15 min); open pan and pressure cooking. Ascorbic acid content of fresh leaves was 624.1 to 629.0 mg and -carotene content was 35.3 to 53.1 mg/100 g dry weight. The percent loss of ascorbic acid ranged from 1.1 to 6.3 and 55.3 to 65.9 while lower losses (0.0 to 1.3 and 1.5 to 2.1) of -carotene were observed in leaves stored in refrigerator and at 30 °C, respectively. A markedly greater reduction in ascorbic acid and -carotene was observed in dried, blanched and cooked leaves. The study recommended the storage of leaves in refrigerator, drying in oven, blanching for shorter time and cooking in pressure cooker for better retention of these two vitamins.     

Sugars of the unfermented sap and the wine from the oil palm,Elaeis guinensis,tree

The sugar composition of the unfermented sap from oil palm (Elaeis guinensis) trees growing in the plantations of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, has been determined. While sucrose concentration ranges from 9.59 to 10.59% (w/v) in the pure unfermented sap, that of either glucose or fructose is much less than 1% (w/v) (0.13–0.73% w/v). Raffinose occurs in traces only (0.13–0.35 w/v). These results were derived from our improved methods which eliminate completely, or reduce to a bare minimum, fermentation of the sap during collection. The variation with time of storage of the individual sugars in the sap during fermentation to form palm wine reveals that, as sucrose steadily decreases, fructose reaches a peak at 1.51% (w/v) at the 9th hour, and thereafter declines, while glucose and raffinose remain continuously low; all sugars disappear beyond the 33rd hour. Concomittantly, pH decreases from pH 6.60 at zero time and stabilizes at pH 3.30 after 48 h, while titrable acidity increases continuously up until the 96th hour. These changes account for the variations in the quality of palm wine during storages.     

油棕Δ9硬脂酰-ACP脱氢酶EgSAD基因的克隆及表达分析

^Δ9硬脂酰-ACP脱氢酶（^Δ9 stearoyl-ACP dehydrogenase,SAD）是植物中重要的脂肪酸脱氢酶,在调控不饱和脂肪酸合成中发挥着重要作用。本研究以非洲油棕和杂交油棕为材料,在油棕果实油脂积累期,分别测定花后120、140、160 d 3个时期的脂肪酸组分;从油棕中克隆SAD基因,并对其理化性质、进化关系、启动子顺式作用元件进行生物信息学分析;利用实时荧光定量PCR检测SAD在2个油棕品种果实成熟期的表达特征。结果表明：非洲油棕中总不饱和脂肪酸（棕榈酸和硬脂酸）比例（55.76%~60.27%）显著高于杂交油棕（37.2%~45.43%）,杂交油棕中不饱和脂肪酸（油酸和亚油酸）比例（51.61%~56.92%）显著高于非洲油棕（35.54%~38.64%）;鉴定了7个基因命名为：EgSAD1~EgSAD4和OeSAD1~OeSAD3;EgSAD基因编码的肽链平均为413个氨基酸,分子量为43.41~45.92 kDa,等电点为5.99~7.13,蛋白不稳定指数为44.07~53.25,总平均亲水性为-0.496~-0.405。OeSAD基因编码的肽链平均为405个氨基酸,分子量为44.94~49.39 kDa,等电点为6.05~7.14,蛋白不稳定指数为43.44~44.61,总平均亲水性为-0.554~-0.489。多序列比对分析,油棕SAD基因氨基酸序列中存在典型SAD特征的保守组氨酸富集区：EENRHG和DEKRHE。在SAD的启动子上鉴定出植物激素响应、逆境胁迫响应、光响应和逆境响应顺式作用元件。EgSADs在油棕果实成熟过程中呈上调表达趋势,EgSAD1和EgSAD2在杂交油棕中表达量显著高于非洲油棕,OeSADs在杂交油棕果实花后140 d中表达量最高,在杂交油棕的3个时期中均呈现先升高后下降的趋势,且在花后120 d的表达量显著高于花后120 d和160 d。本研究结果为进一步研究SAD调控油棕不饱和脂肪酸合成的机制奠定基础。     

Quality attributes and storage stability of locally and mechanically extracted crude palm oils in selected communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States,Nigeria

The effect of different extraction methods on the qualityof crude palm oil processed using traditional (local) and mechanical methods in selected areas of Rivers and BayelsaStates and their storage stability were investigated.Certain quality determining parameters such as free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), saponification value (SV),moisture, impurities and volatile matter (MIV) content weredetermined prior to and after storage for three months. The free fatty acids (FFA) ranged from 7 to 19 percent, peroxidevalue (PV) ranged from 3 mEq/kg to 6 mEq/kg and moisture, impurity and volatile matter (MIV) ranged from 0.21 to 0.64 percent for locally extracted crude palm oil samples and mechanically extracted crude palm oil samples. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the FFA of samples A and E before and after storage for 3 months. Also two of thelocally extracted crude samples (A and E) stored better whileone of the samples (D) showed a high level of deteriorationas shown in its high levels of FFA, PV and IV values. SamplesA and E resulted in a better quality of oil in terms of FFA (av. 7.25%) and PV (av. 4.5 meg/kg) when compared to the mechanically extracted one (sample C) with FFA (10.0%) and PV (5.78 mEq/kg). However, all the locally and mechanically extracted crude palm oil samples could not meet the industrial and international standard quality for crude palm with FFA (2–5%) and PV (2–3.5 mEq/kg). Among the three different storage containers used under different storage conditions, plastic containers (PC) resulted in a better storage stability of the crude palm oils in terms of FFA, SV, and IV than transparent bottles stored on shelves (TBS) and amber-coloredbottles stored on the bare floor (BPF).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus persica</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">platycarpa</Emphasis> (Tabacchiera Peach): Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Pulp,Peel and Seed Ethanolic Extracts

A comparative analysis of ethanol extracts from peel, pulp and seed of Prunus persica var. platycarpa (Tabacchiera peach) was done. The total phenol, flavonoid and carotenoid content as well as the antioxidant properties by using different in vitro assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, Fe-chelating, β-carotene bleaching test) were evaluated. Pulp extract was subjected to liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were identified as main constituents. Pulp extract was characterized by the highest total phytonutrients content and exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all in vitro assays (IC₅₀ values of 2.2 μg/mL after 60 min of incubation by using β-carotene bleaching test and 2.9 μg/mL by using Fe-chelating assay). Overall, the obtained results suggest that P. persica var. platycarpa displays a good antioxidant activity and its consumption could be promoted.     

Effect of traditional open sun-drying and solar cabinet drying on carotene content and vitamin A activity of green leafy vegetables

Dried green leafy vegetables constitute a major dietary source of provitamin A carotenoids for people living in semi-arid areas of Tanzania. In the present study, eight vegetable varieties commonly consumed in these areas were either traditionally sun-dried or solar-dried, and the amount of provitamin A carotenoids were determined by HPLC. In the fresh blanched leaves, the contents of -carotene, -carotene, 9-cis--carotene and 13-cis--carotene were in the range of 526–917, 12–39, 80–136 and 16–40 g/g dry matter/basis; dmb, respectively. The average amounts of all-trans--carotene in the leaves after blanching, solar drying and open sun-drying were 662, 502 and 353 g/g dmb, respectively, all significantly different from each other (p <0.001). The average amounts of all-trans--carotene were 21, 15 and 8 g/g dmb (p <0.05) and of 9-cis--carotene 101, 82 and 63 g/g dmb (p <0.05) in the blanched, solar-dried and open sun-dried samples, respectively. Estimation of the amount of retinol equivalents provided by the dried vegetables for preparation of an edible portion of 100 g relish showed that solar-dried vegetables contributed more (between 120–275%) than the recommended level of vitamin A, and on average 43% more retinol equivalents than relishes of open sun-dried vegetables.Thus, it is concluded that the amount of provitamin A-carotenes in traditionally treated vegetables were highly reduced by open sun-drying while solar drying resulted in significantly more retention of the carotenes. All-trans--carotene and 9-cis--carotene were similarly affected as all-trans--carotene by the two drying methods. Consumption of a 100 g portion of solar-dried vegetable relish could provide the recommended daily intake of vitamin A.