Residues of azoxystrobin from grapes to raisins

Azoxystrobin, a fungicide of the strobilurin group, has an European Union maximum residue level (MRL) of 2 mg/kg for grapes. This work aimed to assess residues on fresh and washed grapes and on raisins following processing with (i) alkali treatment and sun drying and (ii) sun drying only. QUADRIS 25% SC was applied according to good agricultural practice for two consecutive years on a typical cv. Thomson seedless and a seed-producing clone. Samples were collected 0, 15, and 21 days postapplication and analyzed using gas chromatography/electron capture detection; recoveries were 86 +/- 12% for grapes and 99 +/- 15% for raisins. Residues on grapes were 0.49-1.84 mg/kg, and washing removed 75% of the residue. Residues in raisins produced from seedless grapes were 0.51-1.49 (treatment 1) and 1.42-2.08 mg/kg (treatment 2), with residue transfer factors sometimes >1, even following alkali treatment, which reduced residues considerably. To avoid trade problems, a higher MRL for raisins is necessary.     

Determination of acequinocyl and hydroxyacequinocyl on fruits and vegetables by HPLC-DAD

A method for determining residues of the new reduced-risk pesticide acequinocyl and its deacetylated derivative hydroxyacequinocyl on fruits and vegetables (grapes, lemons, pears, and tomatoes) by HPLC is described. The pesticides were extracted from the fruits and vegetables with hexane and ethyl acetate solution (1:1, v/v), determined by HPLC-DAD at 250 nm and confirmed by LC/MS. No cleanup was necessary. This method is characterized by recoveries (0.01-4 mg/kg) > 77%, while the coefficient of variation was determined to be less than 11%. The limit of quantitation for both acequinocyl and hydroxyacequinocyl was 0.01 mg/kg for all matrixes.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and fractionation of fennel oil

Ground fennel seeds were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide. Small-scale subsequent extractions of the same sample showed that the composition of volatile compounds was changed with the extension of extraction time and only principal volatile components (limonene, fenchone, methylchavicol, and anethole) were present in the last-extracted sample. Fennel oil was successfully fractionated into the essential oil rich and fatty oil rich products in pilot-scale apparatus using two separators in series. Designed experiments were carried out to map the effects of pressure and temperature in the first separator on the yields and compositions of the products. The minimum level of the total undesired components in both essential oil rich and fatty oil rich products appeared at a pressure of 80-84 bar and a temperature of 31-35 degrees C in the first separator. Supercritical CO(2) extraction of fennel seeds resulted in higher yield (10.0%) than steam distillation (3.0%), almost the same yield as hexane extraction (10.6%), and lower yield than alcohol extraction (15.4%). Analysis of the volatile compounds revealed the significant difference of the composition in distilled oil and oleoresins prepared by CO(2) and solvent extractions. Sensory evaluation showed that the CO(2) extraction product and distilled oil were more intense in odor and taste than alcohol and hexane extracts.     

Comparative analysis of the oil and supercritical CO2 extract of Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton

The volatile oil of Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton seeds was obtained by supercritical CO(2) extraction (SC-CO(2)). The effect of the extraction conditions on the yield and composition of the resulting cardamom volatile oil was examined by testing two pressure values, 9.0 and 11.0 MPa; two temperatures, 40 and 50 degrees C; two flow rate values, 0.6 and 1.2 kg/h; and two particles size values, 250-425 and >850 microm. The extraction conditions that gave the highest yield, Y (grams of extract per gram of seeds), of 5.5%, were as follows: pressure, 9.0 MPa; temperature, 40 degrees C; carbon dioxide flow, phi = 1.2 kg/h; and particles sizes in the range of 250-425 microm. Waxes, recovered as traces, were entrapped in the first separator set at 9.0 MPa and -10 degrees C. The oil was recovered in the second separator working at 1.5 MPa and 10 degrees C. The main components were as follows: alpha-terpinyl acetate, 42.3%; 1,8-cineole, 21.4%; linalyl acetate, 8.2%; limonene, 5.6%; and linalool, 5.4%. A comparison with the hydrodistilled oil, obtained at a yield of 5.0%, did not reveal any consistent difference. In contrast, the extract obtained using hexane, Y = 7.6%, showed strong composition differences. Indeed, the volatile fraction of the extract was made up mainly of the following: limonene, 36.4%; 1,8-cineole, 23.5%; terpinolene, 8.6%; and myrcene, 6.6%.     

Gamma-linolenic acid and tocopherol contents in the seed oil of 47 accessions from several Ribes species

Gamma-linolenic acid is an essential fatty acid for humans with delta-6-desaturase deficiency; it is a precursor of prostaglandins, prostacyclins, and tromboxanes; and it has antiinflammatory and antitumoral effects. Tocopherols are natural antioxidants with biological activity, heart/vascular, and cancer protective properties. The oil, gamma-linolenic acid, and tocopherol contents, as well as tocopherol composition, were investigated in the seed oil of a collection of 47 accessions belonging to various species of the genus Ribes. Differences for oil content among species were not significant. The highest total tocopherol content was found in R. nigrum (mean, 1716 mg kg(-1) oil), followed by R. rubrum (mean, 1442 mg kg(-1) oil). R. grossularia showed the lowest values for this trait (mean, 786 mg kg(-1) oil). The three species also differed strongly for tocopherol composition. R. rubrumwas distinguished by a higher concentration of delta-tocopherol (mean, 20.2%); R. grossularia displayed the highest percentage of gamma-tocopherol (mean, 70.0%), and R. nigrum showed the highest concentration for alpha-tocopherol (mean, 34.8%), the most biologically active among the four tocopherols. Regarding gamma-linolenic acid, the highest content was found in R. nigrum, which exhibited up to 15.8% of this essential fatty acid in the oil. R. grossularia and R. rubrum showed mean gamma-linolenic acid contents of 8% and 6.2%, respectively. The present study indicated that seeds of Ribes species, especially R. nigrum, could be used as sources of gamma-linolenic acid and natural vitamin E.     

Residues of spiroxamine in grapes following field application and their fate from vine to wine

Dissipation of the fungicide spiroxamine in grapes of two vine varieties, Roditis and Cabernet Sauvignon, exposed to field treatments was evaluated. Vines of a grape vineyard located in central Greece were sprayed once or twice with a commercial formulation of the fungicide at 30 g a.i./hL. Residues in grapes, must, and wine were determined by gas chromatography/IT-MS after extraction with cyclohexane-dichloromethane (9:1), with a limit of quantitation 0.02 mg/kg in grapes and 0.012 mg/kg in wine. Under field conditions, spiroxamine dissipation on grapes was faster during the first 2 weeks and then slower to the sixth week. About 7 days after application, half of the initial spiroxamine concentration remained on the grapes; the respective proportion at 42 days was about 10%. At 14 and 35 days, residues were lower than 0.44 and 0.22 mg/kg, respectively, values below the maximum residue levels set by the European Union (1 mg/kg). Spiroxamine residues transferred from grapes into the must and through the vinification process into the wine were also studied. Mean transfer factors of 0.26 and 0.55 were found from grapes into wine for the wines obtained without maceration and with maceration, respectively. Residues in wine, prepared from grapes with a spiroxamine content of 0.11-0.20 mg/kg, varied from <0.026 to 0.09 mg/kg. Spiroxamine diastereomer B was found to dissipate slower than diastereomer A in the field as well as during the vinification process.     

Radical scavenging activities of peels and pulps from cv. Golden Delicious apples as related to their phenolic composition

The relationship between phenolic composition and radical scavenging activity of apple peel and pulp was investigated in fruit produced according to both organic and integrated agricultural methods. Apple tissue extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography separation, which showed that as compared with pulps, peels are richer in almost all of the quantified phenolics. Flavonols, flavanols, procyanidins, dihydrochalcones, and hydroxycinnamates were the identified phenolic classes in peel tissue, and the most abundant compounds were epicatechin, procyanidin B2, and phloridzin. Pulps were poorer in phytochemicals. Their major phenolics were procyanidins and hydroxycinnamates. Flavonols in amounts <20 mg kg(-1) fresh weight (fw) were also found. In both peels and pulps, integrated production samples were richer in polyphenols. Among the 14 compounds identified, only phloridzin had a tendency to appear higher in organic peels. The total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of extracts were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical assay and were expressed as Trolox equivalents. Integrated peels gave the highest TAC (18.56 mM kg(-1) fw), followed by organic peels (TAC = 14.96), integrated pulps (TAC = 7.12), and organic pulps (TAC = 6.28). In peels, the top contributors to the antioxidant activity were found to be flavonols, flavanols, and procyanidins, which accounted for about 90% of the total calculated activity whereas in pulps, the TAC was primarily derived from flavanols (monomers and polymers) together with hydroxycinnamates. A good correlation between the sum of polyphenols and the radical scavenging activities was found. Among the single classes of compounds, procyanidins (in peels and pulps) and flavonols (in peels) were statistically correlated to the TAC.     

Analytical characterization of Moringa oleifera seed oil grown in temperate regions of Pakistan

The hexane-extracted oil content of Moringa oleifera seeds ranged from 38.00 to 42.00%. Protein, fiber, and ash contents were found to be 26.50-32.00, 5.80-9.29, and, 5.60-7.50%, respectively. Results of physical and chemical parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 68.00-71.80; refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4590-1.4625; density (24 degrees C), 0.9036-0.9080 mg/mL; saponification value, 180.60-190.50; unsaponifiable matter, 0.70-1.10%; and color (1 in. cell), 0.95-1.10 R + 20.00-35.30 Y. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil were up to 123.50-161.30, 84.07-104.00, and 41.00-56.00 mg/kg, respectively. The oil was found to contain high levels of oleic acid (up to 78.59%) followed by palmitic, stearic, behenic, and arachidic acid up to levels of 7.00, 7.50, 5.99, and 4.21%, respectively. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 9.99 h and reduced to 8.63 h after degumming. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.70 and 0.31, respectively. Many parameters of M. oleifera oil indigenous to Pakistan were comparable to those of typical Moringa seed oils reported in the literature. The results of the present analytical study were also compared with those of different vegetable oils.     

Antioxidant activity of dietary oregano essential oil and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in long-term frozen stored turkey meat

The effects of dietary oregano essential oil and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on the oxidative stability of long-term frozen stored turkey meat were investigated. Thirty 12-week-old turkeys, randomly divided into five groups, were given a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1), or 100 or 200 mg of oregano oil kg(-1), or 100 mg of oregano oil plus 100 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1) for 4 weeks prior to slaughter. Lipid oxidation in breast and thigh meat was assessed after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months of frozen storage at -20 degrees C prior to or following 7 days of refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. Results showed that oregano oil increased the oxidative stability of breast and thigh meat during the frozen storage. Dietary oregano oil at the inclusion level of 200 mg kg(-1) feed was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective in delaying lipid oxidation compared to the level of 100 mg kg(-1), but equivalent to dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at 200 mg kg(-1), which in turn was inferior to dietary supplementation of 100 mg kg(-1) oregano essential oil plus 100 mg kg(-1) alpha-tocopheryl acetate that was significantly (p < 0.05) superior to all other treatments. Thigh meat was more susceptible to oxidation than breast meat, although the former contained alpha-tocopherol at markedly higher levels. Mean alpha-tocopherol levels in breast and thigh meat from all treatments decreased during the frozen storage, the decrease being sharper between 1 and 3 months of frozen storage for breast and between 3 and 6 months for thigh meat. Oregano oil supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the retention of alpha-tocopherol in meat, the increase being positively correlated with the supplementation level. However, the retention of alpha-tocopherol in meat could only partly elucidate the antioxidant activity exhibited by dietary oregano oil supplementation.     

Comparisons of terrestrial and aquatic bioassays for oil-contaminated soil toxicity

Background  Petroleum products are widely used in various sections of industry and they are one of the most abundant sources of environmental contamination. These products are classified by their physico-chemical properties such as boiling point, density and viscosity. Oil contamination in the environment is primarily evaluated by measuring the chemical concentrations of petroleum products in the solid or water phase. The results of chemical analyses do not correspond directly with the harmful environmental effects of petroleum products on the soil flora and fauna, because the interactions between oil compounds and the production of their methabolites in soil are not measured in chemical assessments. These kinds of effects of complex chemical mixtures in soil can be estimated by bioassays. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests are important for estimating soil quality in the risk assessment of oil-contaminated soil sites. Objectives  The objective of this study was to examine the oil-contaminated soil site of a closed petrol station with both chemical and ecotoxicological methods. The goals of this study were to compare the sensitivity of the terrestrial and aquatic bioassays and to compare the toxicity responses of aquatic bioassays determined from three different extraction procedures. In addition, our aim was to characterise a cost-effective battery of bioassays that could be applied to a comparison of oil-contaminated soils. It was in our interest to investigate oil-contaminated soil with oil concentrations of 2500–12000 mg/kg and to find out the possible differences between terrestrial and aquatic toxicity tests. Methods  Six soil samples from a closed petrol station were examined for toxicity with terrestrial and aquatic tests. Terrestrial tests includedEnchytraeus albidus survival and reproduction assays and seed germination assays using wheat, cress, lettuce, and red clover seeds and growth inhibition assays of onions. The toxicities of the water-extractable fractions of the soil samples obtained from three different extractions were tested with aquatic bioassays based on plants (onion and duckweed growth inhibition tests), microbes (luminescent bacteria test), and enzyme inhibition (reverse electron transport test, RET). Chemical analyses of the solid samples were carried out simultaneously. Results. Oil concentrations ranged from 2500 to 12000 mg/kg, BTEX varied from 300 to 2800 mg/kg, and fuel additives: MTBE and TAME from 0.0 1 to 260 mg/kg. Only the sample contain-ing 12000 mg/kg oil had a significant toxic impact on all test organisms. Soil samples with oil concentrations 2500–6200 mg/ kg had no or only slight adverse effects on the test organisms with one exception, theE. albidus reproduction test. TheE. albidus survival and reproduction tests were the most sensitive bioassays of the terrestrial tests, and the luminescent bacteria test of the aquatic tests.     

Determination of pesticides and PCBs in virgin olive oil by multicolumn solid-phase extraction cleanup followed by GC-NPD/ECD and confirmation by ion-trap GC-MS

A multicolumn solid-phase extraction cleanup for the determination of organophosphorus (OP) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides plus PCB congeners in virgin olive oil is presented. The method involves dissolution of the olive oil in hexane, followed by a cleanup system using a diatomaceous earth column (Extrelut-QE) with reversed (C(18)) and normal (alumina) phase SPE columns. Determination of OPs was by GC-NPD, while the OCs and PCBs were analyzed using GC-ECD. Recovery assays for OPs varied from 81.7% to 105.3%, for OCs ranged between 74.3% and 99.4%, while for PCBs were from 60.1% to 119.2%. Quantitation limits ranged from 10 to 25 microg/kg olive oil for OPs, and from 1 to 6 microg/kg olive oil for OCs and PCBs. In the case of positive samples, the confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by ion-trap GC-MS/MS. The applicability of the method was assayed with 19 virgin olive oil samples collected from different olive mills of Aragón (Spain). Only one OP pesticide (acephate) was detected in one sample at a concentration of 10 microg/kg. Organochlorine pesticides were found in 5-47% of samples at very low levels ranging from 1.5 to 5.2 microg/kg. PCBs were found in 20-90% of samples, showing concentrations between 2.3 and 17.3 microg/kg.     

Enhanced selective extraction of hexane from hexane/soybean oil mixture using binary gas mixtures of carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) can effectively separate hexane from a mixture of soybean oil (SBO) and hexane with a slight coextraction of SBO. Previous research demonstrated that CO2 entrained with helium significantly reduced SBO solubility in CO2. In this study, CO2 was mixed with three gases (He, N2, or Ar) (0.5-30 vol %) to decrease SBO solubility while attempting to maintain hexane solubility. The binary gas mixtures (at 25 degrees C and 9.31 MPa) were passed through a 25 wt % hexane/SBO mixture inside a 2.5 m fractionation column. Coextracted SBO was inversely proportional to binary gas concentration, whereas residual hexane in the raffinate was proportional to binary gas concentration. The 10% binary mixture of N2 or Ar was the best compromise to obtain both low residual hexane levels (i.e., 26 ppm) and low SBO coextraction (i.e., only 40 mg). This carry-over of SBO represents a 95% reduction in SBO carry-over compared to neat CO2.     

Fate of ochratoxin A during vinification of Semillon and Shiraz grapes

Semillon and Shiraz grapes containing ochratoxin A (OA) were obtained by inoculation of bunches on the vine with Aspergillus carbonarius. Citric acid content was greater in the inoculated grapes than in healthy grapes. Samples were collected throughout vinification of these grapes and the OA content was quantified using a stable isotope dilution liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method. The mass of processed and waste streams during vinification was also noted. Reduction in the amount of OA in juice and wine occurred at every solid-liquid separation stage. The OA concentration (microg/kg) in white and red wine after racking was 4% and 9%, respectively, of that in crushed grapes. This corresponds to 1% and 6% of the total OA content that was initially present in the inoculated grapes. The OA content was divided between solid and liquid phases at each stage of vinification. OA did not appear to be transformed either chemically or biologically by yeast during fermentation, rather was discarded with the marc, juice lees, and gross lees.     

Chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and thermal stability of a phytochemical enriched oil from Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)

Phenolic compounds present in crude oil extracts from acai fruit ( Euterpe oleracea) were identified for the first time. The stability of acai oil that contained three concentrations of phenolics was evaluated under short- and long-term storage for lipid oxidation and phenolic retention impacting antioxidant capacity. Similar to acai fruit itself, acai oil isolates contained phenolic acids such as vanillic acid (1,616 +/- 94 mg/kg), syringic acid (1,073 +/- 62 mg/kg), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (892 +/- 52 mg/kg), protocatechuic acid (630 +/- 36 mg/kg), and ferulic acid (101 +/- 5.9 mg/kg) at highly enriched concentrations in relation to acai pulp as well as (+)-catechin (66.7 +/- 4.8 mg/kg) and numerous procyanidin oligomers (3,102 +/- 130 mg/kg). Phenolic acids experienced up to 16% loss after 10 weeks of storage at 20 or 30 degrees C and up to 33% loss at 40 degrees C. Procyanidin oligomers degraded more extensively (23% at 20 degrees C, 39% at 30 degrees C, and 74% at 40 degrees C), in both high- and low-phenolic acai oils. The hydrophilic antioxidant capacity of acai oil isolates with the highest phenolic concentration was 21.5 +/- 1.7 micromol Trolox equivalents/g, and the total soluble phenolic content was 1252 +/- 11 mg gallic acid equivalents/kg, and each decreased by up to 30 and 40%, respectively, during long-term storage. The short-term heating stability at 150 and 170 degrees C for up to 20 min exhibited only minor losses (<10%) in phenolics and antioxidant capacity. Because of its high phenolic content, the phytochemical-enriched acai oil from acai fruit offers a promising alternative to traditional tropical oils for food, supplements, and cosmetic applications.     

Comparison of cardioprotective abilities between the flesh and skin of grapes

Recent studies have documented that grapes and grape juices are equally cardioprotective as red wine. The existing reports implicate that the skin and seeds of the grapes containing polyphenolic antioxidants are instrumental for the cardioprotective properties of grapes. The present study examines if the flesh of grapes also possesses any cardioprotective abilities. Three groups of randomly selected rats were fed, water only (control), flesh of the grapes (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) or the skins (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, isolated perfused hearts were made ischemic for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion in the working mode. The results demonstrated that both flesh and skin of the grapes could protect the hearts from ischemic reperfusion injury as evidenced by improved postischemic ventricular recovery and reduced myocardial infarct size. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that skin and flesh contained comparative amounts of glucose, fructose, tartaric acid, malic acid, shikimic acid, and trans-caftaric acid. In addition, the flesh contained reduced amounts (compared to skin) of cis-coutaric, trans-coutaric, caffeic, p-coumaric, cinnamics, and catechin/epicatechin. Total polyphenolic index was also lower in flesh compared to skin. The anthocyanins were present exclusively in the skin. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry of hydroxy radicals indicated that both flesh and skins possessed equal amount of ROS scavenging activities. Total malonaldehyde content in the heart was reduced comparatively with either flesh or skin. The results indicate for the first time that the flesh of grapes are equally cardioprotective as skin, and antioxidant potential of skin and flesh of grapes are comparable with each other despite of the fact that flesh does not possess any anthocyanin activities.     

Effect of heat pretreatment on the yield and composition of oil extracted from corn fiber.

Previously, hexane extraction of corn fiber was reported to produce a unique and potentially valuable oil that contained high levels of several phytosterols (which have been noted for their cholesterol-lowering properties). Current studies revealed that heat treatment (over the range of 100-175 degrees C) of corn fiber in either a convection oven or a vacuum oven caused only a modest reduction in the levels of the phytosterol components. However, these same heat pretreatments caused a considerable increase (up to 10-fold) in the levels (increasing from 0.34 wt % to a maximum of 3.64 wt % gamma-tocopherol in the oil) and yields (increasing from 5.4 mg of gamma-tocopherol/100 g of corn fiber to a maximum of 52.1 mg of gamma-tocopherol/100 g of corn fiber) of gamma-tocopherol in corn fiber oil. The main differences between the convection oven and vacuum oven pretreatments were associated with the disappearance of free fatty acids and free phytosterols at the higher temperature pretreatments in the vacuum oven, probably due to the lower boiling points of these lipids. Microwave pretreatment was also effective but caused a much smaller increase in the levels of gamma-tocopherol.     

Quantitative analysis of anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging triterpenoid esters in evening primrose oil

Cold pressed, nonraffinated evening primrose oil (EPO) was recently found to contain lipophilic triterpenoidal esters with radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. A simple and robust method for the quantitative analysis of these 3-O-trans-caffeoyl derivatives of betulinic, morolic, and oleanolic acid was developed and validated. Separation was achieved by normal phase chromatography on a Diol column and with hexane/ethyl acetate (50:50) as eluent. The analytes could be determined directly in the oil matrix, without need of a previous removal of the triglycerides. Normal phase LC ESI-MS with a makeup flow of polar modifier was used for checking the identity and purity of analyte peaks. Samples from 22 commercially available EPOs were analyzed. The average caffeoyl ester contents were 58 mg/100 g in cold pressed oils and 4.7 mg/100 g in partially raffinated oils. In fully raffinated EPO samples, the concentration was below the limit of detection. The influence of extraction temperature on the content of caffeoyl esters in nonraffinated EPO was investigated with seeds of Oenothera biennis and Oenothera lamarckiana, respectively. With O. lamarckiana, the concentration of caffeoyl esters in the oil increased with rising pressure and temperature, whereas no such dependency was found with O. biennis. Microscopic analysis revealed some differences in the histology of the seed testa, which may explain in part the differing behaviors in the extraction experiments. There was a difference between O. biennis and O. lamarckiana oils with respect to the relative amounts of the three esters. The temperature of the extraction process had no effect on the ratio of the compounds.     

Analytical characterization of Salicornia bigelovii seed oil cultivated in Pakistan

Seeds of Salicornia bigelovii (hybrid variety sos-10) were collected from five coastal areas of Pakistan on the Arabian Sea. Hexane-extracted oil content was 27.2-32.0%. Results of other physical and chemical parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 128.0-130.5; refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4680-1.4695; unsaponifiable matter, 1.63-2.00%; saponification value, 178.6-189.0; density (30 degrees C), 0.9036-0.9074. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil ranged up to 200 mg/kg. The S. bigelovii seed oil was found to contain high levels of linoleic acid (74.66-79.49%) and less oleic acid (12.33-16.83%). Saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, ranged from 7 to 8.50% and from 1.24 to 1.69%, respectively. Linolenic acid (C(18:3) omega-3) was found within the range of 1.50-2.31%. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 1.40-1.70 h. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.90-2.40 and 0.40-0.62, respectively. Many parameters of S. bigelovii seed oil were quite compatible with those of safflower oil.     

Pomegranate oil analysis with emphasis on MALDI-TOF/MS triacylglycerol fingerprinting

Pomegranate oil (PGO) is a unique and quite rare edible oil produced from Punica granatum L. seeds. It is considered to be a powerful health-benefiting agent, due to its antioxidative, anticancer, and antilipidemic properties. The aim of this study was to achieve a comprehensive and detailed profile of the different components of PGO. The fatty acid profile and phytosterol composition were determined by GC-MS; the triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions were profiled by the mass spectrometry tool of MALDI-TOF/MS. Results showed linolenic acid (18:3) to be the predominant fatty acid in the PGO (64-83%), as previously reported. The linolenic acid fraction was composed of four different chromatographically separated peaks that are assumed, according to MS data (based on both FAME and DMOX derivatization), to be attributed to different geometric isomers of conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA), punicic acid (18:3: 9-cis,11-trans,13-cis) being the major isomer. The MALDI-TOF/MS finger printing results showed the different TAG compositions present in the PGO, the major ones being LnLnLn and LnLnP. This unique PGO TAG fingerprint enables it to be differentiated from most other common edible oils. Phytosterols were found in quite a high concentration in the PGO (4089-6205 mg/kg), about 3-4-fold higher than in soybean oil. A detailed profile of the phytosterols in the PGO showed a wide variety, the major phytosterols being beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. This study depicts a new detailed analysis of PGO, showing great potential for further research regarding the physiological effects of specific valuable components in pomegranate oil.     

硅酸盐调控抑制水稻对富硒水稻土中Cd吸收

研究目的:通过水稻盆栽试验,探讨了海泡石(SP)、硅钙复合矿物(CS)和水溶性叶面硅肥(YS)3种硅酸盐不同复配处理对富Se水稻土中Cd的迁移和转运和Se的生物有效性的调控效果,以及对糙米中矿质元素吸收的影响。结果表明,海泡石(SP)、海泡石-硅钙复合矿物(SPC)和海泡石-硅钙复合矿物-水溶硅肥(SCY)处理水稻根际土pH值增加0.15～0.31个单位,使土壤Cd由可交换态向碳酸盐结合态和有机结合态转变,而土壤Se由残渣态向生物可利用态转变。与对照(CK)相比,SP、SPC和SCY处理水稻根际土CaCl2-Cd含量降低了19.5%～34.0%,而土壤有效态Se的含量增加了17.8%～36.8%。且SPC和SCY处理糙米中的Cd含量显著降低,比食品安全国家标准(0.2mg/kg)降低了25.0%～90.0%。各处理在降低糙米中Cd的同时,对糙米中Se含量和各矿质元素(Cu、Fe、Zn、Mg和Mn)无显著影响。该研究可为进一步利用SP有效修复富Se水稻土中Cd污染和提高土壤Se的生物有效性提供了有益途径。