The bioactive compounds and "in vitro" antioxidant activity measured by three antioxidant assays of some traditional and non-traditional cold-pressed edible oils from Macedonia were object of this study. The fatty acid composition showed dominance of monounsaturated oleic acid in "sweet" and "bitter" apricot kernel oils with percentages of 66.7 ± 0.5 and 57.8 ± 0.3%, respectively. The most dominant fatty acid in paprika seed oil was polyunsaturated linoleic acid with abundance of 69.6 ± 2.3%. The most abundant tocopherol was γ-tocopherol with the highest quantity in sesame seed oil (57.6 ± 0.1 mg/100 g oil). Paprika seed oil, sesame seed oil and sweet apricot oil were the richest source of phytosterols. DPPH assay was the most appropriate for the determination of the antioxidant activity of cold-pressed sunflower oil due to high abundance of α-tocopherol with a level of 22.8 ± 1.1 mg/100 g of oil. TEAC assay is the best for the determination of the antioxidant activity of sesame seed oil and paprika seed oils as the richest sources of phenolic compounds. β-carotene assay was the most suitable assay for oils obtained from high pigmented plant material. Triacylglycerols and phytosterol profiles can be used as useful markers for the origin, variety and purity of the oils.
Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant consisting of four isomers each (α, β, γ, δ) of tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3), is found naturally in plant oils at different concentrations. In this study, four semi-purified isonitrogenous and isolipidic (10 %) diets containing canola oil, cold-pressed soybean oil, wheat germ oil, or palm fatty acid distillates (PFAD) as the sole vitamin E source were fed to triplicate groups of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) fingerlings (14.82 ± 0.05 g) for 45 days. Vitamin E concentrations and composition were measured in the muscle, liver, skin, and adipose tissue. Deposition of α-T (53.4-93.1 % of total vitamin E) predominated over deposition of other isomers, except in the liver of fish fed the SBO diet, where α-T and γ-T deposition was in the ratio 40:60. T3 deposition (2.6-29.4 %) was only detected in tissues of fish fed the PFAD diet; adipose tissue was the major storage depot. Fish fed the SBO diet contained significantly more (P
The impact of microwave roasting on the thermooxidative degradation of perah seed oil (PSO) was evaluated during heating at a frying temperature (170°C). The roasting resulted significantly lower increment of the values of oxidative indices such as free acidity, peroxide value, p-anisidine, total oxidation (TOTOX), specific extinctions and thiobarbituric acid in oils during heating. The colour L* (lightness) value dropped gradually as the heating time increased up to 12 h, whereas a*(redness) and b* (yellowness) tended to increase. The viscosity and total polar compound in roasted PSO was lower as compared to that in unroasted one at each heating times. The tocol retention was also high in roasted samples throughout the heating period. The relative contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were decreased to 94.42% and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were increased to 110.20% in unroasted sample, after 12 h of heating. On the other hand, in 3 min roasted samples, the relative contents of PUFAs were decreased to 98.08% and of SFAs were increased to 103.41% after 12 h of heating. Outcome from analyses showed that microwave roasting reduced the oxidative deteriorations of PSO during heating.
Diabetes is a common cause of delayed wound healing. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of topical administration of tocopherol cream on the wound healing process in diabetic rats. The study was conducted using 18 male Sprague Dawley rats which were divided into three groups: (I) diabetic rats receiving control cream (n = 6), (II) diabetic rats receiving 0.06% tocopherol cream (n = 6), and (III) diabetic rats receiving 0.29% tocopherol cream (n = 6). Four cutaneous wounds were created at the dorsal region of the rats. Wound healing was assessed by total protein content, rate of wound closure estimation, and histological studies on the tenth day after wounding. Tocopherol treatment enhanced the wound healing process by increasing rate of wound closure and total protein content significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Histological observation also showed better organized epithelium and more collagen fibers in the tocopherol treated groups. Application of tocopherol cream enhances wound healing process in diabetic condition which is known to cause delay in wound healing.
The study was designed to evaluate the nutritive value, thermal stability and consumer acceptance of cupcakes baked with red palm olein compared to palm olein. Thermal stability was evaluated for acidity, peroxide, p-anisidine and total oxidation value (cumulative between peroxide and p-anisidine values), as well as fatty acid composition. The concentrations of phytonutrients including tocopherols and tocotrienols, alpha- and beta-carotene after baking were also determined. Acceptance of the cupcakes was assessed using a structured hedonic scale of five points by 29 panelists. As compared to initial test oil (red palm olein), acidity (red palm olein, 0.07±0.01% vs cupcakes containing red palm olein, 0.09±0.01%; P=0.0232), peroxide value (red palm olein, 0.33±0.05 meq O2 kg-1 vs cupcakes containing red palm olein 0.73±0.06 meq O2 kg-1; P=0.0011) and total oxidation value (red palm olein, 2.24±0.13 unit vs cupcakes containing red palm olein, 3.09±0.17 unit; P=0.0012) were found to be higher in cupcakes containing red palm olein, which is within the acceptable rancidity range (peroxide value < 7.5 meq O2 kg-1) for snack food category. No changes were found on oxidative parameters (acidity, peroxide, p-anisidine values and total oxidation value) in cupcakes containing palm olein. Cupcakes made with red palm olein retained nearly 100% of alpha- and beta-carotenes upon baking. Tocopherol homologues were stable in both comparisons, with 95% retention as compared to tocotrienol homologues (~85%). Cupcakes made from red palm olein received higher score (mean=3.29) in sensory evaluation as compared to cupcakes containing palm olein (mean=3.07). The study, therefore, encourages the inclusion of red palm olein in the formulation of bakery products.
Chlorella vulgaris, a unicellular microalgae, produces many intracellular phytochemicals namely carotenoids, tocopherols, ubiquinone and protein. Skin ageing which is induced by oxidative stress involves decreased extracellular matrix synthesis and increased expression of enzymes that degrade the collagenous matrix. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of C. vulgaris on the expression of genes encoded for collagen (COL) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which are involved in skin ageing. Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) were obtained from circumcision foreskin of 8-12 year-old boys. HDFs were cultured into 3 groups: untreated control cells, cells with stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS; cells were induced with H2O2 at passage 6 for 2 weeks) and SIPS treated with C. vulgaris (prolonged C. vulgaris treatment started at passage 4 and combined treatment with H2O2 at passage 6 for 2 weeks). Senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA ß-gal) was determined using senescent cells histochemical staining kit (Sigma, USA). Expression of COLI, COLIII, COLIV, MMPI, MMPII and MMPIII genes was quantitatively analysed with real-time RT-PCR method (iScript™ One Step real-time PCR with SYBR® Green; Biorad). HDFs treated with H2O2 (SIPS) exhibited senescent morphological features of flattening and enlarged with increased expression of SA ß-gal (p
Biodynes, tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF), and tocopherol have shown antiaging properties. However, the combined effects of these compounds on skin aging are yet to be investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the skin aging effects of biodynes, TRF, and tocopherol on stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) model of human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) by determining the expression of collagen and MMPs at gene and protein levels. Primary HDFs were treated with biodynes, TRF, and tocopherol prior to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure. The expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9 genes was determined by qRT-PCR. Type I and type III procollagen proteins were measured by Western blotting while the activities of MMPs were quantified by fluorometric Sensolyte MMP Kit. Our results showed that biodynes, TRF, and tocopherol upregulated collagen genes and downregulated MMP genes (P < 0.05). Type I procollagen and type III procollagen protein levels were significantly increased in response to biodynes, TRF, and tocopherol treatment (P < 0.05) with reduction in MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 activities (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that biodynes, TRF, and tocopherol effectively enhanced collagen synthesis and inhibited collagen degradation and therefore may protect the skin from aging.
During the past few years the scientific and medical community has been confronted with a continual interest in vitamin E with the interest prompted by new discoveries. Tocopherols and tocotrienols, commonly known as vitamin E, are extremely invaluable compounds and have various nutritional functionalities and benefits to human health. Great deals of research projects have been launched in order to develop effective methods for the extraction of vitamin E. By and large, three distinct extractive methods are usually employed: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), molecular distillation, and adsorption methods. These methods are sensitive to different experimental conditions, such as pressure, temperature, and flow rate with noticeable effects on the efficiency of the extraction and enrichment of vitamin E. This review has covered the most commonly adapted extraction methods and has probed into the extraction yields under variable operational parameters.
Virgin Coconut Oils (VCO) were prepared from fresh-dry (grated coconut route), chilling and thawing, enzymatic and fermentation method in this study. All of the VCO produced conformed physicochemically to the standards established by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) and Codex Alimentarius Commission. The highest FA (fatty acid) is lauric acid in all of the VCO and ranged from 46.36 – 48.42 %, while the principal TAG (triacylglycerol) is LaLaLa (La: Lauric) with 17.94 – 19.83 % of the total TAG. Tocopherol analysis showed the presence of beta, gamma and delta tocopherols at low levels. In all, the physicochemical, FA and TAG analyses of the VCO extracted from different methods showed some significant differences, while the tocopherol content does not differ significantly among the different types of extraction methods used.
Herein we examine the characteristics of date seed oil extracted from Chamaerops humilis L. var. humilis seeds (HSO) cultivated in a gardening zone in Tunisia. Its physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and thermal and antioxidant properties were evaluated and compared with those of seed oil from another variety of Chamaerops humilis. The results showed that HSO possessed higher contents of oleic (44%) and linoleic (20%) acids than the other seed oil. The total tocopherol and tocotrienol content was 88 mg/100 g oil, where α-tocotrienol (64%) was the major isomer. The total phenolic (91 μg/g oil) and flavonoid contents (18 μg/g oil) of the HSO were determined, and its antioxidant capacities, measured in terms of ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging capacities, were 210 µM TEAC/g DW and 4.3 mM TEAC/g DW, respectively. The oxidative stability index (OSI) of the oil was 16 h at 110 °C. Furthermore, the OSI of soybean oil was significantly enhanced upon blending with HSO. HSO exhibited higher thermal stability than the other oils and significantly different thermal behavior. The determination of fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive content, oxidative stability, and thermal behavior of HSO demonstrated that this renewable resource can be used for edible purposes.
Vitamin E is known to have potent antioxidant activity and plays an important role in reducing oxidative stress, a pivotal step in atherogenesis. However, several randomised clinical trials using α-tocopherol have failed to demonstrate consistent beneficial effects of antioxidants against atherosclerosis and clinical endpoints. Tocotrienol, a vitamin E compound analogue is shown to have more potent antioxidant activity compared to tocopherol. Finding the optimal anti-oxidative dose is crucial and may effectively be applied for cardioprotection in human. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dose of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) with highest antioxidant activity in vitro using the ferric thiocyanate (FTC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2’, 7’- dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFHDA) assays. It was found that TRF exhibited potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities with an IC50 of 22.10 + 0.01 µg/ml. In all assays, TRF had optimal antioxidant activity at moderate concentrations (10-100 µg/ml). In conclusion, TRF has potent antioxidant activity, which is optimal at moderate concentrations.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their adverse effects on the gastric mucosa are yet another set of unresolved medical problems. This study examined the effects of various antioxidants on several gastric parameters after a single exposure to indomethacin. Forty-eight male rats of the Sprague-Dawley (200-250 g) strain were randomly divided to receive a single antioxidant (tocopherol, tocotrienol, or ubiquinone) or a combination of two (tocopherol-tocotrienol, tocopherol-ubiquinone or tocotrienol-ubiquinone) for 28 days. The rats were then challenged with a single dose of indomethacin and killed six hours later. Findings showed that the severity of gastric lesions was comparable in all groups. Only groups that received a combination of antioxidants exhibited reduced lipid peroxidation compared with all other groups (p < 0.05). The combination groups had a higher level of gastric prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content compared with all other groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the gastric acid concentration and the glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. We conclude that although supplementation of these antioxidants in combination had desirable effects on lipid peroxidation and gastric PGE2 level, they did not reduce the lesions produced by indomethacin.
This study examined the effects of a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) obtained from palm oil on the healing of aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided into three groups. Group I was fed a vitamin E-deficient diet (control), Group II was fed a vitamin E-deficient diet supplemented with tocopherol (300 mg/kg food) and Group III was fed a vitamin E-deficient diet supplemented with TRF (300 mg/kg food). After eight weeks, the control and treated groups received a single intragastric dose of 400 mg/kg body weight aspirin. The rats were killed 24 h after exposure to aspirin. Assessment of gastric lesions showed a lower gastric lesion index in the TRF (P = 0.0005) and tocopherol groups (P = 0.0008) compared to the control. The gastric malondialdehyde (MDA) content was also lower in the TRF (P = 0.025) and tocopherol groups (P = 0.025) compared to control. There were, however, no significant differences in the gastric lesion index and gastric MDA content between the TRF and tocopherol-fed groups. There were no significant differences in the adherent gastric mucous concentration and gastric acid concentration among all groups. We conclude that the TRF and tocopherol are equally effective in preventing aspirin-induced gastric lesions. The most probable mechanism is through their ability to limit lipid peroxidation, which is involved in aspirin-induced gastric lesions.
Eight Moroccan avocado varieties were analyzed for their nutritional composition and physicochemical properties. The nutritional contents of the sample were determined through the evaluation of the moisture, oil, ash, protein, and carbohydrate contents, and energy value calculation. Additionally, macroelements (Ca, Mg, and Na) and microelements (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) were determined in the mineral profile. Oils were examined also for their fatty acid, phytosterol, and tocopherol profiles. As a result of the study, the avocado presents significant differences between the eight studied varieties (p
An optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (ω-6/ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the diet prevents the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize ternary oil blends with optimal ω-6/ω-3 ratios using olive (OL), sunflower (SU), and cress (CR) oils. The oxidative stability, thermal profile, fatty acid (FA) and tocopherol compositions, and the physicochemical properties of the blends were used to determine their quality. Oil mixtures were prepared with 2, 3, 4, and 5 ω-6/ω-3 ratios. FA composition and tocopherol content were the most important factors affecting the oxidation and thermal stabilities of the oils. All oil mixtures showed good quality indices. Thus, synthetized oil blends with high oxidative stability, high antioxidant content, optimal ω-6/ω-3 ratios, and recommended FA compositions can influence human health. The composition of healthy oil blends with optimal ω-6/ω-3 ratios was expressed mathematically and depicted graphically in a ternary diagram.
Data on dietary exposure to vitamin E by plasma or adipose tissue concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) in observational studies have failed to provide consistent support for the idea that alpha-T provides women with any protection from breast cancer. In contrast, studies indicate that alpha, gamma, and delta-tocotrienols but not alpha-T have potent anti-proliferative effects in human breast cancer cells. Our aim was to investigate whether there was a difference in tocopherol and tocotrienol concentrations in malignant and benign adipose tissue, in a Malaysian population consuming predominantly a palm oil diet. The study was undertaken using fatty acid levels in breast adipose tissue as a biomarker of qualitative dietary intake of fatty acids. The major fatty acids in breast adipose tissue of patients (benign and malignant) were oleic acid (45-46%), palmitic (28-29%) and linoleic (11-12%). No differences were evident in the fatty acid composition of the two groups. There was a significant difference (p=0.006) in the total tocotrienol levels between malignant (13.7 +/- 6.0 microg/g) and benign (20+/-6.0 microg/g) adipose tissue samples. However, no significant differences were seen in the total tocopherol levels (p=0.42) in the two groups. The study reveals that dietary intake influences adipose tissue fatty acid levels and that adipose tissue is a dynamic reservoir of fat soluble nutrients. The higher adipose tissue concentrations of tocotrienols in benign patients provide support for the idea that tocotrienols may provide protection against breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer affecting women worldwide after lung cancer. The toxicity factor associated with synthetic drugs has turned the attention toward natural compounds as the primary focus of interest as anticancer agents. Vitamin E derivatives consisting of the well-established tocopherols and their analogs namely tocotrienols have been extensively studied due to their remarkable biological properties. While tocopherols have failed to offer protection, tocotrienols, in particular, α-, δ-, and γ-tocotrienols alone and in combination have demonstrated anticancer properties. The discovery of the antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic effects of tocotrienols, as well as their role as an inducer of immunological functions, not only reveals a new horizon as a potent antitumor agent but also reinforces the notion that tocotrienols are indeed more than antioxidants. On the basis of a transcriptomic platform, we have recently demonstrated a novel mechanism for tocotrienol activity that involves estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. In silico simulations and in vitro binding analyses indicate a high affinity of specific forms of tocotrienols for ERβ, but not for ERα. Moreover, we have demonstrated that specific tocotrienols increase ERβ translocation into the nucleus which, in turn, activates the expression of estrogen-responsive genes (MIC-1, EGR-1 and Cathepsin D) in breast cancer cells only expressing ERβ cells (MDA-MB-231) and in cells expressing both ER isoforms (MCF-7). The binding of specific tocotrienol forms to ERβ is associated with the alteration of cell morphology, caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, a recently concluded clinical trial seems to suggest that tocotrienols in combination with tamoxifen may have the potential to extend breast cancer-specific survival.
Previous reports showed that vitamin E in palm oil consists of various isomers of tocopherols and tocotrienols [alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T), alpha-tocotrienol, gamma-tocopherol, gamma-tocotrienol, and delta-tocotrienol), and this is normally analyzed using silica column HPLC with fluorescence detection. In this study, an HPLC-fluorescence method using a C30 silica stationary phase was developed to separate and analyze the vitamin E isomers present in palm oil. In addition, an alpha-tocomonoenol (alpha-T1) isomer was quantified and characterized by MS and NMR. (alpha-T1 constitutes about 3-4% (40+/-5 ppm) of vitamin E in crude palm oil (CPO) and is found in the phytonutrient concentrate (350+/-10 ppm) from palm oil, whereas its concentration in palm fiber oil (PFO) is about 11% (430+/-6 ppm). The relative content of each individual vitamin E isomer before and after interesterification/transesterification of CPO to CPO methyl esters, followed by vacuum distillation of CPO methyl esters to yield the residue, remained the same except for alpha-T and gamma-T3. Whereas alpha-T constitutes about 36% of the total vitamin E in CPO, it is present at a level of 10% in the phytonutrient concentrate. On the other hand, the composition of gamma-T3 increases from 31% in CPO to 60% in the phytonutrient concentrate. Vitamin is present at 1160+/-43 ppm, and its concentrations in PFO and the phytonutrient concentrate are 4,040+/-41 and 13,780+/-65 ppm, respectively. The separation and quantification of alpha-T1 in palm oil will lead to more in-depth knowledge of the occurrence of vitamin E in palm oil.
There are six tocol analogs present in palm oil, namely α-tocopherol (α-T), α-tocomonoenol (α-T₁), α-tocotrienol (α-T₃), γ-tocotrienol (γ-T₃), β-tocotrioenol (β-T₃) and δ-tocotrienol (δ-T₃). These analogs were difficult to separate chromatographically due to their similar structures, physical and chemical properties. This paper reports on the effect of pressure and injection solvent on the separation of the tocol analogs in palm oil. Supercritical CO₂ modified with ethanol was used as the mobile phase. Both total elution time and resolution of the tocol analogs decreased with increased pressure. Ethanol as an injection solvent resulted in peak broadening of the analogs within the entire pressure range studied. Solvents with an eluent strength of 3.4 or less were more suitable for use as injecting solvents.
For the very first time, the nutritional and physicochemical properties of the oil extracted from hackberry Celtis australis fruit were investigated with the aim of possible applications of such wild fruit oil. The physicochemical properties such as peroxide value, acidity, saponification, iodine value and total fat content of the extracted oil were examined extensively. The obtained results showed that peroxide value, acidity, saponification, iodine value and total fat content of the extracted oil were found to be 4.9 meq O2/kg fat, 0.9 mg KOH/g fat, 193.6 mg KOH/g fat, 141.52 mg I2/g fat and ~5%, respectively. The predominant fatty acid found in this wild fruit is linoleic acid which was calculated to be 73.38%±1.24. In addition, gamma-tocopherol (87%) and β-sitosterol (81.2%±1.08) were the major tocopherol and sterol compositions found in Celtis australis seed oil. Moreover, equivalent carbon number (ECN) analysis has indicated that the three linoleic acids are the main composition of the triacylglycerols extracted from Celtis australis. Also, the high value of omega 6 and β-sitosterol make this oil applicable in cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications.