Effect of detoxification methods on the quality and safety of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) meal

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the effect of different detoxification methods on the composition and safety of defatted jojoba meal (DJM). Solvents, microwave, and microbiological (lactic acid bacteria, and bifidobacteria) treatments were used to detoxify and reduce the antinutrition factors in DJM. The results indicated that there were differences between treatments applied to detoxify DJM. Treatment of DJM with isopropanol and Lactobacillus acidophilus was able to reduce antinutrition factors and simmondsin. Detoxified-DJM that contained lower levels of antinutrition factors and simmondsin were further evaluated by feeding studies using experimental animals. After 8 weeks of feeding studies, there were no statistically significant differences between animal groups fed on basal diet, isopropanol-treated DJM, and Lactobacillus acidophilus-treated DJM in terms of body weight gain and relative organ weights. The group fed on untreated DJM showed a decrease in total albumin, globulin, protein, and lipid profile. The activities of liver enzymes were increased indicating incidence of liver dysfunction. Groups fed isopropanol-treated DJM and L. acidophilus-treated DJM exhibited improvement in serum parameters (i.e., total lipids, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and liver function enzymes with no potential adverse health/toxic effects. Histopathological examinations of liver, kidney, and spleen tissues of rats fed on detoxified DJM showed the same histological features as the control rats. In conclusion, isopropanol and L. acidophilus could be applied for detoxification of DJM. Isopropanol and L. acidophilus detoxified-DJM could be recommended as a safe food or feed ingredient, since it had no potential adverse health/toxic effects. Practical applications This work described the effect of different methods for detoxification and degradation of antinutrition factors in DJM. The results indicated that the methods used, LAB and bifidobacteria, and isopropanol had high ability for detoxification of DJM. Lactobacillus acidophilus strain had the highest ability to reduce antinutrition factors and simmondsin. The incorporation of isopropanol-treated and L. acidophilus-treated DJM to basal diet had no potential adverse health/toxic effects. Therefore, isopropanol-treated and L. acidophilus-treated DJM could be recommended as safe food grade ingredients.