Enrichment of Sunflower Oil with Ultrasound-Assisted Extracted Bioactive Compounds from Crithmum maritimum L.

Gabriela Sousa,Mariana I Alves,Carla Tecelão,Suzana Ferreira-Dias,Marta Neves

doi:10.3390/foods11030439

Gabriela Sousa, Mariana I Alves + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11030439

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Abstract

Crithmum maritimum L., or sea fennel, is an edible halophyte plant, rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, that naturally grows in Mediterranean coasts. This study aims to incorporate bioactive compounds extracted from lyophilized Crithmum maritimum to sunflower oil assisted by ultrasounds (UAE), to improve its biological value and oxidative stability. UAE conditions were optimized as a function of time (5–20 min) and lyophilized plant concentration (5–20% m/v). The experiments were dictated by a central composite rotatable matrix. Oxidation products were not influenced by UAE conditions. Acidity, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were affected by both factors, while total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (FRAP method) only increased with plant concentration. Response surfaces were fitted to these experimental results. Flavonoids were highly related with oil antioxidant activity. No sensory defects were detected in supplemented oil (12.5% m/v plant/5 min UAE). The oxidative stability of this oil was evaluated at 60 °C/12 days. Chlorophylls, phenols, radical scavenging (DPPH), and antioxidant activities decreased over time but were always higher than the values in non-supplemented oil (8.6 and 7-fold with FRAP and DPPH, respectively). C. maritimum presented high amounts of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, adequate for sunflower oil supplementation by UAE.

Highlights

Lipid oxidation is a big constraint for the food industry, causing a decrease in nutritional value and shelf life of oils and food products
Halophyte plants could represent a good alternative to other agroforest raw materials because they can grow in the presence of low‐quality saline soils, which are not adequate for conventional agriculture [7,8]
While chlorophylls may act as prooxidants, carotenoids have antioxidant activity

Summary

Introduction

Lipid oxidation is a big constraint for the food industry, causing a decrease in nutritional value and shelf life of oils and food products. To overcome this problem, the food industry has been using synthetic antioxidants, namely butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) [1]. The search for natural antioxidants (mostly from plant origin) to be added to edible oils has been an important issue for the food industry [3]. In this context, halophyte plants have recently drawn some attention in the food markets worldwide. Halophyte plants could represent a good alternative to other agroforest raw materials because they can grow in the presence of low‐quality saline soils, which are not adequate for conventional agriculture [7,8]

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