Abstract
Wheat germ is a valuable by-product of the wheat milling process, represents 10-15% lipid contents with other bioactive compounds. Various wheat germ oil (WGO) recovery methods have been adopted, including mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Some modifications reported by different experimental studies to enhance the oil yield retain the nutritional attributes of fresh oil. However, in high enzymatic activities and unsaturated fatty acids, WGO loses its nutritional significance during storage and other processing treatments that ultimately decrease the oil's shelf life. The effectual pretreatments and storage conditions for WGO have been studied to valorize and retain healthful capability fully. WGO possesses phytogenic components with distinct potent health benefits. The association between dietary lipids and life-threatening disorders has instigated an expanding research curiosity in WGO. Diverse experimental studies have proved that the WGO embraces abundant beneficial effects besides many health disorders.
Highlights
Since ancient times, edible fats and oils occupied a substantial part of human dietary habits, as these oils/fats provide the essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and other bioactive components
While solvent extraction is thought to be the most effective method of oil extraction, it has been prohibited by the US Environmental Protection Agency because to various health-related and unacceptable environmental concerns (Fang & Moreau, 2014)
The SC-CO2 extraction method reduced the solvent consumption and extraction time compared to the traditional extraction method with no changes in fatty acid composition and sensory attributes
Summary
Edible fats and oils occupied a substantial part of human dietary habits, as these oils/fats provide the essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and other bioactive components. They perform essential physiological and biochemical processes in the human body (Narayanankutty et al, 2018). Wheat is mainly known for its significant starchy portion of endosperm. This article provides a detailed review that explores wheat germ oil, advancements in its extraction methods, and possible health-related impacts on human wellbeing. WGO is a speciality oil with its high nutritional profile enriched with vitamin E. The oil contents of wheat germ vary from 10-15%, depending upon the variety, extraction method, and purity.
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