Levels Of Oleic Acid Research Articles

A stearate-rich diet and oleate restriction directly inhibit tumor growth via the unfolded protein response.

Fatty acids are known to have significant effects on the properties of cancer cells. Therefore, these compounds have been incorporated into therapeutic strategies. However, few studies have examined the effects of individual fatty acids and their interactions in depth. This study analyzed the effects of various fatty acids on cancer cells and revealed that stearic acid, an abundant saturated fatty acid, had a stronger inhibitory effect on cell growth than did palmitic acid, which is also an abundant saturated fatty acid, by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis through the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Intriguingly, the negative effects of stearate were reduced by the presence of oleate, a different type of abundant fatty acid. We combined a stearate-rich diet with the inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 to explore the impact of diet on tumor growth. This intervention significantly reduced tumor growth in both ovarian cancer models and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), including those with chemotherapy resistance, notably by increasing stearate levels while reducing oleate levels within the tumors. Conversely, the negative effects of a stearate-rich diet were mitigated by an oleate-rich diet. This study revealed that dietary stearate can directly inhibit tumor growth through mechanisms involving DNA damage and apoptosis mediated by the UPR pathway. These results suggest that dietary interventions, which increase stearic acid levels while decreasing oleic acid levels, may be promising therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. These results could lead to the development of new cancer treatment strategies.

Deciphering the role of oleic acid in diabetic retinopathy: an empirical analysis of monounsaturated fatty acids

AimsThe existing literature indicates that oleic acid (OA) is the most prevalent monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in both diet and plasma, known for its beneficial impact on insulin resistance and inflammation. However, its role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the association between OA and DR and explore its potential in DR detection.MethodsWe conducted a two-center, propensity score-matched case–control study, including 69 type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with diagnosed DR (cases) and 69 matched T2D individuals without DR (control), in China from August 2017 to June 2018. Multiple logistic regression models analyzed the association between MUFAs and DR. The impact of 7 distinct MUFAs on DR was examined using elastic net regression (ENET), weighted quantile regression (WQS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), focusing on key lipid biomarkers. The diagnostic utility of these biomarkers was assessed by calculating the AUC.ResultsA significant negative correlation was found between MUFAs and DR, with OA identified as pivotal by ENET, WQS, and BKMR. The adjusted OR and 95% CI for DR were 0.25 (0.09, 0.69) for subjects in the 2nd tertile of OA and 0.11 (0.04, 0.30) for the 3rd tertile, compared to the lowest tertile. These results were consistent across subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The AUC (95% CI) for OA alone was 0.72 (0.63, 0.81), increasing to 0.77 (0.69, 0.85) when combined with other covariates.ConclusionsOur findings reveal a robust inverse relationship between plasma OA levels and DR risk, suggesting that OA could serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying type 2 diabetic patients with DR.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid Profiles and Prognostic Significance in Epilepsy Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis Using UPLC-MS/MS and SVM Algorithm

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) play a crucial physiological role in human body. However, the concentration-related changes and prognostic significance of UFAs in epilepsyremain unclear. An optimized ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach was developed to measure six key UFAs: oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Subsequently, the levels of these six UFAs were determined in 40 healthy individuals and 49 epilepsy patients. The diagnostic value of UFAs and clinical examination indicators were assessed using statistical analysis and the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. The results showed that the UPLC-MS/MS method successfully quantified the levels of OA, LA, AA, ALA, EPA, and DHA in both the healthy individuals and epilepsy patients. Compared with the healthy group, the levels of ALA, AA, and DHA were significantly elevated in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation among the UFAs in the epilepsy group. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model showed that DHA and EPA were more important than cholesterol in distinguishing between two groups, although the separation was not complete. The SVM model achieved better separation, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95 when including the six UFAs. The EPA/DHA ratio was identified as a key feature, with a significant contribution to the model's performance. Removing the six UFAs from the model reduced the AUC to 0.91, highlighting the predictive value of UFAs for epilepsy. In conclusion, ALA, AA, and DHA, are altered in epilepsy patients. The EPA/DHA ratio was found to be a key predictive indicator for epilepsy. The use of UFAs in conjunction with clinical examination data improved the predictive power of the SVM model, suggesting that UFAs have potential as biomarkers for epilepsy.

Ultra turrax-assisted extraction of Amazon oils: Optimization and comparison with Soxhlet and compressed propane extraction

The Amazon region, while rich in biodiversity, experiences low socio-economic development. One promising solution involves using Amazon oilseeds, which offer high nutritional value and industrial potential. However, traditional extraction methods have limitations, such as high energy use, solvent consumption, and low yields. This study optimized the extraction of Brazil nut oil (BNO) and Tucumã-do-Amazonas oil (TAO) using Ultra turrax-assisted extraction (UTAE), comparing it with conventional and non-conventional methods. Using the Plackett-Burman design, only extraction time and solvent/solid ratio were significant factors. Optimizing these variables through response surface methodology achieved high yields: 64.6% for BNO and 61.1% for TAO, outperforming Soxhlet and compressed propane extraction (CPE) by up to 43.4%. UTAE produced comparable oleic acid levels in BNO (37.0 - 37.8%) and TAO (66.1 - 68.2%). Additionally, the total phenolic content was higher in both CPE (7.87 ± 0.77 and 26.71 ± 0.63 mg GAE.100 g−1) and UTAE (4.57 ± 1.00 and 19.63 ± 1.68 mg GAE.100 g−1) compared to Soxhlet (1.25 ± 0.37 and 10.97 ± 1.92 mg GAE.100 g−1) for BNO and TAO, respectively. These results highlight UTAE's efficiency for oil extraction.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase in CD4+ T cells suppresses tumor growth through activation of the CXCR3/CXCL11 axis in CD8+ T cells

BackgroundWithin the tumor microenvironment, altered lipid metabolism promotes cancer cell malignancy by activating oncogenic cascades; however, impact of lipid metabolism in CD4+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) remains poorly understood. Here, we elucidated that role of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) increased by treatment with cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) supernatant in CD4+ T cells on their subset differentiation and activity of CD8+ T cells.ResultsIn our study, we observed that CD4+ TILs had higher lipid droplet content than CD4+ splenic T cells. In tumor tissue, CAF-derived supernatant provided fatty acids to CD4+ TILs, which increased the expression of SCD and oleic acid (OA) content. Increased SCD expression by OA treatment enhanced the levels of Th1 cell markers TBX21, interleukin-2, and interferon-γ. However, SCD inhibition upregulated the expression of regulatory T (Treg) cell markers, FOXP3 and transforming growth factor-β. Comparative fatty acid analysis of genetically engineered Jurkat cells revealed that OA level was significantly higher in SCD-overexpressing cells. Overexpression of SCD increased expression of Th1 cell markers, while treatment with OA enhanced the transcriptional level of TBX21 in Jurkat cells. In contrast, palmitic acid which is higher in SCD-KO cells than other subclones enhanced the expression of Treg cell markers through upregulation of mitochondrial superoxide. Furthermore, SCD increased the secretion of the C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11) from CD4+ T cells. The binding of CXCL11 to CXCR3 on CD8+ T cells augmented their cytotoxic activity. In a mouse tumor model, the suppressive effect of CD8+ T cells on tumor growth was dependent on CXCR3 expression.ConclusionThese findings illustrate that SCD not only orchestrates the differentiation of T helper cells, but also promotes the antitumor activity of CD8+ T cells, suggesting its function in adverse tumor microenvironments.Graphical abstract

Salicylic acid altered the fatty acids compositions and nutrient status of shallot (Allium hirtifolium) grown under drought stress

In arid and semi-arid regions, water shortage is a persistent challenge, significantly affecting plant growth and productivity. To mitigate the detrimental effects of drought, the use of plant growth regulators, such as salicylic acid (SA), has proven to be an effective strategy for enhancing plant resilience, as well as improving yield and quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SA on the nutrient composition, yield, and overall quality of shallot plants over three cropping seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022) under drought stress conditions. A split-plot design with four replicates was employed, where irrigation levels (0 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the plant's water requirements) were the main factor, and varying concentrations of SA (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mM) were the secondary factor. The results revealed that drought stress increased the concentrations of key micronutrients—iron, copper, sodium, potassium, manganese, and zinc—while reducing magnesium content, ash content, and overall yield. However, the application of SA counteracted these effects by significantly enhancing magnesium content, ash content, and yield in shallot plants. In addition, drought stress increased the levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids while reducing the levels of stearic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The highest concentrations of linoleic acid (ω6, 110.1 mg) and linolenic acid (ω3, 24.242 mg) were recorded under full irrigation and 75 % water requirement treatments, respectively. SA application further enhanced the levels of stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, improving the overall nutritional quality of shallot plants. In conclusion, the application of optimal concentrations of SA significantly improves the yield, quality, and nutritional value of shallot plants under drought stress, making it a valuable approach for managing water stress in agriculture.

Development and Large-Scale Production of High-Oleic Acid Oil by Fermentation of Microalgae

Our classical strain improvement began with an isolate showing 28% palmitic and 60% oleic acids. UV and chemical mutagenesis enhanced our strain’s productivity, carbon yield, and oleic acid content. The iterative methodology we used involved the creation of mutant libraries followed by clonal isolation, assessments of feedstock utilization and growth, oil titer, and the validation of oil composition. Screening these libraries facilitated the identification of isolates with the ability to produce elevated levels of oleic acid, aligning with the targets for high-oleic acid substitutes. Utilizing a classical strain improvement approach, we successfully isolated a high-oleic acid strain wherein the level of oleic acid was increased from 60 to &gt;86% of total FA. The performance of the classically improved high oleic acid-producing strain was assessed at fermentation scales ranging from 1 L to 4000 L, demonstrating the utility of our strain and process at an industrial scale. These oils offer promise in various applications across both the food and industrial sectors, with the added potential of furthering sustainability and health-conscious initiatives.

Antioxidant and Nutritional Potential of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) By-Product Extracts in Fat-Replaced Beef Burgers with Hydrogel Emulsions from Olive Oil

Beef burger consumption has been questioned due to the burgers’ high levels of saturated fatty acids and the use of synthetic additives for preservation. In order to improve the acceptability and health benefits of this product, two functional ingredients, artichoke and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), have been used to formulate four different beef burgers: a control burger (CB), a fat-replaced burger with an EVOO emulsion (FRB), and two FRB formulations with the incorporation of enzymatically treated (FRB-TAE) or untreated (FRB-AE) artichoke extract. Fat replacement significantly affected the lipid profile of the burgers, increasing oleic acid levels and n-3 PUFA such as α-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids. Artichoke incorporation exerted beneficial effects on the antioxidant activity, as well as on the total phenolic content of the reformulated burgers, leading to a decrease in color changes, lipid and protein oxidation after 3 days of storage at 4 °C, as well as reducing the formation of volatile compounds such as hexanal, 2,3-Octanedione, or 1-Octen-3-ol. No differences were found between formulations for the sensory parameters studied. These results demonstrate a possible revalorization of artichoke by-products by improving the nutritional properties of beef burgers, revealing a potential application as a higher value-added ingredient in the meat industry.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Improves Cognitive Impairment Induced by Hypoxia via Upregulating the Expression of Oleic Acid and MBOAT2 of Mice.

Cognitive impairment (CI) causes severe impairment of brain function and quality of life of patients, which brings a great burden to society. Cerebral hypoxia is an important factor in the pathogenesis of CI. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy may mitigate hypoxia-induced CI, but its efficacy and mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, a mice model of CI induced by hypoxia environment was established, then behavioral tests, pathological examination, metabolomic and lipidomic analyses, and molecular biology were used to assess the impact of HBO on hypoxia-induced CI. HBO was found to alleviate CI and pathological damage of hypoxia mice. Metabolomic, lipidomic, and molecular biology analyses showed that HBO increased the levels of oleic acid (OA) and membrane-bound O-acyltransferase 2 (MBOAT2), thereby altering the composition of membrane phospholipids (PLs) and reducing hypoxia-induced neuronal ferroptosis (FPT) to interfere with cognitive function in mice. In vitro experiments confirmed that OA and MBOAT2 led to membrane PL remodeling in a mutually dependent manner, affecting cell resistance to hypoxia-FPT. The results emphasized the combined effect value of OA and MBOAT2 in HBO for hypoxia-induced CI, and provided a novel perspective for the treatment of CI by HBO.

Exploring the synergy of enzymes, nutrients, and gene networks in rice starch granule biogenesis.

Rice is a primary food source almost for more than 50% of the total world's population. Glycemic index (GI) is high in most of the rice varieties, limiting their consumption by diabetic and obese people. As a result, developing new rice varieties with low GI necessitates a thorough understanding of starch biogenesis gene expression and its interrelationship. A total 200 rice genotypes were analyzed for total starch content (TSC), amylopectin content (APC), and amylose content (AC). The clustering of these rice genotypes was done based on their AC. Further, these genotypes were categorized into three groups up to 10% amylose-low, 10-26% amylose-medium, and more than 26% amylose-high. Among them, six genotypes 1 from low AC (NJ-72), 2 from medium AC (UPRI-2003-18, PRR-126), and 3 from high AC (RNRM-7, Urvashi and Ananga) were selected. The genotypes selected from the medium and high AC groups were having 2% amylose variation among themselves respectively and they were further used to study the level of RS, protein content (PC), fatty acid (FA) profiles, and granule morphology along with low group sample. Resistant starch (RS) content ranged from 0.33-2.75%, and fatty acid profiling revealed high levels of palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acids. The degree of crystallinity and APC% were found to be positively correlated. Ananga, the genotype with the highest RS, displayed compact starch granules. Further, NJ-72 showing low RS and Ananga with high RS were selected for investigation of enzymatic activities of starch biosynthesis, metabolites accumulation, and expressions of 20 starch biogenesis genes in developing endosperm. Starch branching enzymes (SBE) and starch synthase (SS) activities peaked at 13 days after anthesis (DAA), while starch debranching enzymes (DBE) were most active at 18 DAA. In Ananga, TSC, AC, APC, and RS levels progressively increased from 3 to 23 DAA. Ananga showed 1.25-fold upregulation of granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) at 18DAA. Higher expressions of SSI and SBEIIb were observed in NJ-72 at 13DAA. PUL2 was predominantly expressed followed by ISA1. GBSSI was positively correlated with both AC and RS while SS, SBE, and DBE were positively related to APC. This research could lead to the development of rice varieties with improved nutritional qualities, such as higher RS content, which is beneficial for human health due to its role in lowering glycemic response and promoting gut health. Additionally, the study provides insights into how the modulation of key genes and enzymes can affect starch composition, offering strategies to breed rice varieties tailored for specific dietary needs or industrial applications.

Effect of the Addition of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) on the Physicochemical, Antioxidative, and Sensory Properties of Oatmeal Cookies

Edible insects are receiving increased attention as a new food source, although research on their implementation in confectionary products remains scarce. The study analyzed the chemical composition, physical parameters, antioxidative, and sensory characteristics of oatmeal cookies reformulated with yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor L.; TM) at 0% (TM0), 10% (TM10), and 30% (TM30). The inclusion of TM in the cookie recipe increased the protein and fat content, improved the ratio of n-6/n-3 acids, and raised oleic acid levels while reducing palmitic acid. Oatmeal cookies were rich in K and P, and including TM significantly increased the content of most minerals, except for Mn and Na. The cookies held significant antioxidant capacity that increased as the concentration of TM increased due to hydrophilic antioxidants. Although lightness decreased with the increase in mealworm substitution, the yellowness, chroma, and hue angle remained similar for TM0 and TM10. The TM30 cookies were significantly darker and softer, which was further confirmed by panelists. The cookie formulation effectively masked the taste and smell of TM since there were no evident differences between the control and TM10 cookies. Cookies with TM30 received high enough ratings to be considered attractive if differentiated sensory characteristics are desired.

A further understanding of changes of wheat bran functionality induced by different types of probiotics fermentation: From molecules to regulation mechanism

Wheat bran (WB) was solid-state fermented by either Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG), Levilactobacillus brevis (LB) or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), respectively, and then their corresponding physicochemical and metabolic characteristics were investigated. Current study revealed fermentation of either Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum quickly generated lactic acid, but not for Levilactobacillus brevis. Importantly, all LAB fermentation promoted total phenolic acids contents, fermentation of LB-WB led to the greatest total phenolic content, followed by LGG-WB, with the least for LP-WB. Moreover, LGG fermentation significantly increased levels of oleic acid, stearic acid and phosphoenolpyruvic acid on carbon metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis, while LB fermentation mainly increased levels of L-phenylalanine, cholecalciferol, D-gluconic acid and D-glucarate with the influence on the entire metabolic pathway. In contrast, LP fermentation significantly decreased levels of alpha-ketoglutaric acid, cis-aconitic acid on the citrate cycle (TCA cycle). This study revealed their corresponding metabolic characteristics, which might highlight potentially individual nutritional aspects.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Bee Venom Components in Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Morphometric, Biochemical, and Histopathological Markers

Abstract Bee venom (BV) and its components, secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and Apis cerana secapin-1 (AcSecapin-1), have potential effects on wound healing. This study aims to evaluate impact of BV, sPLA2, and AcSecapin-1 on full-thickness wound healing in male Wistar Albino rats over a 7-day period. Various morphometric (body weight, wound contraction), biochemical (hydroxyproline, oleic acid, IL-8, TGF-β1, redox parameters), and histopathological markers (reepithelialization, inflammatory cells, angiogenesis, fibroblast activation, and collagen density) were assessed. Treatment with sPLA2 and AcSecapin-1 increased oleic acid levels. IL-8 levels increased with sPLA2 treatment, and TGF-β1 levels increased with AcSecapin-1 treatment. BV and its components led to a decrease in FRAP levels. Additionally, BV treatment resulted in reduced angiogenesis, and both BV and sPLA2 treatments reduced inflammatory cells. All groups exhibited wound contraction without delay or regression. sPLA2 and AcSecapin-1 induced alterations in the wound healing milieu, without systemic changes. The treatment groups, except for the AcSecapin-1 group, showed an anti-inflammatory effect, identified by reduced inflammatory cell accumulation. Only the BV treatment suppressed angiogenesis. In conclusion, BV, sPLA2, and AcSecapin-1 demonstrate distinct effects on wound healing, with BV showing notable anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, while sPLA2 and AcSecapin-1 influenced cytokine and oleic acid levels.

The Effect of Mulberry Silage Supplementation on the Carcass Fatness and Long-Chain Fatty Acid Composition of Growing Lambs Compared with Traditional Corn Silage.

Lamb meat has become very popular with consumers in recent years due to its nutritional benefits. As a lean red meat, lamb is an important natural source of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids, which can be modified by adjustments in livestock feed. This study used proteomic and metabolic analyses to compare a basal ration supplemented with either mulberry silage or corn silage. Supplementation with mulberry silage led to a reduction in subcutaneous carcass fatness compared with corn silage. Additionally, changes in the proteome associated with fatty acid metabolism and oxidation resulted in decreased levels of saturated and trans fatty acids, while significantly increasing the levels of α-linolenic acid (ALA) and oleic acid and reducing linoleic acid content.

Preliminary Evaluation of the Effect of Domestication on the Marketable and Nutritional Quality of B. aegyptiaca (L.) Delile Oil from Algeria.

Balanites aegyptiaca is a multipurpose fruit tree that grows wild in many arid and semi-arid African areas; however, recent domestication efforts have been undertaken to protect the species from the threat of urbanization and climate change. Within this context, the impact of the domestication of Algerian B. aegyptiaca was evaluated on its seed oil, which is already valued as food. Hence, oils from wild and domesticated trees were comparatively investigated for their physicochemical and compositional quality. Both oil types had a good oxidative stability and met the requirements for human consumption in terms of the saponification index, the free acidity, and the peroxide value. Moreover, they showed a comparable FA composition, with high levels of oleic and linoleic acids, which are beneficial for the consumer's health. Domestication led to a statistically significant decrease in the tocopherols and polyphenols in the oil. The phytosterols and squalene were slightly lower in the domesticated oil than in the wild relative, although no statistically significant differences were observed. A comparable mineral profile was revealed and the minimal variations in the trace elements between the oils could be related to the natural variability in the seeds. Hopefully, this study will encourage the domestication of B. aegyptiaca as a sustainable strategy for enhancing its socioeconomic value in Algerian rural areas.

Untargeted Metabolomics and Gut Microbiota Modulation Study of Fermented Brown Rice for Obesity.

Obesity or excess adipose tissue mass increases the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Obesity might be prevented by consuming plant-based probiotic fermented foods. This study aimed to determine whether adding Pediococcus acidilactici MNL5 to fermented brown rice (FBR) enhances its metabolites, lipase activity, and antioxidant efficiency. UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed significant changes in untargeted metabolite profiles, while, compared with those of raw brown rice (RBR), FBR contained more antioxidant and lipase inhibitors. We evaluated the FBR in HFD (high-fat-diet)-induced obese mice by employing biochemical, histological, gut microbiome, and serum metabolomics approaches. FBR MD (250 mg/kg) decreased body weight (BW) and fat content compared with RBR. With subsequent FBR MD, mice fed a HFD may have reduced serum lipid levels. A HFD with a mid-dose FBR improved the gut microbiota diversity, composition, and structure; reduced the abundance of obesity-related genera such as Helicobacter, Clostridium, and Desulfovibrio; and promoted the abundance of beneficial genera such as Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Lactobacillus, which are inversely correlated with BW, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C. In addition, FBR MD has been associated with increased levels of palmitic acid, EPA, oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, indole, dodecanoic acid, and amino acids. FBR, in its entirety, has exhibited promise as a functional material for ameliorating obesity.

Unraveling the mechanism of aroma loss during prolonged hot air drying of non-smoked bacon: Insights into aroma compounds generation and retention

In this study, the potential mechanism of aroma loss in non-smoked bacon due to excessive hot air drying (beyond 24 h) was investigated, focusing on protein conformational changes and the inhibition of heme protein-mediated lipid oxidation by oleic acid. The results showed that prolonged hot-air drying caused a stretching of the myofibrillar protein (MP) conformation in bacon before 36 h, leading to an increase in reactive sulfhydryl groups, surface hydrophobicity, and the exposure of additional hydrophobic sites. Consequently, the binding ability of MP to the eight key aroma compounds (hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-nonenal, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, 2-undecenal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal, 2,3-octanedione, and dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)-furanone) was enhanced, resulting in their retention. On the other hand, a sustained increase in oleic acid levels has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit heme protein-mediated lipid oxidation and the formation of these key aroma compounds. Using lipidomic techniques, 30 lipid molecules were identified as potential precursors of oleic acid during the bacon drying process. Among these precursors, triglycerides (16:0/18:0/18:1) may be the most significant.

Genetic diversity of a Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. germplasm collection revealed by DNA Diversity Array Technology (DArTseq).

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. is a multipurpose crop native to the Mediterranean and middle east regions and mainly known for the hepatoprotective properties of fruit-derived silymarin. Despite growing interest in milk thistle as a versatile crop with medicinal value, its potential in agroindustry is hindered by incomplete domestication and limited genomic knowledge, impeding the development of competitive breeding programs. The present study aimed to evaluate genetic diversity in a panel of S. marianum accessions (n = 31), previously characterized for morphological and phytochemical traits, using 5,178 polymorphic DArTseq SNP markers. The genetic structure investigated using both parametric and non-parametric approaches (e.g. PCA, AWclust, Admixture), revealed three distinctive groups reflecting geographical origins. Indeed, Pop1 grouped accessions from Central Europe and UK, Pop3 consisted mainly of accessions of Italian origin, and Pop2 included accessions from different geographical areas. Interestingly, Italian genotypes showed a divergent phenotypic distribution, particularly in fruit oleic and linoleic acid content, compared to the other two groups. Genetic differentiation among the three groups, investigated by computing pairwise fixation index (FST), confirmed a greater differentiation of Pop3 compared to other subpopulations, also based on other diversity indices (e.g. private alleles, heterozygosity). Finally, 22 markers were declared as putatively under natural selection, of which seven significantly affected some important phenotypic traits such as oleic, arachidonic, behenic and linoleic acid content. These findings suggest that these markers, and overall, the seven SNP markers identified within Pop3, could be exploited in specific breeding programs, potentially aimed at diversifying the use of milk thistle. Indeed, incorporating genetic material from Pop3 haplotypes carrying the selected loci into milk thistle breeding populations might be the basis for developing milk thistle lines with higher levels of oleic, arachidonic, and behenic acids, and lower levels of linoleic acid, paving new avenues for enhancing the nutritional and agronomic characteristics of milk thistle.

Study of Plasma Biochemistry and Plasma Metabolomics Differences in Montbéliard and Holstein Backcross and Holstein Heifers.

Holstein cattle are the main breed of dairy cattle in China. However, given the high degree of purebred selection of Holstein cattle, Chinese dairy cattle are increasingly being characterized by poor disease resistance, poor quality, and declining fertility. In this study, using Montbéliard × Holstein cattle as females and Montbéliard bulls as males for backcross breeding, we sought to provide a reference for improving the quality and performance of Holstein cattle and enhancing the efficiency of dairy farming. On the basis of similar physiological status and age, we selected 24 Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers and 11 Holstein heifers fed the same formula for comparative analyses. Plasma samples collected for plasma biochemical index analyses revealed that the content of ALB and BUN in the Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers was 20.83% (31.62 g/L to 26.17 g/L) and 42.36% (6.89 mmol/L to 4.84 mmol/L) higher than in the Holsteins (p < 0.01). The ALB/GLB (0.90 to 0.60, p < 0.05) was significantly higher in Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers than in Holstein heifers. Similarly, the activity of CAT in the backcross heifers was 61.28% (4.29 U/mL to 2.66 U/mL) higher than that in the Holstein heifers (p < 0.05). Although the activity of GSH-Px in the backcross heifers also showed an increasing trend, the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (p = 0.052). Compared with Holstein heifers, the concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IL-4 were elevated by 32.52% (24.90 μg/mL to 18.79 μg/mL, p < 0.01), 13.46% (234.32 μg/mL to 206.53 μg/mL, p < 0.01), and 14.59% (306.27 pg/mL to 267.28 pg/mL, p < 0.05), and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased by 15.92% (215.71 pg/mL to 256.55 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and 32.17% (7.17 ng/mL to 10.57 ng/mL, p < 0.01) in the plasma of Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers. Among the experimental heifers, five animals from each of the two groups were selected for plasma metabolomic analysis based on untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A comparison of the differential metabolites between the two heifer breeds revealed an up-regulation of d-glucuronic acid, s-glutathionyl-l-cysteine, and oleic acid levels in the backcross cattle compared with those in the Holstein heifers. We speculate that changes in the levels of these metabolites may be associated with an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune systems in these backcross heifers. Collectively, our findings in this study indicate that compared with 12-month-old purebred Holstein heifers, Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers of the same age are characterized by higher antioxidant capacity and immunity.

Evaluation of the qualitative properties of the oil extracted from the mixture of Helianthus annuus and Nigella sativa seeds during heating

The oil obtained from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds has many health-effective properties, which is used in food applications and in traditional medicine. One practical method to extract its oil is mixing with other seeds such as sunflower (Helianthus anuus) seeds before oil extraction by press. The effectiveness of the cold-press oil obtained from the mixture of black cumin seeds (BS) and sunflower seeds (SF) in different proportions 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 0:100 (w/w) was studied to evaluate their qualitative properties including peroxide value (PV), acid value, p-anisidine value (AnV), pigments (carotenoid and chlorophyll) content, polyphenols, and profile of fatty acids during heating process (30–150 min at 180 °C). The results revealed that the acid and p-anisidine value of the all samples enhanced with the extension of the heating time, and the peroxide value increased at the beginning of the heating and then decreased with the prolongation of the heating time (p < .05). With the increase of temperature and heating time, the peroxide of sunflower oil increased with a higher slope and speed than that of black seed and blends oil. Changes in the PV and AnV were the fastest in sunflower oil. Blending and heating caused considerable changes in the fatty acid composition of oils, especially myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Moreover, the levels of certain unsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic, oleic, and linolenic acids declined after heating. The carotenoids, chlorophyll and total phenol content decreased gradually during heating treatments. Among extracted oils, SF:BS (15%) had the good potential for stability, with total phenol content of 95.92 (Caffeic acid equivalents/100 g), PV of 2.16 (meq O2/kg), AV of 2.59 (mg KOH/g oil), and AnV of 8.08 after the heating. In conclusion, oil extracted from the mixture of SF and BS can be used as salad and cooking oils with a high content of bioactive components and positive nutritional properties.