Oil Content Research Articles

Sodium nitroprusside as a signal molecule for up-regulating membrane characteristics, antioxidant defense system to improve flax productivity under water stress

Water stress is a critical environmental adversity that significantly impacts the growth, development, and yield of flax plants. In this study, flax seeds were cultivated under different water irrigation requirements (100%, 75%, and 50% WIR) to investigate the effects of exogenously supplied nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as foliar treatments at concentrations of 0.0 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, 1.0 mmol/L, and 2.0 mmol/L. Drought stress led to a significant decrease in plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield components such as oil and total carbohydrate percentage. It also resulted in an increase in leaf H2O2 production, lipid peroxidation levels and activities of enzymatic antioxidants including polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and nitrate reductase enzymes. However, foliar application of SNP improved photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant defense system which mitigated the negative impact of water stress on growth and yield productivity by reducing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species accumulation. The use of SNP also decreased H2O2 accumulation levels, lipid peroxidation levels, and improved membrane stability. SNP treatment at concentration of 2 mmol/L showed superior results compared to other concentrations with extremely significant increases observed in yield characteristics such as oil content, total carbohydrate percentages, and unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids ratio.

Expression of the changes in essential oil components of Shirazi thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) as affected by various drying methods

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of various drying techniques on the quality characteristics of Shirazi thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) using a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments included fresh samples, shade-drying (SHD), sun-drying (SD), oven and vacuum-drying (OD and VD) each at three different temperatures (45, 55, and 65 °C), and microwave-drying (MD) at three different power levels (200, 400, and 600 W). The results indicated that vacuum and oven-drying at 45 °C were effective in preserving valuable secondary metabolites compared to traditional drying methods. The essential oil (EO) content was lowest in the microwave-drying at 600 W (1.3 %), and highest in vacuum-drying at 45 °C (2.99 %). Vacuum-drying at 45 °C also produced the highest levels of carvacrol (72.5 %) and thymol (7.21 %) content, while the lowest levels were found in fresh samples. The main components in the EO were monoterpene hydrocarbons (11.47–27.33 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (74.81–86.9 %), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (76.50–86.50 %). The results showed that the amount of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes were higher at low temperatures. Furthermore, the color parameters showed changes based on the drying methods, with vacuum-drying at 45 °C increasing the L* parameter (lightness), vacuum-drying at 65 °C increasing the a* parameter)brightness(, and oven-drying at 45 °C increasing the b* parameter)greenness). Understanding the different methods and operations of drying Shirazi thyme can provide valuable insight for its professional application and development in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Optimizing Process Conditions for Ghewar Development Using Response Surface Methodology

RSM was performed for the optimization of processing conditions to develop ghewar, traditional sweetmeat of India. Three variables i.e. frying temperature (160-180 ⁰C), batter temperature (5-10 ⁰C) and frying time (4-6 minute) were taken to investigate the effect on ghewar responses viz., oil content, moisture content, texture and sensory attributes (OA). The optimum conditions were 160 ⁰C frying temperature, 5⁰C batter temperature and 4 minute frying time. Upon optimization, the ghewar yielded the following results: 45.33% oil content, 4.65% moisture, 15.2 N texture (hardness), 54.89 L value, 15.16 a value, 24.97 b value, 58.73 hue value, 29.21 chroma value, 48.07 total color difference, and 0.24 water activity. Storage study of optimized ghewar was also carried out and found shelf stable for 30 days in metallised foil pouches. Hardness values were found to progressively drop from 15.2-9.40 N during the storage period, whereas moisture content, FFA, and peroxide value were found to gradually increase from 3.70-5.12%, 0.33-0.54 %, and 4.8-7.6 meq/kg, respectively.

Comprehensive evaluation of drought stress on medicinal plants: a meta-analysis

Drought stress significantly affects plants by altering their physiological and biochemical processes, which can severely limit their growth and development. Similarly, drought has severe negative effects on medicinal plants, which are essential for healthcare. The effects are particularly significant in areas that rely mostly on traditional medicine, which might potentially jeopardize both global health and local economies. Understanding effects of droughts on medicinal plants is essential for developing strategies to enhance plant adaptability to drought stress, which is vital for sustaining agricultural productivity under changing climatic conditions. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted on 27 studies examining various parameters such as plant yield, chlorophyll content, relative water content, essential oil content, essential oil yield, non-enzymatic antioxidants, enzymatic antioxidants, phenols, flavonoids, and proline content. The analysis explored the effects of drought across different stress conditions (control, moderate, and severe) to gain deeper insights into the drought’s impact. The categorization of these stress conditions was based on field or soil capacity: control (100–80%), moderate (80–50%), and severe (below 50%). This classification was guided by the authors’ descriptions in their studies. According to meta-analysis results, enzymatic antioxidants emerge as the most responsive parameters to stress. Other parameters such as relative water content (RWC) and yield also exhibit considerable negative mean effect sizes under all three stress conditions. Therefore, when evaluating the impacts of drought stress on medicinal plants, it is beneficial to include these three parameters (enzymatic antioxidants, RWC, and yield) in an evaluation of drought stress. The chlorophyll content has been determined not to be a reliable indicator for measuring impact of drought stress. Also, measuring antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenols could be a better option than using radical scavenging methods like DPPH (2, 2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and ABTS (2, 2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)).

Essential Oil Content, Composition and Free Radical Scavenging Activity from Different Plant Parts of Wild Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) in Montenegro

This study was conducted to determine the sea fennel essential oil (SFEO) yield, composition, and antioxidant activity of leaves, stem, inflorescences, and umbels from seeds of wild sea fennel (SF) (Crithmum maritimum L.) from the Montenegro coast. The chemical composition of isolated essential oil was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID analyses. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay. The maximum SFEO yield was found in umbels with seeds (4.77 mL/100 g p.m.). The leaves contained less EO (0.52 mL/100 g p.m.) than immature inflorescence (0.83 mL/100 g p.m.) The minimum EO content was found in the stem (0.08%). Twenty components were isolated from SFEO leaves, twenty-four from inflorescence, thirty-four components from the stem, and twenty-one components from umbels with seeds. Limonene (62.4–72.0%), γ-terpinene (9.5–14.0%), α-pinene (1.4–5.8%), and sabinene (1–6.5%) were found to be the main components of the SFEO from monoterpene hydrocarbons as dominant grouped components (86% to 98.1%). SF plant parts showed differences in chemical profiles, especially in specific and low-represented ingredients. (E)-anethole (4.4%), fenchone (0.5%), and trans-carveol (0.2%) were present only in umbel with seeds, while the β-longipipene (0.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (0.5%), and (2E)-decenal (0.2%) were found only in the stems. The degree of DPPH radical neutralization increased with incubation time. The SFEO isolated from the stems showed stronger antioxidant activity during the incubation times of 20 and 40 min (EC50 value of 5.30 mg/mL and 5.04 mg/mL, respectively) in comparison to the SFEO isolated from the other plant parts. The lowest antioxidant activity was obtained with the SFEO leaves (155.25 mg/mL and 58.30 mg/mL, respectively). This study indicates that SFEO possesses significant antioxidant activities and is animportant component in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is important to preserve the existing gene pool and biodiversity with rational use SF for the extraction of high-quality essential oils.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION VARIABILITY IN EUROPEAN AND ASIATIC SOYBEAN GERMPLASM

In order to identify important sources of germplasm that can be used in the hybridization process to obtain specific soybeans, 140 genotypes from Asia and Europe were analyzed. The chemical analyses were performed using spectrophotometry, besides the protein and oil content, one unsatured fatty acid (stearic) and three saturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) were determinated. In general, a higher protein content has been identified in Asian material. In terms of fatty acid profile, similar results were obtained in both types of germplasm. ES Indicator and Suinong 35 varieties were identified with the highest values for protein content, while for fat content NS-L50101 genotype and Hefeng 54 varieties were noted. The strong negative relationship identified between protein and oil hightlights that it is difficult to create genotypes that are rich in both parameters. The regression exemplified for the fat and protein content shows that varieties with a protein content of more than 35% and fat higher than 21.75% have not been identified within the European or Asian biological material.

Development of corn starch-sodium alginate emulsion gels as animal fat substitute: Effect of oil concentration

Emulsion gels were prepared utilizing corn starch (CS), sodium alginate (SA), and corn oil through calcium ion induction for animal-fat analogs. The influence of oil concentration on the rheological properties, microstructure and lipid oxidation of the emulsion gel was analyzed. Results revealed that the emulsion gel containing 30% (v/v) oil exhibited no surplus oil leakage and demonstrated the highest gel strength. The results of the small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) test proved that the emulsion gel exhibited the greatest elasticity and deformation resistance when the oil content was 30% (v/v), imparting suitable mouth feel and transport stability as an animal fat substitute. Microstructure analysis indicated that SA crosslinked with Ca2+ to generate a network structure accompanied by the reinforcing effect of starch granules, enabling the dense network to capture an optimal quantity of oil to form a uniform gel network structure. Furthermore, the emulsion gel exhibited markedly lower lipid oxidation compared to bulk oil after 14 days of storage. As a new fat analog system, the CS-SA emulsion gel holds promising potential for applications in the food industry.

Convolutional neural networks to assess bergamot essential oil content in the field from smartphone images

The essential oil (EO) extracted from bergamot peel (Citrus bergamia, Risso et Poiteau) is appreciated in perfumery and gastronomy. Notably, 90 % of the bergamot EO production is concentrated in the Province of Reggio Calabria (Southern Italy) under a protected designation of origin (PDO). The early estimation of EO content in fruits is fundamental to help farmers in their decision at harvesting period. The application of advanced modelling techniques based on artificial intelligence and digital device technology can contribute to this goal. This study proposes a method to estimate the EO content of fruits in the field using classification and regression models based on a deep learning approach in two cultivars: cv. “Fantastico” and cv. “Femminello”. The first step was to capture images of the fruit in the Red, Green, and Blue colours (RGB) using a mid-range smartphone camera and a portable inspection chamber designed and developed for this study. The acquisition of the images was carried out in the field. The fruits were collected and transported to the laboratory, where the EO was extracted using steam hydrodistillation. Custom-built convolutional neural networks (CNN) and three transfer learning models (VGG-16, VGG-19, and Xception architectures) were trained and applied for classification (among different discrete levels of oil content) and regression (to predict the EO content). The classification results showed an accuracy of 0.795 and 0.797 on the test samples of the two cultivars separately, while the best regression model achieved a minimum mean squared error of 0.12 and 0.04 for each cultivar, respectively. The results showed the effectiveness of the approach tested and how modelling each variety independently can lead to better performance for the CNNs tested.

Exploring fatty acid composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant properties in oils of newly developed sesame mutant lines in Morocco

AbstractSesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is renowned for its significance as a global oilseed crop, valued for its high oil content and nutritional properties. This study aimed to explore the fatty acid composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant attributes of sesame mutant oils, examining their potential applications in food industry. Nine M4 mutants, along with their parents, were grown in two contrasting environments (Taoujdate and Afourare) to investigate their seed oil, phenolic and flavonoid contents, the balance between omega‐6, omega‐9, and omega‐3 fatty acids, iodine value, and susceptibility to oxidation. Genotype and environment main effects as well as their interaction had a significant effect on the majority of the parameters studied. The mutant “US2‐1” stands out with a distinctive fatty acid profile, featuring the highest saturated fatty acids, ω‐6/ω‐9 ratio, and omega‐3 content, in addition to its high total flavonoid content and remarkable oxidative stability. “ML2‐10,” “US1‐2,” “US2‐6,” and “US2‐7” exhibit high oil content, coupled with substantial levels of phenols and flavonoids, rendering them excellent candidates for culinary and industrial applications where oxidative stability is important. “ML2‐68,” “ML2‐72,” “US06,” “US1‐DL,” and “US1‐3” offer versatile options with their moderate oil content and fatty acid profiles that resist oxidation. This research highlights the potential for breeding sesame mutants tailored to specific applications, contributing to both enhanced oil production and improved nutritional value. The insights gained here pave the way for the development of sesame varieties with superior nutritional and functional attributes, thereby promoting the sustainable production and consumption of sesame oil.

Across-environment seed protein stability and genetic architecture of seed components in soybean

The recent surge in the plant-based protein market has resulted in high demands for soybean genotypes with improved grain yield, seed protein and oil content, and essential amino acids (EAAs). Given the quantitative nature of these traits, complex interactions among seed components, as well as between seed components and environmental factors and management practices, add complexity to the development of desired genotypes. In this study, the across-environment seed protein stability of 449 genetically diverse plant introductions was assessed, revealing that genotypes may display varying sensitivities to such environmental stimuli. The EAAs valine, phenylalanine, and threonine showed the highest variable importance toward the variation in stability, while both seed protein and oil contents were among the explanatory variables with the lowest importance. In addition, 56 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were significantly associated with various seed components. Despite the strong phenotypic Pearson’s correlation observed among most seed components, many independent genomic regions associated with one or few seed components were identified. These findings provide insights for improving the seed concentration of specific EAAs and reducing the negative correlation between seed protein and oil contents.

The development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources in China and economic analysis of energy security under the background of global energy crisis

AbstractThe key scientific problem to be solved in this paper is the optimal development and utilization model and the economic evaluation model of China's land-phase shale oil and gas resources, and the purpose of the research is to promote the large-scale commercial development and utilization of China's shale oil and gas resources, and to safeguard China's oil and gas energy security and the sustainable development of the economy. The article proposes to adopt the small surface element volume method (oil content rate method) to evaluate the pure shale oil resources, adopt the Cobb–Douglas production function model as the optimization model to measure the boundary production capacity of shale oil and gas, construct the optimal development and utilization model for shale oil and gas resources considering the five first-level safeguard indexes, namely, science and technology (A), capital (K), talents (L), reserves (S) and ecological environment (E), and establish the basic constraint model for the optimal development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources. The basic constraint model, as well as the evaluation model of economic coefficients for the development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources were established. The pure shale oil resources are mainly calculated based on the movable oil content of shale. In the paper, the S1 of normal pyrolysis (300 °C) is regarded as movable oil, and the sum of S1 and evaporated hydrocarbon (light hydrocarbon) loss is the movable oil content of shale. The integrated geological-physical exploration-engineering comprehensive evaluation of China’s land-phase shale oil-rich and high-yielding “sweet spot” is an important prerequisite for the realization of shale oil and gas resources to build production scale and effective development, and the least-squares method is used to estimate the average production function, the distance to the maximum value of the residuals, and the boundary capacity production function. The average production function and residual maximum distance are estimated by the least squares method, and the production function of the boundary capacity is derived, and the quotient of the boundary capacity and the actual capacity is calculated to get the capacity utilization rate, which can be used to analyze the potential of future shale oil and gas growth. The development of shale oil and gas resources in a target block requires comprehensive consideration of the first-level guarantee indicators such as science and technology (A), capital (K), talents (L), reserves (S) and ecological environment (E), as well as more than 10 s-level indicators and a number of third-level indicators, in order to ensure that the oil companies maximize their profits by organizing the development and production. The economic coefficient can be expressed as the ratio of economically recoverable resources to geological reserves. The larger the economic coefficient for the development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources is, the better the economy of the area is, and the larger the proportion of shale oil and gas resources that can be exploited. There is little special literature on the optimal development and utilization model of shale oil and gas resources and energy security among many research results at home and abroad. The evaluation of pure shale oil using the small surface element volume method (oil content rate method) and the construction of the boundary capacity calculation model, the optimal development of the basic constraints model and the economic evaluation model that we have determined, although they can not yet fully cover all the links and factors related to the development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources, are not yet fully covered by our research work. However, our research work has given the model more geological and economic theoretical connotations, and provided an economic basis and technical reference for the large-scale and commercial development and utilization of shale oil and gas resources as an effective alternative to oil imports.

Comparison of chemical compositions and aroma characteristics of walnut oil prepared by different roasting processes.

Walnut oil is an edible oil with high nutritional value, and the roasting process influences its quality and flavor. This study aimed to investigate the effects of roasting on the fatty acid composition, bioactive compounds (tocopherols, polyphenols, and phytosterols), and antioxidant capacity of walnut oil. Additionally, the aroma compounds and sensory characteristics were evaluated to comprehensively assess the variations in walnut oil after roasting. Roasting resulted in no notable impact on the fatty acid composition of walnut oil but increased the content of tocopherols and polyphenols in walnut oil, increasing its antioxidant capacity. Heavy roasting (160°C/20min) reduced the phytosterol content in walnut oil by 2.3%. In total, 146 volatile compounds were detected in both cold-pressed and roasted walnut oil using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 32 key aroma compounds were identified. Aromatic aldehydes, aliphatic aldehydes, and heterocyclic compounds significantly contributed to fragrant walnut oil. Furthermore, the principal component analysis based on quality characteristics and sensory evaluation indicated that moderate roasting (130°C/20min, 130°C/30min, and 160°C/10min) provided walnut oil with a sweet, nutty, and roasted aroma, as well as high levels of linoleic acid, phytosterols, and γ-tocopherol. Although heavy roasting (160°C/15min and 160°C/20min) enhanced the antioxidant capacities of walnut oils due to high levels of polyphenols, the oils exhibited an unpleasant burnt aroma. This study showed that roasting promoted the quality and flavor of walnut oil, and moderate conditions endowed walnut oil with a characteristic-rich flavor while maintaining excellent quality.

SBA-15 supported Ni-Cu catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of m-cresol to toluene.

Amidst concerns over fossil fuel dependency and environmental sustainability, the utilization of biomass-derived aromatic compounds emerges as a viable solution across diverse industries. In this scheme, the conversion of biomass involves pyrolysis, followed by a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) step to reduce the oxygen content of pyrolysis oils and stabilize the end products including aromatics. In this study, we explored the properties of size controlled NiCu bimetallic catalysts supported on ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for the catalytic gas-phase HDO of m-cresol, a lignin model compound. We compared their performances with monometallic Ni and Cu catalysts. The prepared catalysts contained varying Ni to Cu ratios and featured an average particle size of approximately 2 nm. The catalytic tests revealed that the introduction of Cu alongside Ni enhanced the selectivity for the direct deoxygenation (DDO) pathway, yielding toluene as the primary product. Optimal performance was observed with a catalyst composition comprising 5wt.% Ni and 5wr.% Cu, achieving 85% selectivity to toluene. Further increasing the Cu content improved turnover frequency (TOF) values, but reduced DDO selectivity. These findings underscore the importance of catalyst design in facilitating biomass-derived compound transformations and offer insights into optimizing catalyst composition for more selective HDO reactions.

Enhancing kernel oil and tailoring fatty acid composition by genomics-assisted selection for dgat1-2 and fatb genes in multi-nutrient-rich maize: new avenue for food, feed and bioenergy.

Enhancing maize kernel oil is vital for improving the bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins. Here, we combined favourable alleles of dgat1-2 and fatb into parental lines of four multi-nutrient-rich maize hybrids (APTQH1, APTQH4, APTQH5 and APTQH7) using marker-assisted selection (MAS). Parental lines possessed favourable alleles of crtRB1, lcyE, vte4 and opaque2 genes. Gene-specific markers enabled successful foreground selection in BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2, while background selection using genome-wide microsatellite markers (127-132) achieved 93% recurrent parent genome recovery. Resulting inbreds exhibited significantly higher oil (6.93%) and oleic acid (OA, 40.49%) and lower palmitic acid (PA, 14.23%) compared to original inbreds with elevated provitamin A (11.77 ppm), vitamin E (16.01 ppm), lysine (0.331%) and tryptophan (0.085%). Oil content significantly increased from 4.80% in original hybrids to 6.73% in reconstituted hybrids, making them high-oil maize hybrids. These hybrids displayed 35.70% increment in oil content and 51.56% increase in OA with 36.32% reduction in PA compared to original hybrids, while maintaining higher provitamin A (two-fold), vitamin E (nine-fold), lysine (two-fold) and tryptophan (two-fold) compared to normal hybrids. Lipid health indices showed improved atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, cholesterolaemic, oxidability, peroxidizability and nutritive values in MAS-derived genotypes over original versions. Besides, the MAS-derived inbreds and hybrids exhibited comparable grain yield and phenotypic characteristics to the original versions. The maize hybrids developed in the study possessed high-yielding ability with high kernel oil and OA, low PA, better fatty acid health and nutritional properties, higher multi-vitamins and balanced amino acids, which hold immense significance to address malnutrition and rising demand for oil sustainably in a fast-track manner.

Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Metabolites as Descriptors of Different Coffee Beverages.

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage rich in bioactive phytochemicals. This study investigated the effect of brewing method on the profile of potential bioactive compounds in different coffee beverages using metabolomics and lipidomics based on UHPLC-MS/QTOF. The oil contents of the espresso coffee (EC), pot coffee (PC), instant coffee (IC), and filter coffee (FC) beverages studied were 0.13% ± 0.002, 0.12% ± 0.001, 0.04% ± 0.002, and 0.03% ± 0.003, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences (P < 0.001) in oil content when EC and PC beverages were compared with IC and FC beverages. Principal component analysis revealed similarities in the lipid profiles of FC and EC beverages and the hydrophilic profiles of PC and FC beverages. The EC beverage had the highest intensity of hydrophilic compounds such as adenine, theobromine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeine. The PC beverage was the most abundant in triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, and diterpenes. Cafestol and kahweol esters, but not their free forms, were the most abundant diterpenes in the PC beverage. This work provides information on the differences in the profile of potentially bioactive compounds in four commonly consumed coffee beverage types and, thus, on the possible differences in the health effects of these coffee beverage types.

Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Metabolites as Descriptors of Different Coffee Beverages.

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage rich in bioactive phytochemicals. This study investigated the effect of brewing method on the profile of potential bioactive compounds in different coffee beverages using metabolomics and lipidomics based on UHPLC-MS/QTOF. The oil contents of the espresso coffee (EC), pot coffee (PC), instant coffee (IC), and filter coffee (FC) beverages studied were 0.13% ± 0.002, 0.12% ± 0.001, 0.04% ± 0.002, and 0.03% ± 0.003, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences (P < 0.001) in oil content when EC and PC beverages were compared with IC and FC beverages. Principal component analysis revealed similarities in the lipid profiles of FC and EC beverages and the hydrophilic profiles of PC and FC beverages. The EC beverage had the highest intensity of hydrophilic compounds such as adenine, theobromine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeine. The PC beverage was the most abundant in triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, and diterpenes. Cafestol and kahweol esters, but not their free forms, were the most abundant diterpenes in the PC beverage. This work provides information on the differences in the profile of potentially bioactive compounds in four commonly consumed coffee beverage types and, thus, on the possible differences in the health effects of these coffee beverage types.

Extraction Optimization of Phenolic Compounds from Triadica sebifera Leaves: Identification, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity

Triadica sebifera (T. sebifera) has attracted much attention because of the high oil content in its seeds, but there are few systematic studies on the phenolic compounds of T. sebifera leaves (TSP). In this study, the extraction process of TSP was optimized by response surface methodology. The phenolic components of these extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the effects of hot air drying (HD), vacuum drying (VD) and freeze drying (FD) on the antioxidant activity and characterization of T. sebifera leaf extract (TSLE) were evaluated. Under the conditions of ethanol concentration 39.8%, liquid–solid ratio (LSR) 52.1, extraction time 20.2 min and extraction temperature 50.6 °C, the maximum TSP yield was 111.46 mg GAE/g dw. The quantitative analysis and correlation analysis of eight compounds in TSP showed that the type and content of phenolic compounds had significant correlations with antioxidant activity, indicating that tannic acid, isoquercitrin and ellagic acid were the main components of antioxidant activities. In addition, through DPPH and ABTS determination, VD-TSLE and FD-TSLE showed strong scavenging ability, with IC50 values of 138.2 μg/mL and 135.5 μg/mL and 73.5 μg/mL and 74.3 μg/mL, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) infrared spectroscopy revealed small differences in the extracts of the three drying methods. This study lays a foundation for the effective extraction process and drying methods of phenolic antioxidants from T. sebifera leaves, and is of great significance for the utilization of T. sebifera leaves.

Evaluation of Different Drying Treatments with Respect to Essential Oil Components, Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds, and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.)

Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) is considered a valuable spice and medicinal herb. In this study, the essential oil content and composition of the aerial parts of ajowan were investigated under different drying treatments (sun, shade, oven at 45 °C, oven at 65 °C, microwave, and freeze drying). Moreover, the phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity of samples were also assessed. Fresh samples produced the highest essential oil content (1.05%), followed by those treated under sun (0.7%) and shade drying (0.95%). Based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), thirty compounds were determined in which thymol (34.84–83.1%), carvacrol (0.15–32.36%), p-cymene (0.09–13.66%), and γ-terpinene (3.12–22.58%) were the most abundant. Among the drying methods, freeze drying revealed the highest thymol content, followed by drying in a 45 °C oven. The highest TPC (total phenolic content) and TFC (total flavonoid content) were obtained in the fresh sample (38.23 mg TAE g−1 dry weight (DW)) and in the sample oven-dried at 45 °C (7.3 mg QE g−1 DW), respectively. Based on the HPLC results, caffeic acid (18.04–21.32 mg/100 gDW) and ferulic acid (13.102–19.436 mg/100 g DW) were the most abundant phenolic acids, while among flavonoids, rutin constituted the highest amount (10.26–19.88 mg/100 gDW). Overall, freeze drying was the most promising method of drying for preserving the phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) compounds and oil components.

Identification of High Erucic Acid Brassica carinata Genotypes through Multi-Trait Stability Index

Brassica carinata is an important and native oilseed crop in Ethiopia. The seed oil from B.carinata attracts global attention for its various industrial applications, mainly due to its high erucic acid levels and its superior agronomic traits. Since the demand for high erucic acid from oilseed brassica has been increasing in the world market due to its wider applications in bio-industries, the breeding target of B. carinata has recently been focused on enhancing its erucic acid. Several high erucic acid B. carinata genotypes have been screened from the pre-breeding activities. Such genotypes, however, need to be tested for their stable performance, for their erucic acid level, and other desirable traits under different environments. The aim of this study was to identify high erucic acid B. carinata genotypes with stable performance in multiple desirable traits. Thirty-two B. carinata genotypes were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications at three locations for two years. The genotypes were evaluated for nine desirable traits related to seed oil quality (erucic acid and oil content), seed yield, and other agronomic traits. The results showed that the proportion of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) was clearly observed in erucic acid, which led to a stability and mean performance analysis for selecting the most stable and best-performing genotypes for the desired traits. For such an analysis, we used the multi-trait stability index (MTSI) along with the weighted average of absolute score BLUPs (WAASB). As revealed from the MTSI, five genotypes (G13, G18, G10, G22 and G5) were identified as the most stable in erucic acid, oil content, seed yield, and other agronomic traits. The selected genotypes showed on average 45.7% erucic acid, 3185 kg ha−1 seed yield and 45.1% oil content with 4.3%, 25.8% and 6.9% positive selection gain, respectively. The negative selection gain of phonological traits and the plant height of the selected genotypes revealed their early maturity and their lower probability of being affected by lodging. Our findings demonstrated MTSI can be used to select high erucic acid B. carinata with a set of desirable traits, which would facilitate breeding efforts in developing novel and high erucic acid B. carinata varieties. Our results also showed that MTSI is an effective tool for selecting genotypes across different environments due to its unique ability to select multiple traits simultaneously.

Identification of High Erucic Acid Brassica carinata Genotypes through Multi-Trait Stability Index

Brassica carinata is an important and native oilseed crop in Ethiopia. The seed oil from B.carinata attracts global attention for its various industrial applications, mainly due to its high erucic acid levels and its superior agronomic traits. Since the demand for high erucic acid from oilseed brassica has been increasing in the world market due to its wider applications in bio-industries, the breeding target of B. carinata has recently been focused on enhancing its erucic acid. Several high erucic acid B. carinata genotypes have been screened from the pre-breeding activities. Such genotypes, however, need to be tested for their stable performance, for their erucic acid level, and other desirable traits under different environments. The aim of this study was to identify high erucic acid B. carinata genotypes with stable performance in multiple desirable traits. Thirty-two B. carinata genotypes were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications at three locations for two years. The genotypes were evaluated for nine desirable traits related to seed oil quality (erucic acid and oil content), seed yield, and other agronomic traits. The results showed that the proportion of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) was clearly observed in erucic acid, which led to a stability and mean performance analysis for selecting the most stable and best-performing genotypes for the desired traits. For such an analysis, we used the multi-trait stability index (MTSI) along with the weighted average of absolute score BLUPs (WAASB). As revealed from the MTSI, five genotypes (G13, G18, G10, G22 and G5) were identified as the most stable in erucic acid, oil content, seed yield, and other agronomic traits. The selected genotypes showed on average 45.7% erucic acid, 3185 kg ha−1 seed yield and 45.1% oil content with 4.3%, 25.8% and 6.9% positive selection gain, respectively. The negative selection gain of phonological traits and the plant height of the selected genotypes revealed their early maturity and their lower probability of being affected by lodging. Our findings demonstrated MTSI can be used to select high erucic acid B. carinata with a set of desirable traits, which would facilitate breeding efforts in developing novel and high erucic acid B. carinata varieties. Our results also showed that MTSI is an effective tool for selecting genotypes across different environments due to its unique ability to select multiple traits simultaneously.