Oleic Safflower Research Articles

Molecular insights into the oleic acid accumulation in safflower

AbstractMost of the Indian safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) varieties produce oil rich in linoleic acid (LA, ~75%) and low in oleic acid (OA, ~15%). In the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, the fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) enzyme converts OA to LA. Safflower is reported to have 12–20 FAD2 genes. Gene expression analysis of four FAD2 genes during seed development in a high LA variety, PBNS‐12, revealed high expression of FAD2‐1 at 21 days after flowering (DAF), correlating with high LA accumulation. Fatty acid profiling of 448 Indian safflower germplasm accessions revealed four lines to have high (58%–77%) OA content, with NASF‐39 having the highest OA content. Interestingly, all four high OA lines showed the same mutation in the FAD2‐1 gene. The DNA sequence of FAD2‐1 from the four high OA lines showed a deletion of C at the +606 position, resulting in a premature stop codon at the +733 position and a truncated protein of 244 amino acids. Hence, despite the high expression levels of FAD2‐1 in NASF‐39 at 18–21 DAF, it exhibited high OA (77%). The dysfunctional nature of the truncated FAD2‐1 in NASF‐39 was evident in molecular docking studies with 1‐stearoyl‐2‐oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. We also sequenced FATB, a thioesterase responsible for releasing stearic acid from acyl carrier protein for further desaturation to oleic acid, where an A773G substitution was observed. This resulted in E258G substitution in NASF‐39 FATB compared to that of PBNS‐12. This probably made the acyl‐binding pocket of NASF‐39 FATB unstable, contributing to high OA accumulation. Thus, the outcomes of this study can help develop super and ultra‐high oleic safflower varieties through various genetics and genomics approaches.

Analysis and authentication of avocado oil by low-field benchtop NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Avocado oil is a nutritious, edible oil produced from avocado fruit. It has high commercial value and is increasing in popularity, thus powerful analytical methods are needed to ensure its quality and authenticity. Recent advancements in low-field (LF) NMR spectroscopy allow for collection of high-quality data despite the use of low magnetic fields produced by non-superconductive magnets. Combined with chemometrics, LF NMR opens new opportunities in food analysis using targeted and untargeted approaches. Here, it was used to determine poly-, mono-, and saturated fatty acids in avocado oil. Although direct signal integration of LF NMR spectra was able to determine certain classes of fatty acids, it had several challenges arising from signal overlapping. Thus, we used partial least square regression and developed models with good prediction performance for fatty acid composition, with residual prediction deviation ranging 3.46-5.53 and root mean squared error of prediction CV ranging 0.46-2.48. In addition, LF NMR, combined with unsupervised and supervised methods, enabled the differentiation of avocado oil from other oils, namely, olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, high oleic (OL) safflower oil, and high OL sunflower oil. This study showed that LF NMR can be used as an efficient alternative for the compositional analysis and authentication of avocado oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Here, we describe the application of LF-NMR for fatty acid analysis and avocado oil authentication. LF-NMR can be an efficient tool for targeted and untargeted analysis, thus becoming an attractive option for companies, regulatory agencies, and quality control laboratories. This tool is especially important for organizations and entities seeking economic, user-friendly, and sustainable analysis solutions.

Cis-vaccenic acid: New maker to detect seed oil adulteration in avocado oil

Efforts to ensure avocado oil purity have been made and standards are currently being developed, however, challenges still exist with differentiating avocado oil from high oleic seed oils, such as sunflower and safflower oils. Cis-vaccenic acid or C18:1 (n-7) is an oleic fatty acid isomer that has significantly different concentrations in avocado oil compared to high oleic sunflower and safflower oils, as well as other adulterants. High oleic safflower oil has cis-vaccenic values <0.75% of total fatty acid content and high oleic sunflower <1.3% total fatty acid content, while avocado oil has concentrations ranging from 5.5% to 7.5%. Standards on fats and oil typically only require for total oleic acid (sum of C18:1(n-9) and C18:1 (n-7)), however, this work demonstrates that there is an immediate need to consider including a separate standard for cis-vaccenic content in avocado oil to aid in detecting adulteration, particularly with seed oils.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) a winter multipurpose oilseed crop for the Mediterranean region: Lesson learnt from on-farm trials

Mediterranean farmers have a really limited choice for winter crops to put in rotation with cereals, thus creating big challenges for weed and disease management. Crop diversification has undisputable environmental benefits and plays a central role in the agroecological transition toward sustainable and resilient farming systems. Among other crop candidates, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is recently attracting the attention of Mediterranean farmers, due its broad environmental suitability, low input needs, high plant vigor, also in marginal soil conditions, and tolerance to low temperatures. Thus, in the whole Mediterranean basin, safflower could be grown with a winter cycle, differently than sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The availability in the market of high-oleic safflower varieties tremendously enlarges the applications of its oils, easily meeting the needs of the domestic bio-based industry. Aiming at evaluating the feasibility of high-oleic safflower as a winter oilseed crop in the Mediterranean region, a multi-year and multi-location study has been carried out, across multiple growing seasons (2019–2021), at eight locations across Emilia-Romagna (ER) and Tuscany (TU) regions (Italy), traditionally devoted to winter cereal cultivation. In each region, the locations were chosen as representative of optimal, mean, and marginal conditions. The trials were managed as on-farm experiments by local farmers, to define safflower suitability to available equipment and practices. All trials were rainfed and carried out under low input agronomic management and using mechanical weed control. The safflower seed yield was not affected by growing region (grand mean: 1775 kg DM ha‐1), while 1000-seed weight and seed oil content were significantly influenced by growing environment. In particular, safflower produced significantly heavier seeds in Emilia Romagna (40.8 vs. 38.2 g, ER vs. TU, respectively, P ≤ 0.05), while seed oil content was higher in Tuscany (TU vs. ER, 40.3 vs. 36.1% DM respectively, P ≤ 0.05). Safflower confirmed its compositional stability with oleic acid representing > 75% of total fatty acids, but, again, some differences were revealed between regions, with ER having significantly higher oleic acid content than TU (78.8 vs. 75.9%, ER vs. TU, respectively). High oleic safflower, grown in winter, confirmed to be an interesting opportunity for Mediterranean farmers who are willing to differentiate their rotations while producing an oilseed crop with several biobased applications and able to increase local production of vegetable oil and protein.

High oleic safflower biolubricant through double transesterification with methanol and pentaerythritol: Production, characterization, and antioxidant addition

• Biodiesel and biolubricant from high-oleic safflower were obtained. • Quality parameters of these products were suitable. • Oxidative stability of biolubricant was short, needing antioxidant addition. • TBHQ had a positive effect and kept biolubricant properties during oxidation. Double transesterification from vegetable oils could play an important role in biodiesel and biolubricant production, with the possible implementation of biorefineries to replace refineries based on petroleum. The oxidative stability of the original sample will influence the quality of the intermediate and final products, recommending highly stable raw materials or the use of antioxidants to keep quality parameters during storage. The aim of this work was to obtain a stable biolubricant, assessing its production through a double transesterification with methanol and pentaerythritol from high-oleic safflower oil and adding antioxidants, paying attention to quality parameters. Consequently, a biorefinery that produced high-quality products was proposed. In conclusion, high biodiesel and biolubricant yields were obtained (>97 and >94%, respectively) with the following chemical conditions for the latter: FAME/alcohol ratio, 1:0.33; pressure, 260 mmHg; catalyst concentration, 1.0%; temperature, 160 °C. The oxidative stability of biodiesel complied with the standard (10.78 h) due to its high methyl oleate content (exceeding 80%), whereas this parameter was shorter for the biolubricant (2.86 h), possibly due to its molecular structure. Consequently, antioxidant addition was needed, and tert -Butylhydroquinone at low concentration (500 ppm) kept viscosity and acid number of high-oleic safflower biolubricant during oxidation conditions (up to 8 h). However, tannic acid did not keep these properties in biolubricant. In conclusion, by using the right antioxidant, all the products of the proposed biorefinery were stable during oxidizing conditions, making this biorefinery more competitive.

Tribochemical synergy between phosphate-intercalated layered double hydroxide additives and super high oleic safflower oil on sliding contacts.

In this study, the tribological properties of a series of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated by various phosphate anions (hydrogen phosphate, orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and hexametaphosphate) were investigated by ball-on-disc testing in safflower oil which has a super high content of oleic acid (OA). The Mg-Al-NO3- LDH precursor was first synthesized by a coprecipitation method, and then nitrate anions were substituted by different phosphate anions via anion exchange. The successful intercalations were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analysis. The tribological results indicate that the antiwear properties increased linearly with the basic strength of the phosphate anions. Stronger bases, such as orthophosphate (PO43-) and pyrophosphate (P2O74-), encourage the dissociation of OA to form a protective oleate tribofilm on steel surfaces, leading to more than 40% wear reduction compared to the base oil. The tribological performance of the best antiwear candidate, PO43--LDH, was studied further under different loads and concentrations. A comparison between PO43--LDH and other nanomaterials was also carried out with PO43--LDH exhibiting a comparable performance against hexagonal boron nitride (BN).

High oleic safflower oil as a feedstock for stable biodiesel and biolubricant production

Biodiesel and other derivative compounds which could act as biolubricants, can be a suitable alternative for petroleum products, which are less sustainable and harmful to the environment. However, especially when vegetable oils are used as raw materials (for instance Carthamus Tinctorius), these products can show poor oxidative stabilities, depending on their fatty acid composition. Apart from adding antioxidants as additives, a good alternative might be the use of genetically modified seeds to facilitate high ratios of stable fatty acids like oleic acid. The aim of this work was to produce biodiesel and biolubricant from high oleic safflower through transesterification with methanol and 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, respectively. The efficiency of these processes and the quality characterization of biodiesel and biolubricant were assessed. As a result, the biodiesel obtained (HOSBD) complied with the standard, with a high oxidative stability value (8.2 h) and not requiring any antioxidant addition. The biolubricant obtained (HOSBL) showed higher oxidative stability (6.72 h) compared to their equivalents produced from rapeseed (Brassica Napus) or cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus L.). Consequently, two stable bioproducts were obtained and the role of fatty acid composition of raw material was vital (oleic/linoleic ratio had a strong influence on oxidative stability). In that sense, the use of stable raw materials like high oleic safflower might avoid antioxidant addition in biodiesel or biolubricants, which implies a cleaner and more sustainable production.

India’s first high oleic safflower variety for commercial cultivation

Indian safflower varieties possess low oleic acid content (16-20%). Therefore, high oleic (&gt;70%) safflower oil isimported from abroad to meet the domestic needs. ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research developed India’s first high oleic safflower variety, ISF-1, which has been notified recently for all India cultivation. ISF-1 contains 76% oleic acid and 31% oil. It gives four-fold higher oleic acid yield (4.41 q/ha) than the leading variety, PBNS-12 (1.0 q/ha). Its performance with respect to oleic acid content and seed and oil yield in AICRP (Safflower) trials and in farmers’ fields across the country is presented in this paper.

The development of 92% oleic safflower oil

The development of 92% oleic safflower oil

Effect of vegetable oils on the experimental infection of mice with Trypanosoma congolense

Vegetable oils are frequently used as solvents for lipophilic materials; accordingly, the effects of their components should be considered in animal experiments. In this study, the effects of various vegetable oils on the course of Trypanosoma congolense infection were examined in mice. C57BL/6J mice were orally administered four kinds of oils (i.e., coconut oil, olive oil, high oleic safflower oil, and high linoleic safflower oil) with different fatty acid compositions and infected with T. congolense IL-3000. Oil-treated mice infected with T. congolense showed significantly higher survival rates and lower parasitemia than those of control mice. Notably, coconut oil, which mainly consists of saturated fatty acids, delayed the development of parasitemia at the early stage of infection. These results indicated that vegetable oil intake could affect T. congolense infection in mice. These findings have important practical implications; for example, they suggest the potential effectiveness of vegetable oils as a part of the regular animal diet for controlling tropical diseases and indicate that vegetable oils are not suitable solvents for studies of the efficacy of lipophilic agents against T. congolense.

REFORMULATING TORTILLAS WITH ZERO-TRANS CRYSTALLIZED VEGETABLE FAT PRODUCED FROM PALM STEARIN AND HIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER OIL BLEND

The effects of zero-trans crystallized vegetable fatproduced from palm stearin and high oleic safflower oil (PS/HOSO, 65:35) blend on the texture and sensory properties of wheat flour tortillas (WFT) were studied. WFT were prepared with a (PS/HOSO, 65:35) crystallized blend, instant flour (hydrogenated commercial shortening/emulsifier blend) and hydrogenated commercial shortening (HCS). Firmness, rollability, and moisture loss were measured at different storage times (2, 24, 48, and 72 h). The blend (PS/HOSO, 65:35) had high proportion of palmitic (49.03%) and oleic acids (36.78%), without trans fatty acids (TFA), with the presence of the polymorphic form β. Tortillas manufacturing with (PS/ HOSO, 65:35) blend showed lower firmness values than tortillas elaborated with instant flour, and HCS. The blend (PS/ HOSO, 65:35) affected positively the quality of tortilla and sensory properties; showed this zero trans crystallized fat can be a potential alternative to HCS to reduce trans fats in cereal-based foods.

Seed-specific RNAi in safflower generates a superhigh oleic oil with extended oxidative stability.

SummaryVegetable oils extracted from oilseeds are an important component of foods, but are also used in a range of high value oleochemical applications. Despite being biodegradable, nontoxic and renewable current plant oils suffer from the presence of residual polyunsaturated fatty acids that are prone to free radical formation that limit their oxidative stability, and consequently shelf life and functionality. Many decades of plant breeding have been successful in raising the oleic content to ~90%, but have come at the expense of overall field performance, including poor yields. Here, we engineer superhigh oleic (SHO) safflower producing a seed oil with 93% oleic generated from seed produced in multisite field trials spanning five generations. SHO safflower oil is the result of seed‐specific hairpin‐based RNA interference of two safflower lipid biosynthetic genes, FAD2.2 and FATB, producing seed oil containing less than 1.5% polyunsaturates and only 4% saturates but with no impact on lipid profiles of leaves and roots. Transgenic SHO events were compared to non‐GM safflower in multisite trial plots with a wide range of growing season conditions, which showed no evidence of impact on seed yield. The oxidative stability of the field‐grown SHO oil produced from various sites was 50 h at 110°C compared to 13 h for conventional ~80% oleic safflower oils. SHO safflower produces a uniquely stable vegetable oil across different field conditions that can provide the scale of production that is required for meeting the global demands for high stability oils in food and the oleochemical industry.

Omega-3 decreases IL-6 levels in HIV and human herpesvirus-8 coinfected patients in Uganda.

Kaposi sarcoma is a HIV-associated malignancy caused by human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) that occurs at highest incidence in sub-Saharan Africa. Kaposi sarcoma patients often present with inflammatory symptoms associated with higher mortality. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in Uganda to test whether omega-3 supplementation could reduce inflammation in HIV and HHV-8 coinfected adults. Patients with acute illness, AIDS, or advanced Kaposi sarcoma were ineligible, as were pregnant women. Participant IDs were pre-randomized, blocked by Kaposi sarcoma status, to either the omega-3 or placebo arm. Omega-3 participants received a 3-g pill dose daily for 12 weeks (1.8-g eicosapentaenoic acid, 1.2-mg docosapentaenoic acid); placebo participants received 44.8 mg of high oleic safflower oil that appeared indistinguishable from the active supplement. Intervention effects were evaluated as the baseline-adjusted mean difference after 12 weeks between omega-3 and placebo participants in concentrations of fatty acids, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells. The final study population included 56 Kaposi sarcoma patients and 11 Kaposi sarcoma-negative, HIV and HHV-8-positive participants randomized to receive either omega-3 (N = 33) or placebo (N = 34). Inflammatory cytokine IL-6 concentrations decreased in omega-3 participants (-0.78 pg/ml) but increased in placebo participants (+3.2 pg/ml; P = 0.04). We observed a trend toward decreased IL-6 after omega-3 supplementation specific to Kaposi sarcoma patients (P = 0.08). CD8 T-cell counts tended to increase in the omega-3 arm Kaposi sarcoma patients (+60 cells/μl), in contrast to decreases (-47 cells/μl) among placebo (P = 0.11). Omega-3 supplementation decreased IL-6 concentrations among HIV and HHV-8 coinfected Ugandans, which may have clinical benefit for Kaposi sarcoma patients.

Characterization of the micro and nanostructure of the candelilla wax organogels crystal networks

Abstract Candelilla wax (CW) organogels were produced with and without emulsifiers in high oleic safflower oil. The organogel’s crystal structure was imaged at the micro and nanoscale using polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The PLM micrographs of the CW organogels displayed a large number of grainy birefringent crystals which size and proximity was below the resolution limit of this technique. The best details of the crystal network microstructure were obtained using SEM of deoiled organogels without deposition of contrast elements. Using this method, a continuous three-dimensional structure of CW branched microplatelets (2–5 μm length) was observed forming micropores where the vegetable oil was immobilized. The mechanical disruption of the organogels dispersed in cold isobutanol allowed the breakdown of the microplatelets into irregularly shaped nanoplatelets (4–40 nm length). TEM images allowed imaging the distances between planes of the lateral packing of hydrocarbon chains in the CW nanoplates. The CW nanoplatelets’ crystal domain, calculated with the Scherrer’s equation, was within the range determined for triacylglycerols crystals. The emulsifiers produced a slight decrease in the observed crystal size at the microscale, while the crystal domain associated with the nanoplelets thickness increased.

Oil quality of exotic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars in India

Improvement of oil content and quality are important goals in safflower breeding. In this study, a set of 10 high oil exotic safflower cultivars were evaluated at Hyderabad (India) for oil content and fatty acid composition in order to assess their suitability for Indian safflower breeding programmes. Oil content in the exotic varieties ranged from 35.3 per cent (Finch) to 41.4 per cent (Centennial). Overall, the exotic varieties showed about 5 to 10 per cent increase in oil content over the most popular Indian high seed yielding varieties A-1 and Bhima. Furthermore, six varieties showed high oleic acid content ranging from 70.0 per cent to 80.2 per cent. The exotic varietal sources reported in this study would be helpful to expedite breeding high oil-high oleic safflower cultivars in India.

Crystallization Behavior of High Behenic Acid Stabilizers in Liquid Oil

AbstractThe crystallization behavior and structure of mixtures of a high behenic acid stabilizer (HBS) in peanut oil, high oleic safflower oil and sesame oil were studied in order to elucidate the mechanism behind liquid oil stabilization. Both the chemical composition of the oil and cooling rate influenced the crystallization behavior and structure of HBS. The critical gelation concentration of HBS ranged from 6.5% for peanut oil crystallized at 3 °C/min to 11% for sesame oil mixtures crystallized at 0.6 °C/min. The free energy of nucleation (ΔG) was the highest for sesame oil (142 kJ/mol) followed by high oleic safflower oil (75.8 kJ/mol) and peanut oil (15.9 kJ/mol). The HBS peanut oil mixture displayed the highest storage modulus (G′) under both cooling rates studied. In general, HBS‐oil mixtures crystallized at a higher cooling rate exhibited high SFC values, lower crystallization temperatures and a predominance of the β′ polymorph, and they had a microstructure characterized by uniformly sized spherulites. In contrast, slow cooling rates led to higher critical gelation concentrations of HBS, lower SFC, fractionation of higher melting and lower melting fractions, a more stable polymorphic form β and a wide range of spherulite sizes.

High yielding-high oleic non-genetically modified Indian safflower cultivars

High oleic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil is desired by industry because of its high oxidative stability for broader use in food, fuel, and other products. However, standard safflower oil has only 16–20% oleic acid, and Indian safflower cultivars are non-oleic type. The present investigation was taken up to enhance oleic acid level in Indian safflower. Three non-genetically modified high-oleic lines, ISF-1, ISF-2 and ISF-3 were developed from a cross between low and high oleic genotypes through classical breeding approach. These were tested at 10 locations in India along with two non-oleic high yielding check varieties, A1 and Nari-6 under irrigated and dry growing conditions. ISF-1, ISF-2 and ISF-3 consistently possessed high oleic acid content across locations. The mean oleic acid content in these varieties was 75, 76 and 75%, respectively whereas it was 17 and 14% in non-oleic checks. Oleic acid level in ISF-1, ISF-2 and ISF-3 was relatively low under dry growing conditions (72, 73, 73%) than under irrigated (77, 78, 76%). On an average ISF-1 and ISF-2 gave 15 and 9% higher seed yield and 23 and 27% higher oil yield, respectively than the best check, A1. Oleic acid content was not affected when tested at three dates of sowing with one month interval; however, considerable reduction in seed yield was observed as sowing was delayed. ISF-1 and ISF-2 were licensed to Marico Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India for large scale production. These are the first oleic safflower cultivars developed for growing under Indian conditions.

Combined effect of shearing and cooling rate on the rheology of organogels developed by selected gelators

In this study we investigated the combined effect of shearing and cooling rate in the rheology of organogels developed in high oleic safflower oil by (R)-12-hydroxystearic acid (HSA), its primary amide derivative [(R)-12-hydroxyoctadecanamide, HOA], and the N-octadecyl derivative of HOA [(R)-N-octadecyl-12-hydroxyoctadecanamide, OHOA]. The experimental set up to develop the organogels involved: 1). The use of quiescent (0s−1) or shearing (300, 600, and 1200s−1) conditions during cooling the gelator solutions (2%) just until achieving the gelator's melting temperature (TM) in the vegetable oil, to then continuing the cooling under static conditions until achieving 15°C) The use of cooling rate protocols involving a constant cooling rate of 1°C/min (CR1) or 10°C/min (CR10) in the shearing and static stages, or variable cooling rates in each stage (i.e., VR1–10 or VR10–1). The elasticity of the organogels (G′) was measured while cooling under static conditions, once the systems achieved 15°C, and after 60min at this temperature. The rheological results obtained at 15°C showed a cooling rate and molecular weight-dependent effect of shearing on G′. We propose that the molecular relaxation time of gelator molecules, and its increase as molecular weight increases and as temperature decreases, plays an important role on the gelator's susceptibility to go through a shear induced crystallization process. Therefore, high molecular weight molecules like OHOA (551.97Da) would remain stretched by shearing longer times than HSA (300.49Da) and HOA (299.49Da). Thus, when shearing was applied while cooling at the higher cooling rate (i.e., CR10 and VR10–1), the stretched OHOA molecules would lead to the development of mesophase precursors that upon further cooling under quiescent conditions, crystallize developing a well-structured organogel. In contrast, stretched low molecular weight molecules (i.e., HSA and HOA) with shorter relaxation time would dissolve back to the isotropic state during cooling. Additionally, the rheological results of HSA and HOA organogels suggested that the shear induced crystallization process might be dependent on the gelator polarity also. These results show that the application of shear and the extent of its application as temperature decreases until achieving TM, have important implication on the self-assembly of gelator molecules, and therefore in the organization and rheology of the three-dimensional crystal network of the organogel.

Formulation of Zero-Trans Crystalized Fats Produced from Palm Stearin and High Oleic Safflower Oil Blends

High intake of trans fat is associated with several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Fat blends, produced by direct blending process of palm stearin (PS) with high oleic safflower oil (HOSO) in different concentrations, were investigated. The effects of the PS addition (50, 70, or 90%) and the rate of agitation (RA) (1000, 2000, or 3000 rpm) on physical properties, fatty acid profile (FAP), trans fatty acids (TFA), crystal structure, and consistency were researched. The blend containing 50% of each sort of oil (50% PS/50% HOSO) showed that melting point and features were similar to the control shortening. The saturated fatty acids (SFA) were higher followed by monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Significant differences in the content of palmitic and oleic acids among blends were observed. The 50% PS/50% HOSO blend contained higher oleic acid (42.9%) whereas the 90% PS/10% HOSO was higher in palmitic acid (56.9%). The blending of PS/HOSO promoted the β crystal polymorphic forms. The direct blending process of equal amounts of PS and HOSO was an adequate strategy to formulate a new zero-trans crystallized vegetable fats with characteristics similar to commercial counterparts with well-balanced fats rich in both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

Phase behavior, structure and rheology of candelilla wax/fully hydrogenated soybean oil mixtures with and without vegetable oil

Vegetable oil organogelation is one of the most promising strategies to eliminate trans fatty acids in plastic fats. Organogels prepared with edible wax are stable at refrigerator and room temperature. Some functional properties (i.e., texture) of wax organogels can be improved by adding saturated triacylglycerols. Mixtures of fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FH) and candelilla wax (CW) were studied with and without the addition of high oleic safflower oil (HOSFO). Crystallization and melting behavior, X-ray diffraction, and crystalline microstructure of the mixtures were analyzed. The elastic modulus (G′), and the structural recovery after shear of the organogels were also assessed. Mixtures without HOSFO formed solid dispersions of CW and FH crystals, where up to ~10% CW crystals were incorporated into the FH crystal lattice. The vegetable oil solutions of FH/CW mixtures crystallized from the melt, developed mixed crystal networks composed of FH crystals in the β polymorph and CW in an orthorhombic subcell packing. As the systems crystallized in the most stable polymorph, only minor microstructural changes were shown along 28days of storage at 25°C. CW and FH crystals showed a synergistic effect on the elasticity of organogels. This was attributed to the large number FH crystals nucleated on the surface of CW crystals. The structural recovery after shear was superior for mixed organogels composed of CW platelets and grainy FH crystals compared to that of CW organogels. A recovery of up to 65.7% the G′ of gels formed under static conditions was observed upon shearing.