Pequi Oil Research Articles

Effect of the Reaction Volume on the Microencapsulation of Pequi (caryocar Coriaceum Wittm.) Oil by Complex Coacervation

The oil from Pequi pulp, also known as pequi oil (PO) is a promising bioactive for the food industry, and complex coacervation is a simple encapsulation method to improve its stability and use as a food ingredient. The high reaction volume used is considered a challenge to microcapsule production by coacervation process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the reaction volume on the formation, morphology, size, yield, and efficiency of pequi microcapsules. The complex coacervation was performed with wall material composed by polymers (gelatin and gum arabic) and pequi oil as the core material. The oil was mixed with gelatin, added the polysaccharide and pH was adjusted to 3.5, to allow the microparticle formation. The reaction volume treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4, related to wall material concentration, were 0.39, 0.77, 0.58, and 1.16 g 100 mL-1, respectively. The results of zeta potential were close to zero, without differences related to the reaction volume. Optical microscopy showed that, regardless of volume, microparticles of pequi oil presented defined walls, mononuclear core and particle size from 2.71 up to 7.27 µm, adequate for food application. In a smaller reaction volume (T1 and T3), the coacervates were aggregated due to the increase of the chemical interactions; in higher volumes (T3 and T4) the microcapsules showed an inverse behavior. The yield ranged from 58.40 up to 63.42 %. The encapsulation efficiency exhibited high values ??ranging from 90.05% ± 8.15 to 99.40% ± 0.21. The variation of reaction volume did not influence the formation of pequi oil microcapsules in the analyzed treatments, but the dispersion of the microcapsules changed. This study provided a new perspective on how the reaction volume influences the encapsulation by complex coacervation.

Potential of Whole Pequi (Caryocar spp.) Fruit-Pulp, Almond, Oil, and Shell-as a Medicinal Food.

Pequi (Caryocar) pulp, the most consumed component of pequi fruit, is one of the richest Brazilian carotenoid sources, and the most important carotenoid food source native to the Cerrado. However, there are considerable differences among pequi species regarding total carotenoids content and carotenoids profile. Caryocar brasiliense Camb. pulp presents higher content of total carotenoids than Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers. Regarding the carotenoids profile, few studies are available in the literature, mainly with C. brasiliense. Pequi pulp also has high contents of lipids, dietary fiber, zinc, and magnesium, and is source of calcium and polyphenols. Pequi almond presents high energy, lipid, protein, dietary fiber, and ash contents. Pequi oil (pulp and almond) has high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid, and relatively high contents of saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic. Pequi shell (exocarp and external mesocarp) is the largest component of the fruit and a solid residue of the pequi processing, which is rich in dietary fibers, including soluble fibers, and phenolic compounds, mostly gallic acid, ellagic acid, and quercetin. Pulp oil is the pequi byproduct most investigated in in vivo studies. Research with pequi pulp oil in animal models has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antigenotoxic, and anticarcinogenic effects. In humans, there are evidences supporting anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and antigenotoxic effects. Studies on carotenoids profile of pequi pulp in different fruit species are recommended, and in vivo studies are necessary to better explore the potential health benefits of pequi fruit components, mainly the pequi pulp and shell.

Antioxidant effect of the pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense) on the hepatic tissue of rats trained by exhaustive swimming exercises.

Increased oxygen consumption and activation of specific metabolic pathways during or after physical exercise lead to the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. An investigation was made into the effects of pequi oil supplementation in protecting liver cells against injury resulting from oxidative stress. The experiments involved 20 male adult Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus). The animals were divided into four experimental groups: Group 1: sedentary control group; Group 2: exercise control group; Group 3: supplemented sedentary group; and Group 4: supplemented exercise group. Supplementation consisted of pequi oil administered by oral gavage (400 mg). The animals of the exercised groups were subjected to 20 swimming sessions for 5 weeks (with progressive increase of 10 minutes until exhaustion). Samples were collected from the right hepatic lobe for histopathological analysis and determination of malondialdehyde levels. The histopathological analyses revealed that the animals of the exercised control group had moderate liver damage, while the animals of the supplemented exercised group had slight tissue damage, and the sedentary control and sedentary supplemented groups showed no tissue damage. The malondialdehyde levels showed higher and statistically significant in exercise control group when compared to the other evaluated groups (p<0.05). In conclusion the supplementation with pequi oil had a protective effect on liver cells against damage caused by oxygen free radicals during strenuous exercise, as demonstrated by the indicator of lipid peroxidation.

Investigation of the thermal degradation of the biolubricant through TG-FTIR and characterization of the biodiesel – Pequi (Caryocar brasiliensis) as energetic raw material

This work reports the obtaining of the methyl derivative – BP1 (biodiesel) and trimethylolpropyl derivative – BP2 (biolubricant) of the pequi oil – OP, its characterization and evaluation of the thermal degradation of the trimethylolpropyl derivative through thermogravimetric analysis in conjunction with Fourier transform (TG-FTIR). Biodiesel was prepared through homogeneous methyl route and potassium hydroxide as catalyst. Biolubricant was prepared using trimethylolpropane and biodiesel (1/4 M ratio) and sodium methoxide as catalyst. Spectroscopy techniques such as infrared with Fourier transform (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance of hydrogen and carbon (NMR 1H and 13C) were used in the analysis of the products. Physicochemical properties such as acid number, iodine number, specific mass, and kinematic viscosity were also determined under international standard. Thermogravimetric analysis of the pequi biodiesel was performed in three different heating rates in order to evaluate the activation energy of the biodiesel by using the method proposed by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and the value found was 67.07 kJ·mol−1. For the biolubricant, the thermogravimetric analysis in conjunction with Fourier transform (TG-FTIR) provided interesting comprehension of the oxidation process for trimethylolpropyl esters, describing the steps of volatilization and combustion.

Cross-linked coacervates of cashew gum and gelatin in the encapsulation of pequi oil

ABSTRACT: Pequi oil is rich in bioactive compounds which can be encapsulated to increase protection against extrinsic environmental factors. A delayed degradation of pequi oil may occur by using microencapsulation technology, in addition to masking unpleasant flavors and aromas. Complex coacervation is a technique based on the electrostatic interaction between two oppositely charged biopolymers which form a matrix complexed around an agent of interest. However, cross-linking the particles is often necessary in order to make them more rigid. The objective of this research was to produce and characterize pequi oil microparticles in a cashew gum (CG) and gelatin (GE) matrix cross-linked with tannic acid. Cross-linked pequi oil microparticles were produced by varying the concentrations of biopolymers (0.5% to 1.5%) and tannic acid (0.3% to 8.1%) using a rotational central compound design. Ratio of cashew gum, gelatin and oil was 2:1:1 (m/m/m);respectively, at pH 4.5. The cross-linking process was performed with tannic acid for 30 minutes at 40 °C. The optimized formulation by means of the rotational central compound design for microparticle formation was 0.65% biopolymers (CG and GE) and 6.9% tannic acid. Increasing the tannic acid percentage in the cross-linking of the pequi oil particles had a higher yield and encapsulation efficiency. Cross-linking provided an increase in the degradation temperature of material; and consequently, improved the thermal stability of the particles. The cross-linking process was advantageous in producing the microparticles.

Unconventional Vegetable Oils for a Reduction of Methanogenesis and Modulation of Ruminal Fermentation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of vegetable oils from plants grown in Brazil, first using the in vitro batch culture, and then evaluating the oil with methane (CH4) reducing potential in an in vivo experiment. The in vitro experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design using the seven contrasting oils. Treatments consisted of a control and 3 increasing concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 5% v/v) of oil added to a tifton 85 hay samples. All vegetable oils linearly decreased (P < 0.01) gas production after 24 h of incubation, with the greatest reduction when 5% of oil was included into the diet. Açaí and buriti had no effect of CH4 (% or mL/g DM incubated) however carrot, macaúba, basil, passionflower, and pequi oil all linearly decreased (P < 0.01) CH4 production with increasing inclusion rate of oil. Pequi oil resulted in the largest decrease in CH4 production (mL/g DM incubated) after 24 h of in vitro incubation. The objective of the in vivo experiment was to evaluate the effects of pequi oil on nutrient digestibility, CH4 production, and rumen fermentation parameters in wethers fed a hay-based diet. The experiment was conducted as a 2 × 2 Latin Square design using 4 Dorper wethers (63.4 ± 1.46 kg body weight). There were 2 experimental periods of 21 d each, with d 1–14 used for diet adaptation and d 15–21 for measurements and collections. The treatments consisted of a control diet and pequi oil fed at 70 g per animal per day. The addition of pequi oil to the diet had no effect on feed intake or the digestibility of nutrients, however there was a numerical decrease in the population of cellulolytic bacteria. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for pequi oil addition to decrease CH4 production (g/d) by 17.5%. From this study, we can conclude that pequi oil may be used as a suitable oil for reducing CH4 production from ruminants, with no negative effects on intake or digestibility.

Kinetic behavior and economic evaluation of supercritical fluid extraction of oil from pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) for various grinding times and solvent flow rates

This paper presents the techno-economic influence of grinding time (GT) (10 s–90 s) and CO2 flow rate (FR) (1.08 × 10−4–2.17 × 10−4 kg/s) on the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) performance of oil from pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) under 60 °C and 40 MPa. Then, in the economic approach, the best extraction curves were described in terms of Cost of Manufacturing (COM) in the laboratory scale for each combination of GT and FR for selecting the suitable mass to feed mass ratio (S/F) that yielded the lowest COM and the highest productivity. Thereafter, with this S/F, eight scenarios were tested in pilot (100 L) and industrial (500 L) scales with CO2 recycle, which included the purchase cost of pequi and acquisition cost of equipment. Within these eight scenarios tested, the most promising one indicated a COM of only US$ 37.03/kg pequi oil, whereas approximately 85% of the COM is dependent on the purchase cost of pequi and other raw materials (e. g., CO2).

Development and characterization of collagen/gelatin films and gels incorporated with pequi oil

ABSTRACTNatural compounds, such as pequi oil, could be added to collagen/gelatin mixtures to improve its properties. Gels characterized by rheological analysis indicated modifications in entanglement network of the mixtures after pequi oil addition. Films processed by casting were analyzed by mechanical and thermal properties, contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pequi oil addition reduced the contact angle values due to the addition of carboxyl groups found in the palmitic and oleic acid chains of pequi oil. The rough characteristic observed by SEM images was a result of a good homogenization process after oil incorporation. In addition, pequi oil addition decreased the tensile forces and elongation of the films and increased the thermal stability possibly due to lower inter‐ and intra‐molecules interactions. The results suggested a good compatibility between pequi oil and biopolymers and the potential application of this natural compound to increase the wound healing process. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46627.

&lt;b&gt;Medium composition and Amazonian oils for lipase production by &lt;i&gt;Candida viswanathii

Lipases have been successfully produced under submerged cultivation conditions using olive oil as carbon source and complex culture media. The aims of this study were to evaluate lipase production by Candida viswanathii in submerged cultivation with different culture medium compositions, replace olive oil with plant oils from the Amazonian region, and assess the effect of nitrogen sources. By using olive oil as the sole carbon source, C. viswanathii produced high levels of biomass and lipase with minimal nutritional requirements (potassium, magnesium, and yeast extract). Plant oils from the Amazonian region supported cell growth, and pequi oil was the best inducer for lipase production (1.66 U mL -1 ). In comparison with inorganic sources, organic nitrogen sources induced the highest levels of lipase production. Typical microbial growth and lipase production were observed using pequi oil and peptone as a nitrogen source. The selected conditions resulted in good cell growth ( Y X/S = 1.25 g g -1 ) and lipase production ( Y P/S = 118.10 U g -1 ) after 60 hours of cultivation. In conclusion, the fermentation parameters indicated that Amazonian oils are promising for lipase production by C. viswanathii , and oils modified by this enzyme can be used in the food and cosmetic industries.

Microencapsulation of pequi pulp oil by complex coacervation

Abstract Pequi pulp oil, Caryocar brasiliense, is rich in carotenoids, antioxidant compound easily oxidized by the presence of heat, light and oxygen. In order to improve its stability, pequi oil was microencapsulated by complex coacervation using gelatin and Arabic gum as encapsulating agents. Twenty formulations were prepared using a 23 central composite rotational design. The influence of temperature, stirring velocity and core material in the oil coacervation were evaluated, aiming to preserve carotenoids present in the oil. The best yield values and carotenoids content were obtained at the midpoint of the design (7.5g core, 15.000rpm and 50°C). Particles showed asymmetric distribution, with diameter ranging from 15 to 145 µm and the efficiency of the encapsulation process, obtained by the retention of oil in the microcapsule, ranged from 66.58 to 96.50%, thus demonstrating the encapsulation efficiency of this method.

Preliminary Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Montmorillonite, Amylose, Fatty Acids and Water for Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Modeling

ABSTRACT:This work shows a part of a theoretical study of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites (PCN) formed by an acetylated amylose segment and fatty acids present in the Pequi oil, a fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado, in aqueous medium, including or not, organophilized montmorillonite (MMT-O). The simulated systems aim to provide qualitative information about the molecular movement among diverse chemical species; their structural and behavioral correlations and essential intermolecular forces. The calculations were carried out by Molecular Mechanics and Dynamics methods with the Polymer Consistent Force Field-interface. Simulation results had shown behavioral differences between systems. Without MMT-O, the acetyl amylose residues quickly became coiled, most of the fatty acids cover its surface, and water molecules are stabilized over the polysaccharide portions free of fatty acids. With MMT-O the fatty acids show a potential plasticizing effect due to the greater compatibility between the components of the studied system, since the organic assemblage is strongly attracted by the electrostatic force of the clay. Besides, water molecules flow to the clay layer, while the non polar portion of fatty acids increase their flexibility, in spite to stay attached to acetyl amylose, progressively coiled, through hydrogen bonds. This behavior is interpreted as an improvement in the miscibility of the oil. The new knowledge acquired about these molecular systems encourages us to increase the models complexity, and undertake further studies in the design of PCNs with biopolymers.

The pequi pulp oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) provides protection against aging-related anemia, inflammation and oxidative stress in Swiss mice, especially in females.

Continued exposure to reactive oxygen species and inflammation are the rationale behind aging theories and associated diseases. Scientific evidence corroborates the ethnomedicinal use of the oil of pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), a typical Brazilian Cerrado fruit, against oxidative damage to biomolecules and inflammation. We aimed to investigate in vivo the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of pequi oil on hemogram and DNA damage in healthy young adult and older middle-aged Swiss mice of both genders. Animals, aged 6-7 and 11-12 months, were orally treated for 15 days with pequi oil at 30 mg/day. Blood samples were used for hemogram and comet assay, and bone marrow for micronucleus test. Female controls of 11-12 months had significantly lower haemoglobin and hematocrit than those of 6-7 months. Treatment with pequi oil improved this state, removing the differences. Pequi oil had no genotoxic or clastogenic effects and significantly increased lymphocytes and decreased neutrophils+monocytes in females of 11-12 months, removing the significant differences observed between controls of 6-7 and 11-12 months. The results suggest that dietary supplementation with pequi oil could protect against anemia, inflammation and oxidative stress related to aging, helping to prevent aging-related chronic degenerative diseases, mainly for females.

Study of Different Wall Matrix Biopolymers on the Properties of Spray-Dried Pequi Oil and on the Stability of Bioactive Compounds

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of whey protein isolate (WPI), by maltodextrin (MD) and by inulin (IN), on the characteristics of spray-dried pequi oil and on the degradation of its bioactive compounds. Three treatments, WPI, WPI/MD (1:1), and WPI/IN (1:1), were carried out, and the characteristics of the emulsions and microparticles were evaluated. In addition, thermal analysis, X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy of microparticles were carried out. It was found that the solubility of the encapsulations was affected by the composition of the wall material and reached higher value (88.26%) when IN was applied. The encapsulation efficiency (74.49%) was lower with IN. The particles presented amorphous characteristics, and the treatments WPI and WPI/IN exhibited smoother and spherical morphology. WPI and WPI/MD showed greater thermal stability and also better protection of the antioxidative capacity of the oil through the β-carotene bleaching assay. The WPI system showed better protection of β-carotene, δ-carotene, and lycopene, compared to the bulk oil, while WPI/MD protected better the γ-carotene and WPI/IN showed better protection of α-carotene.

Optimization of cashew gum and chitosan for microencapsulation of pequi oil by complex coacervation

Optimization of cashew gum and chitosan for microencapsulation of pequi oil by complex coacervation

Dose-response effects of dietary pequi oil on fermentation characteristics and microbial population using a rumen simulation technique (Rusitec)

The effect of increasing the concentration of commercial pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) oil on fermentation characteristics and abundance of methanogens and fibrolityc bacteria was evaluated using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). In vitro incubation was performed over 15 days using a basal diet consisting of ryegrass, maize silage and concentrate in equal proportions. Treatments consisted of control diet (no pequi oil inclusion, 0 g/kg DM), pequi dose 1 (45 g/kg DM), and pequi dose 2 (91 g/kg DM). After a 7 day adaptation period, samples for fermentation parameters (total gas, methane, and VFA production) were taken on a daily basis. Quantitative real time PCR (q-PCR) was used to evaluate the abundance of the main rumen cellulolytic bacteria, as well as abundance of methanogens. Supplementation with pequi oil did not reduce overall methane production (P = 0.97), however a tendency (P = 0.06) to decrease proportion of methane in overall microbial gas was observed. Increasing addition of pequi oil was associated with a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in dry matter disappearance of maize silage. The abundance of total methanogens was unchanged by the addition of pequi oil, but numbers of those belonging to Methanomassiliicoccaceae decreased in liquid-associated microbes (LAM) samples (P < 0.01) and solid-associated microbes (SAM) samples (P = 0.09) respectively, while Methanobrevibacter spp. increased (P < 0.01) only in SAM samples. Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased (P < 0.01) in both LAM and SAM samples when substrates were supplemented with pequi oil. In conclusion, pequi oil was ineffective in mitigating methane emissions and had some adverse effects on digestibility and selected fibrolytic bacteria.

Incubation Temperature, But Not Pequi Oil Supplementation, Affects Methane Production, and the Ruminal Microbiota in a Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec) System.

Lipid supplementation is a promising strategy for methane mitigation in cattle and has been evaluated using several different lipid sources. However, limited studies have assessed the effect of temperature on methane emissions from cattle and changes in incubation temperature have also not been extensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of pequi oil (high in unsaturated fatty acids) and incubation temperature on fermentation characteristics and microbial communities using the rumen simulation technique. A completely randomized experiment was conducted over a 28-day period using a Rusitec system. The experiment was divided into four periods of 7 days each, the first of which was a 7-day adaptation period followed by three experimental periods. The two treatments consisted of a control diet (no pequi oil inclusion) and a diet supplemented with pequi oil (1.5 mL/day) which increased the dietary fat content to 6% (dry matter, DM-basis). Three fermenter vessels (i.e., replicates) were allocated to each treatment. In the first experimental period, the incubation temperature was maintained at 39°C, decreased to 35°C in the second experimental period and then increased again to 39°C in the third. Pequi oil was continuously supplemented during the experiment. Microbial communities were assessed using high-throughput sequencing of the archaeal and bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Methane production was reduced by 57% following a 4°C decrease in incubation temperature. Supplementation with pequi oil increased the dietary fat content to 6% (DM-basis) but did not affect methane production. Analysis of the microbiota revealed that decreasing incubation temperature to 35°C affected the archaeal and bacterial diversity and richness of liquid-associated microbes, but lipid supplementation did not change microbial diversity.

Safety Assessment of Oil from Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.): Evaluation of the Potential Genotoxic and Clastogenic Effects.

Genotoxic data of medicinal plants and functional foods are required as part of the risk assessment by international regulatory agencies. Due to its food consumption and ethnopharmacological relevance, pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is one of these compounds to be studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and clastogenic effects of the oil from the pulp of C. brasiliense (OPCB) in vivo and in vitro. Initially, the Artemia salina in vitro assay was conducted to determine the cells viability rate of different doses of the OPCB. Subsequently, comet assay (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD 489) and micronucleus test (OECD 474) were performed in blood and bone marrow of Wistar rats treated orally with a 125, 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/bw of the OPCB for 4 weeks. The chemical analysis indicated the presence of β-carotene and lycopene in the oil. In the A. salina test, all OPCB doses maintained cell viability rates statistically similar to the negative control. The in vivo tests performed showed that OPCB did not show significant genotoxic or clastogenic effects in cells analyzed with the four doses tested. Altogether, these results indicate that, under our experimental conditions, C. brasiliense fruit oil did not reveal genetic toxicity in rat cells.

Caryocar brasiliense oil improves cardiac function by increasing Serca2a/PLB ratio despite no significant changes in cardiovascular risk factors in rats

BackgroundCaryocar brasiliense (pequi) oil is high in monounsaturated fat acids (MUFA), especially oleic, and in carotenoids, which have been associated with protection against cardiovascular disease. However, this food is poorly studied in this context, especially in the cardiac function. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a long-term intake of pequi oil in systemic cardiovascular risk factors and in the ex vivo cardiac function of rats.MethodsPreviously, we determined fatty acids and carotenoids in pequi oil. Next, male rats were divided in C – control group feed a standard diet, and PO – pequi oil group fed the same diet added pequi oil (+2.25 g.100 g−1). After 15 weeks, plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, blood pressure, heart rate, hepatic lipids were accessed and visceral fat pads were harvested. Hearts were used for the ex vivo cardiac function, histologic assays, SERCA2a and phospholanban (PLB) determinations.ResultsIn agreement with scientific data, pequi oil had expressive amounts MUFA, especially oleic acid, and carotenoids. Hepatic triglycerides (TG) were reduced by pequi oil intake (p < 0.05). All others cardiovascular risk factors were not changed. The intrinsic heart rate was lower in PO group (p < 0.05). SERCA2a content was higher in this group (p < 0.05), without affecting PLB. Also, SERCA2a/PLB ratio increased in PO group (p < 0.05).ConclusionPequi oil intake improved cardiac function ex vivo, despite no significant changes in systemic cardiovascular risk factors. The higher lipid offer in pequi oil diet, its composition in oleic acid and carotenoids could be related to those effects.

Length-scale Specific Crystalline Structural Changes Induced by Molecular Randomization of Pequi Oil.

Pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) is considered important since its pulp has a high content of oil and carotenoids. The oil's triacylglycerols (TAGs) contain mainly oleic (~57%) and palmitic (~36%) fatty acids, distributed primarily among POO, POP/PPO, and OOO TAGs. It displays a tendency to fractionate upon storage and has a relatively low melting temperature (SFC of 4% at 25°C). Pequi oil was modified through chemical interesterification, which increased the PPP content to ~6%. This caused a flattening in the SFC-temperature profile, raising the end of melt temperature significantly (SFC of 4% at 39°C). The interesterified oil does not fractionate and is thermally stable up to 40°C, with an SFC-temperature profile resembling that of roll-in shortening (SFC of 31% at 16°C) despite containing high amounts of oleic acid. Crystallization and melting behavior changed. Crystal packing became more disorganized as evidenced by a significant decrease in crystalline domain size in the [001] direction from 42.3 nm to 32.1 nm. Polymorphism remained of the triclinic (β) subcell type but polytypism changed from the 3L to the 2L type. Polarized light microscopy demonstrated that interesterification dramatically decreased crystal size, consistent with a higher rate of nucleation in the material. Moreover, the dramatic improvement in physical stability and functionality was not accompanied by a significant decrease in total carotenoid content (~390 mg/kg).

Oral acute and subchronic toxicity studies of the oil extracted from pequi (Caryocar brasiliense, Camb.) pulp in rats

The Caryocar brasiliense (pequi) is a Brazilian fruit of important geographic distribution and of broad popular use for nutritional purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicological potential of pequi through the acute and subchronic toxicity tests. For the acute toxicity test, female Wistar rats received, orally, a single dose of 2000 mg/kg/bw of pequi oil and were observed for 14 days. In subchronic toxicity test, Wistar male and female rats received, orally, repeated doses of 125, 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg/bw of the oil, being treated and observed for 28 days. In the acute toxicity test, no changes as well as no mortality were observed, indicating that the LD50 is higher than 2000 mg/kg/bw. In the subchronic toxicity test, the tested doses produced no significant changes in behavioral, physiological, biochemical or histopathologic parameters in animals. Some hematological abnormalities were found after subchronic exposure and need to be clarified. These results demonstrate the low toxicity of acute and subchronic to the oil of pequi in rats. However, additional studies are required in order to verify if the hematological abnormalities have any relation to the oil exposure and also provide sufficient safety evidence for the use of the oil in humans.