Green optimization strategy of sunflower oil extraction using natural deep eutectic solvent.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor symptoms and nonmotor disturbances such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, constipation, anxiety, and depression. The dopaminergic neurodegeneration is a hallmark of PD; however, the serotonergic system also presents alterations. Dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and median raphe nucleus (MNR) neurons are responsible for the central biosynthesis of serotonin (5-HT). We aimed to investigate whether the rotenone model would affect serotonergic neurons of the DRN and MRN and reduce 5-HT levels in target structures related to depressive-like behavior and short-term memory. Adult male Wistar rats were treated for 10 days with rotenone or sunflower oil. One day after the last rotenone injection, animals exhibited hypolocomotion in the open field. Furthermore, rotenone impaired the short-term memory assessed in the social recognition test performed 22 days after the last injection. In the forced swim test, performed on day 28, we observed depressive-like behavior, indicated by an increase in immobility time in the rotenone group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a reduction of serotonergic neurons in the MRN on the 28th day after the last administration of rotenone. Moreover, the ventrolateral part of DRN presented a decrease of serotonergic neurons. Neurochemical quantification revealed a reduction of serotonin levels in the prefrontal cortex and striatum, and a reduction of dopamine and noradrenaline levels in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and amygdala. Overall, the results revealed that the development of behavioral impairments induced by systemic rotenone is involved with MRN, and likewise 5-HT, other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline may play a role in nonmotor disorders in the animal model of PD.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) has emerged as an effective technique for machining difficult-to-cut superalloys such as Waspaloy, which are widely used in aerospace applications due to their superior mechanical strength and thermal stability but exhibit poor machinability under conventional processes. The present study focuses on enhancing EDM performance through the combined use of copper-graphite (Cu-Gr) composite electrodes and eco-friendly dielectric media, along with multi-objective optimization. Composite electrodes with graphite content 5 wt% were fabricated, and machining experiments were conducted under different process parameters, including discharge current, pulse-on time, pulse-off time, and inter-electrode gap. Machining performance was evaluated in terms of material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface roughness (Ra), while surface integrity was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A TOPSIS-based multi-objective optimization approach was employed to determine the optimal machining conditions. The results indicated that discharge current and pulse-on time significantly influence MRR, with a maximum MRR of approximately 0.43mm3/min achieved at 32A and 30 µs. The minimum TWR of about 0.06mm3/min was also observed at 8A, indicating optimal discharge stability. Surface roughness was minimized to 1.8μm using the CuGr5 electrode, while eco-friendly sunflower oil dielectric produced superior surface integrity with Ra as low as 1.013μm and reduced recast layer thickness. Sensitivity analysis revealed non-linear parameter behavior with distinct optimal regions, and uncertainty analysis confirmed high experimental reliability with minimal variability. Multi-objective optimization identified the optimal condition with a performance index of 0.6213. The study demonstrates that the integration of composite electrode, bio-based dielectrics, and optimization techniques significantly enhances machining efficiency, surface quality, and sustainability in EDM of Waspaloy.

An electrochemical index approach to assess the antioxidant capacity of olive oils extracts using a Sonogel-Carbon electrode.

This study evaluated the effects of natural and functional lipid sources, including butter, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter substitute, flaxseed oil, and sunflower oil, on the quality of spreadable processed cheese analogues during 60 days of refrigerated storage. Formulations were standardized to comparable moisture, fat, and protein contents to isolate the effect of lipid type on physicochemical, techno-functional, nutritional, and sensory properties. Lipid source significantly influenced meltability, oil separation, fatty acid composition, nutritional lipid indices, and sensory acceptability. Flaxseed oil markedly improved the lipid profile by reducing saturated fatty acids from 65.06% in the control to 14.98% and increasing unsaturated fatty acids to 85.02%, which reduced the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices from 2.14 to 2.87 to 0.13, respectively. However, this improvement was accompanied by greater oil separation and lower sensory scores, indicating reduced emulsion and sensory stability. Butter and sunflower oil formulations showed the highest sensory acceptability, with scores ranging from 8.1 to 8.9. Overall, the findings demonstrate that lipid selection strongly influences the balance between nutritional improvement, techno-functional stability, and consumer acceptability in spreadable processed cheese analogues.

The targeted rejuvenation effect of novel sunflower oil-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Cover crops drive soil organic carbon sequestration in newly reclaimed saline-alkali land: Altitude and species specificity of improvement effects.

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity but induces substantial muscle loss, potentially leading to sarcopenia. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with improved muscle metabolism, but their effect in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery remains unclear. A triple-blind randomized clinical trial following CONSORT guidelines. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery were randomly assigned to receive omega-3 supplementation (2000 mg/day of EPA + DHA) or placebo (sunflower oil) for 90 days, including 15 days preoperatively and 75 days postoperatively. Assessments were performed at baseline, 45 days and 105 days after the start of supplementation. Outcomes included skeletal muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance [BIA]), handgrip strength (HGS) and functional performance (timed up and go [TUG] test). Fifty-eight patients were randomized (81% women; mean age 38.2 ± 9.9 years; mean body mass index [BMI]: 41.1 ± 4.6 kg/m2). At baseline, intervention and control groups were comparable in weight (112.7 ± 19.1 vs. 113.0 ± 17.9 kg; p = 0.946), muscle mass (33.5 ± 7.5 vs. 32.5 ± 7.3 kg; p = 0.603), HGS (33.3 ± 9.6 vs. 35.4 ± 10.2 kgf; p = 0.428) and TUG (8.7 ± 3.0 vs. 8.7 ± 1.8 s; p = 0.912). Between baseline and 105 days, muscle mass decreased significantly in both groups (-3.1 ± 0.3 kg; -2.2 ± 0.5 kg; both p < 0.001), without interaction between groups (p = 0.300). HGS remained stable (Δ -0.8 to +2.3 kgf; all p ≥ 0.364), and TUG performance did not change significantly (Δ 0.0-1.1 s; all p ≥ 0.106). Weight loss was marked in both groups (-19.3 ± 1.9 vs. -17.7 ± 2.1 kg; both p < 0.001). The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms ≥ 3 times/week was similar (34.5% vs. 13.6% at 45 days; p = 0.114). No serious adverse events occurred. Omega-3 supplementation (2000 mg/day) during the perioperative period of bariatric surgery did not prevent muscle mass loss nor improve muscle strength or functional performance within 105 days of follow-up. Although the supplementation was safe and well tolerated, it did not demonstrate efficacy in mitigating early sarcopenia-related outcomes in this population. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06494566.

Characterization of the triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of food oils is challenging, in particular due to the presence of isomers. The main bottleneck is the incomplete separation of isomeric TAGs in liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS), hindering identification because of mixed fragmentation spectra. In this study, the potential of adding cyclic ion mobility spectrometry (cIMS) as an additional dimension of separation in LC-MS analysis of food oils was explored to improve TAG isomer characterization. An analytical framework was created to achieve TAG isomer characterization by combining gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS), LC-MS, and cIMS-MS. TAG standards were used to evaluate the best option(s) for TAG isomer identification: fragmentation ratios, which can only be determined from pure fragmentation spectra obtained after separation of isomers in cIMS-MS; collisional cross section (cIMSCCSN2) values; or a combination thereof. Fragmentation ratios from pure fragmentation spectra yielded the strongest approach for isomer identification, as some TAG isomers were too close in cIMSCCSN2 for confident identification. Finally, using this framework, we identified 21 TAG isomers in sunflower and olive oils, 11 of which would not have been identified without the use of cIMS-MS. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of the extra separation dimension provided by cIMS and its complementarity with classical GC- and LC-MS analyses.

Tailoring highly stretchable, ultra-barrier, and transparent gelatin/PVA emulgel-templated oleofilms: Effect of oil saturation degree

This study investigates the use of oleogels structured with monoglyceride (MG) and beeswax (BW) as solid fat replacers in filling creams. Six oleogels were fabricated using various ratios of sunflower and camelina oils. The oleogels were evaluated for oil-binding capacity (OBC), thermal, and morphological properties. The best formulations (50SO-50CO-MGO and 50SO-50CO-BWO) were incorporated into the cream formulation at various shortening replacement levels (25%-75%). The results indicated that oleogels containing BW exhibited higher OBC and thermal stability, while MG-based oleogels demonstrated improved rheological strength and desirable texture. Increasing the oleogel concentration promoted a softer, less adhesive texture. In addition, formulated oleogel creams significantly reduced saturated fat content, achieved a more balanced n-6/n-3 ratio, and provided a healthier lipid composition.

Comparative analysis of the GRAS transcription factor family in oilseed and confectionery sunflower identifies HaGRAS19 as a regulator of salt stress responses.

This study focuses on the design, optimization, and evaluation of a biodiesel production process involving the transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) using a heterogeneous calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst derived from waste eggshells. The work is divided into two main parts. The first focuses on the laboratory preparation, characterization, and performance of the CaO catalyst, while the second translates the experimentally optimized conditions into a process-scale model using Aspen HYSYS to assess industrial feasibility. Waste eggshells were cleaned, dried, ground, and calcined at high temperature to produce the CaO heterogenous catalyst. The catalyst was characterized by Simultaneous Thermogravimetric-Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Transesterification experiments were conducted in a batch round-bottom flask reactor where CaO was added to sunflower oil and methanol, and multiple operating parameters were varied to determine the optimal conditions. The catalyst exhibited its best performance after calcination at 900 °C for 2 h. A maximum biodiesel yield of 95 wt.% was obtained at a methanol-to-oil molar ratio (MOMR) of 9:1, reaction time of 2 h, stirring speed of 700 rpm, temperature of 60 °C, and catalyst amount of 3 wt.%. In addition, the eggshell-derived CaO catalyst maintained a biodiesel yield close to 95% over three consecutive reuse cycles, demonstrating good reusability and catalytic stability. The produced biodiesel complied with ASTM standards. Based on these results, the process was then scaled up by simulating a continuous industrial biodiesel production plant using Aspen HYSYS. The model proved practical, achieving a biodiesel purity of 99.85%. Further process optimization, including methanol recovery and heat integration, reduced fresh methanol consumption by 60% and overall energy requirement by 25%. The combined experimental and simulation results demonstrate that energy efficiency and waste valorization enable a biodiesel production pathway that is both environmentally and economically sustainable and aligned with circular economy principles and sustainable development goals.

Kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) peel, although rich in carotenoids and polyphenols with notable antioxidant capacity, is still an underused resource. This study explored its valorization through cloud point extraction (CPE) and its direct integration into nanoemulsion systems. The innovative aspect lies in reusing the CPE as a stabilizing agent, creating a closed process that efficiently incorporates bioactive compounds. In the first phase, oil-in-water nanoemulsions were prepared with sunflower oil, Tween 80, and different polysaccharides (pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose—CMC, and their blends). Their stability, droplet size, surface charge, rheological, mechanical, and barrier properties were thoroughly assessed. CMC-based formulation displayed the most favorable characteristics, particularly strong stability and tensile strength, and was selected as the optimal system. In the second phase, kiwano peel extract was incorporated at three concentrations (5, 10, and 15 wt%). While extract addition lowered tensile strength, it improved elongation at break, suggesting a plasticizing effect. Moreover, extract-loaded emulsions exhibited smaller droplets, high stability, and significantly enhanced antioxidant activity compared to unloaded systems. These results demonstrate that kiwano peel can be sustainably valorized through CPE and integrated into nanoemulsions, offering promising bioactive formulations for future applications in food science.

ABSTRACT The potential of Aloe vera gel (AVG) as a food hydrocolloid was investigated by characterizing its physicochemical, rheological, and functional properties. Gel was acidic (pH 4.76) and composed primarily of water (99.40 ± 0.10%), with low carbohydrate (2.20 ± 0.19%) and soluble solid (0.73 ± 0.11%) content. Rheological analysis at different temperatures (5, 25, 45, and 65∘C) revealed that AVG behaves as a shear-thinning fluid, and the Bingham model provided the best fit for the experimental data. Viscosity was strongly temperature-dependent, a behavior that followed the Arrhenius model with an activation energy of 17.11 kJ/mol. The gel showed water absorption capacity (758.17 ± 33.55%) and a surface tension of 51.56 ± 0.42 mN/m. Foaming capacity, tested in mixtures with an albumin solution, was highest at a 90:10 (AVG: albumin solution) ratio, while foam stability peaked at the 80:20 (v/v) ratio. For emulsions prepared with sunflower oil, the stability of both water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) types was decreased as the proportion of AVG increased. All samples exhibited a negative zeta potential, with the highest magnitude (−14.04 ± 0.58 mV) observed in the 90:10 (AVG: oil) W/O emulsion. These findings demonstrate that AVG’s properties can be modulated by temperature and formulation, positioning it as a versatile, low-cost hydrocolloid for texture modification in food products such as reduced/low-fat sauces and edible coatings.

Fatty acid abundance is a key parameter for evaluating the quality of edible oils. This study developed a rapid and non-destructive method for predicting palmitic acid content in edible oils by combining visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy with deep learning models. A total of 1740 reflectance spectra in the range of 350–2500 nm were collected from 87 brands of edible oils, including peanut, soybean, corn, sunflower, rapeseed, sesame, and olive oils. Reference values of palmitic acid content were determined via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two conventional machine learning models (SVR and KNN) and four deep learning models (1D-CNN, 1D-ResNet, 1D-Inception, and 1D-Inception-ResNet) were developed and compared using both full-spectrum data and CARS selected characteristic wavelengths. Among the full-spectrum models, the designed 1D-ResNet model achieved the best performance, with the determination coefficient of prediction () of 0.9027 and the root mean square error of prediction () of 1.13 in the prediction dataset. The proposed 1D-Inception-ResNet model yielded the best prediction results based on the 91 selected informative wavelengths via competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), achieving an of 0.9825 and an of 0.4804 in the prediction dataset. The experimental results indicated that Vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy combined with informative wavelength selection and deep learning models provided an effective strategy for rapid prediction of palmitic acid content in edible oils.

Chronic consumption of omega-6-enriched dietary fat may disturb brain redox balance and neuroinflammatory homeostasis. Among the sirtuins, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) exerts critical neuroprotective functions by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling; however, the impact of sunflower oil-based high-fat diets (SO-HFD) on brain SIRT1 activity has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SO-HFD on oxidative stress parameters, inflammatory markers, and SIRT1 activity in rat brain tissue, and to evaluate the potential modulatory role of L-arginine supplementation. Four-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into three groups: control, SO-HFD, and SO-HFD + L-arginine. Both SO-HFD groups were fed a diet containing sunflower oil for 16 weeks; from week 10 onward, 1.5% L-arginine was supplemented in the drinking water of the SO-HFD + L-arginine group. Following the 16-week protocol, serum and brain specimens were collected. Serum biochemical parameters and adiponectin were quantified; brain homogenates were assayed for lipid peroxidation (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), protein thiols (protein-SH), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, and SIRT1 activity. Although brain MDA levels were not significantly elevated, SO-HFD animals exhibited reduced GSH and protein-SH content together with diminished SIRT1 activity. The SO-HFD increased TNF-α and NO levels. L-arginine supplementation decreased MDA and increased GSH, protein-SH, and SIRT1 activity. L-arginine also suppressed TNF-α levels in brain tissue compared to the SO-HFD group. NO levels in the SO-HFD + L-arginine group were lower than in the SO-HFD group, though not significantly. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to an omega-6-dominant dietary environment disturbs redox regulation and inflammatory balance in brain tissue, accompanied by reduced SIRT1 activity. L-arginine may attenuate cerebral oxidative stress and neuroinflammation by reinforcing endogenous antioxidant mechanisms, highlighting its potential as a nutritional strategy against SO-HFD-induced brain oxidative stress.

In this study, the effects of different popcorn-making techniques on the occurrence of PAH4, PAH16, the sum of light PAHs, the sum of heavy PAHs, and also individual PAHs were determined in popcorns. For this purpose, popcorns were prepared using different oils including refined pomace oil (ROP), refined corn oil (RCO), refined sunflower oil (RSO), refined olive oil (ROO), and virgin olive oil (VOO), with and without salt by traditional heating in a pot and microwave heating for 1, 2, and 3min. Results revealed that popcorn preparation techniques had a significant effect on PAH concentration. Although prolonged microwave heating caused an overall decrease in PAH16 levels due to volatilization and thermal degradation of low molecular weight PAHs, the formation of thermally stable high molecular weight PAHs, particularly PAH4 compounds, increased under extended heating conditions. Besides, high amounts of PAH4 and PAH16 were observed in the samples prepared with heating in a pot. While the heavy PAHs increased with an increment in the temperature level of microwave application, the light PAHs showed a decrease. Similarly, the heavy PAHs' content increased with the increase of application time in the microwave, while a decrease was observed for the light PAHs. Popcorn samples prepared by ROP contained a higher amount of PAH4 (2.04µg/kg) and PAH16 (64.19µg/kg) compared to other oils used. Besides, the samples prepared with ROP contained higher content of AN and FL as light PAHs, and also FA and PY contents were observed at higher levels as heavy PAHs. Regarding the preparation method, AN and FL had higher values as light PAHs, which were found in the samples prepared with the traditional method and also microwave-heated for 3min. Besides, FA and PY as heavy PAHs occurred at higher levels in the samples prepared with the traditional method.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary PUFA supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, rumen morphology, ruminal fermentation, and rumen microbial communities in Hu sheep. Thirty healthy male Hu sheep (80 days old; 18.70 ± 0.72 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10/group) and fed a basal diet supplemented with 4% rumen-bypass palmitic acid fat powder (POS), 4% linseed oil (LO; rich in ω-3 PUFA), or 4% sunflower oil (SO; rich in ω-6 PUFA). PUFA supplementation did not affect average daily gain or rumen tissue morphology (p > 0.05), but it significantly reduced serum creatinine, uric acid, and high-density lipoprotein concentrations (p < 0.05). Orthogonal comparative analysis showed that supplementing with PUFA significantly reduced acetate and propionate, while increasing isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and TVFAs (p < 0.05). The levels of propionate, butyrate and TVFAs in the SO group were higher than those in the LO group (p < 0.05), and the ratio of acetate to propionate was lower (p < 0.05). Supplementing with PUFA reshaped the rumen microbiota, increasing the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteriota, while decreasing Proteobacteria and Desulfobacterota (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Prevotella and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were enriched in both groups with added PUFA, while Prevotellace-UCG-001 was specifically enriched in the LO group; in contrast, Prevotella_7, Succinivibriaceae_UCG-001, Prevotella_9, and Dialist all showed a decrease (p < 0.05). The alpha diversity increased, while the beta diversity showed significant differences between the group with added PUFA and the control group. Functionally, LO enriches carbohydrate and energy metabolism, while SO enriches nucleotide metabolism. In summary, linseed oil and sunflower oil improved serum indices and ruminal fermentation without impairing growth, but through distinct microbial and functional pathways.

Lipid oxidation affects the quality and functionality of vegetable oils, and its progression depends largely on fatty acid composition and antioxidant content. Oxidation kinetics provide essential information about oxidative resistance in oils. The determination of activation parameters allows for the evaluation of oxidation susceptibility under thermal stress. Oxidative stability and oxidation kinetics at different temperatures of rosehip, sunflower, olive and jojoba oils were studied using both Rancimat and BQC-Redox System methods, enabling the calculation of kinetic constants and thermodynamic activation parameters for the process. BRS measurements showed an increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with temperature in all samples, with olive oil presenting the highest TAC and jojoba the lowest at 298 K, while rosehip oil showed the lowest TAC at 373 K. Kinetic analysis revealed negative ΔS# values, indicating the formation of ordered transition states, and similar activation energies (ΔG# ≈ 56–58 kJ/mol), although jojoba displayed the highest ΔH# and ΔG#. Rancimat analysis at 373 K showed clear differences in oxidative stability: jojoba oil had the longest induction period, followed by olive, sunflower, and rosehip. These results correlated with PUFA levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed strong associations between induction period, fatty-acid composition, and kinetic parameters, demonstrating good agreement between the two analytical methods.