Tocol Content Research Articles

Industrial Production of Bioactive Nutrient-Enhanced Extra Virgin Olive Oil under Continuous-Flow Ultrasound and Pulsed Electric Field Treatment.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Many studies have highlighted its crucial preventive role against cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndrome and cancer, with these effects being due to the synergistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of minor components, such as polyphenols and tocols. The aim of the present study is to implement new technologies for olive oil mills and develop an efficient large-sized industrial process for the continuous extraction of healthier EVOOs that are enriched with these bioactive compounds. Non-thermal technologies, namely ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric field (PEF), have been tested, separately and in combination, to eliminate the need for traditional malaxation. There is extensive literature to support the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and PEF treatments in EVOO production. A newly designed US device and a PEF industrial chamber have been combined into a single, integrated continuous-flow setup, the performance of which in the extraction of EVOO from green Coratina olives has been evaluated herein. Extraction yields, physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics, and polyphenol and tocol contents were monitored throughout the trials, and the last three were measured at accelerated aging times (AAT) of 15 and 30 days. The US and combined US-PEF processes not only increased daily oil production (ton/day, by nearly 45%), but also eliminated the need for kneading during malaxation, resulting in significant energy savings (approximately 35%). In addition, these innovations enriched the resulting EVOO with nutritionally relevant minor components (8-12% polyphenols, 3-5% tocols), thereby elevating its quality and market value, as well as overall stability. The introduction of continuous-flow US and PEF technologies is a remarkable innovation for the EVOO industry, as they offer benefits to both producers and consumers. The EVOO resulting from non-thermal continuous-flow production meets the growing demand for healthier, nutrient-enriched products.

Variations in tocopherol, tocotrienol, avenanthramide and saponin content in oats and the influence of milling and baking processes

Oats, as whole-grain cereal, are a good source of nutrients, including compounds located in the outer layers of groats, such as fibre and bioactive compounds. The aim was to study variations in selected bioactive compounds of oats and evaluate possible losses due to oats' milling into flour and the baking process. The levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols (i.e. tocols), avenanthramides and saponins of 30 Finnish-grown oat batches representing different cultivars were measured. The analysed sample materials were laboratory hulled non-heated groats, flours from a commercial mill and breads. The oat batches showed marked variation, and the greatest variation among the batches was observed in avenanthramide content, with a 10-fold difference. Meanwhile, the variation in tocols and saponins was approximately twofold. As a result of the change from groats to flours, the content of tocols, avenanthramides and saponins decreased by 1–40%, usually 1–33% and 1–57% in the oat batches, respectively. Losses in avenanthramides and saponins were also observed after baking. Avenanthramides seemed to tolerate the studied processing steps the best. This study showed that the oat batches’ losses in the studied bioactive compounds differed due to multiple factors such as physical separation and chemical reactions.

Microspheres as carriers of sea buckthorn carotenoids and tocols with antidiabetic potential: Effect of biopolymers, cross-linking and storage

The bioactivity of carotenoids and tocols is limited by their instability, hydrophobicity, and low bioavailability. Hence, the study aimed to design microspheres from sea buckthorn juice by ionotropic gelation to increase stability, ensure high content of carotenes, xanthophylls, tocopherols and tocotrienols and their antidiabetic activity. The effects of biopolymers, cross-linking and storage on the carotenoid and tocol profile of microspheres (identified and quantified by LC-PDA-QTOF-ESI-MS and UPLC-FL methods) and their in vitroα-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were investigated. Microspheres containing sodium alginate/κ-carrageenan (4:1) had significantly high content of carotenoids and tocols, and antihyperglycemic activity (p < 0.05). The two-step cross-linking (1-calcium chloride, 2-chitosan) provided a 17% higher carotenoid content. Cross-linking with CaCl2 promoted high content of tocopherols but stability protection was provided by sodium alginate and CaCl2/chitosan (9:1) cross-linking (1.7-fold decrease in instability). The encapsulation using newly designed combinations of biopolymers and cross-linking could be an effective strategy to increase the stability and bioactivities of microspheres as nutraceuticals and smart food.

Variation in the Composition and Quality of Nigella sativa L. Seed Oils-The Underestimated Impact on Possible Health-Promoting Properties.

Nigella sativa L. (black cumin) is one of the most investigated medicinal plants in recent years. Volatile compounds like thymoquinone and unsaponifiable lipid compounds are crucial functional components of this oil. Unfortunately, the composition of oils and their quality indicators are ambiguous both in terms of identified compounds and value ranges. Thirteen oils were extracted with hexane from black cumin seeds grown in India, Syria, Egypt, and Poland and analyzed for their fatty acid composition, unsaponifiable compound content and volatile compounds. Oils were also subjected to quality tests according to standard methods. The fatty acid composition and sterol content/composition were relatively stable among the tested oils. Tocol content varied in the range of 140-631 mg/kg, and among them, β-tocotrienol and γ-tocopherol prevailed. Oils' volatile compounds were dominated by seven terpenes (p-cymene, α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, thymoquinone, γ-terpinene, and sabinene). The highest contents of these volatiles were determined in samples from Poland and in two of six samples from India. High acid and peroxide values were typical features of N. sativa L. oils. To sum up, future research on the medicinal properties of black cumin oil should always be combined with the analysis of its chemical composition.

Effect of replacing olive oil with oil blends on physicochemical and sensory properties of taralli

SummaryEdible fats and oils are usually considered in the production of bakery products for technological and sensory reasons, but the nutritional and economic aspects and the oxidative stability of the final product must also be taken into account. Four different oil blends (high oleic sunflower oil, 87.5% extra virgin olive oil + 12.5% sunflower oil, 75% extra virgin olive oil + 25% rice oil and 87.5% high oleic sunflower oil + 12.5% coconut oil) were used in the production of taralli as an extra virgin olive oil alternative. The lipid fraction, texture and sensory characteristics, and oxidative evaluation of the final products were studied. The use of the oil blend made of 75% extra virgin olive oil and 25% rice oil gave the best compromise for the content of sterols and tocols resulting in a combination that was able to achieve an induction period, in the accelerated oxidation test, that was comparable to that of the reference control made with extra virgin olive oil only.

Evaluation of the Content of Minerals, B-Group Vitamins, Tocols, and Carotenoids in Raw and In-House Cooked Wild Edible Plants

Notwithstanding the increased interest in wild edible plants, little is known on how some domestic thermal processes can affect their content. The aim of this study was to investigate the amounts of minerals, B1 and B2 vitamins, tocols, and carotenoids in raw, boiled, and steamed wild edible plants, namely, Sonchus asper (L.) Hill s.l., Sonchus oleraceus L., Cichorium intybus L., and Beta vulgaris L. var cicla. All vegetables were confirmed as high sources of lutein (from 6 to 9 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (from 2 to 5 mg/100 g). Quite high amounts of violaxanthin and neoxanthin were found. Alfa-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol were the main tocols, with same contents in raw and processed vegetables (about 2.5 mg/100 g). The most abundant macro element and trace element were, respectively, potassium and iron. B1 and B2 vitamins were found in low amounts in almost all plants, with the exception of thiamine in Beta vulgaris (about 1.6 mg/100 g). Boiling led to a significant loss of minerals (up to 60%) and B-group vitamins (up to 100%), while, among carotenoids, it only affected violaxanthin levels (up to 90%). Steamed vegetables showed only a slight reduction, about 20%, in β-carotene and lutein, with a marked decrease in violaxanthin and neoxanthin. One hundred grams of all fresh and cooked plants can be claimed as a source of vitamin A and E.

Genetic Variability of Tocol Content in a Genebank Collection of Temperate Maize Inbred Lines from Southeastern Europe

Maize is considered a promising candidate for biofortification through breeding, given its widespread cultivation and significance as a food crop. This cost-effective and sustainable approach could be used to increase the content of different tocol compounds, i.e., vitamin E, in maize grain due to the well-documented genetic variability. In the present study, an evaluation of the content of nine different tocol traits was performed in a genebank collection of 88 inbred lines of temperate maize grown at two locations in Croatia in 2019. A large genotypic variability within the studied material was observed for α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, total tocopherols, α-/γ-tocopherol ratio, α-tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, total tocotrienols and total tocols with corresponding coefficients of variation of 52, 61, 51, 45, 106, 24, 54, 33 and 38%, respectively. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.66 for α-tocotrienol to 0.95 for δ-tocopherol. The content of α-tocopherol, which has the highest vitamin E activity and is therefore most interesting for selection, was not significantly correlated with either grain color or grain type. Comparison of the effects of simulated selection with an intensity of 20% on increased α-tocopherol content using the two selection criteria, absolute α-tocopherol content and α-/γ-tocopherol ratio, showed that the highest absolute α-tocopherol content was a better selection criterion. Indeed, simulated selection based on the absolute α-tocopherol content resulted in a 64% increase in this compound without significantly affecting the total tocopherols, the total tocotrienols, and the α-/γ-tocopherol ratio.

Oxidative stability of crude oils relative to tocol content from eight oat cultivars: Comparing the Schaal oven and Rancimat tests

Oats are a good source of oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and natural antioxidants such as tocols. This study investigated tocol composition relative to oxidative stability in crude oils from eight oat cultivars. Tocol content in the cultivars was as follows: Santini > Saul > Korok > Atego > Kamil > Patrik > Oliver > Marco Polo. Santini had the highest tocol content (155.3 mg/kg of oil), whereas Marco Polo contained only 62.0 mg/kg of oil. Extracted oat oils were subjected to the Schaal oven test at 60 ± 2 °C and the Rancimat test at 100 °C and 110 °C to determine oxidative stability. The induction period of oat samples ranged from 51 to 56 days in the Schaal test, with a protection factor of 7.8–8.6. The Rancimat test yielded induction periods ranging from 3.78 h to 9.31 h at 100 °C and 1.11 h to 4.25 h at 110 °C. Both tests revealed remarkable stability against oxidation. Therefore, oat oil, particularly from the Santini cultivar, could be a valuable and stable source of natural antioxidants for the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, a significant correlation between Schaal-derived induction period and tocopherols or tocotrienols was not identified. This outcome indicates that oil stability is due to more than tocol presence, with other antioxidants in the crude oil likely playing important roles. In contrast, the Rancimat test revealed that β-tocotrienol content was correlated with induction period at both temperatures 100 °C and 110 °C.

Carotenoids and tocols comparison in different Subspecies of Triticum turgidum and aestivum

Carotenoids and Tocols in six genotypes of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum, five of Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum, four of Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum, and six of Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta were investigated. The aim of the present study was to identify, quantify, and compare the content of tocopherols, tocotrienols, and carotenoids in different primitive and modern genotypes of wheat species in order to evaluate the lines with the highest content and possibly use them for selection and breeding programs. The Triticum durum group showed the highest mean content of total carotenoids, with lutein being the most abundant, accounting for 80.12 % (Triticum spelta) to 86.65 % (Triticum turgidum) of total carotenoids. Among the genotypes, Line 6 (Triticum durum) had the highest lutein content (12.17 μg g−1), significantly differing from the lines within its group and the other groups of dicoccum, aestivum, and spelta.Triticum dicoccum exhibited a lower average content of total tocols compared to other Triticum species. The tocols profile showed a prevalence of tocotrienols over tocopherols. β + γ-T3 was the most abundant individual tocol isomer in all Triticum genotypes, contributing for 50.40 % (Triticum ssp. aestivum) and 42.50 % (Triticum spelta) of the total content, respectively. The highest β + γ-T3 content (23.83 μg/g) was found in Line 6 of Triticum durum. Correlation, principal component, and cluster analyses revealed positive correlations between total tocols and β/γ tocotrienols, significant differences between various groups of the same species, formation of six clusters labeled as I to VI, and the identification of genotypes from the same species grouped in different clusters.

Changes in colour, tocopherols and carotenoids during the germination of lupin seeds

This study investigated the impact of controlled germination on colour, carotenoids and tocopherols of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) seeds. Two Andean lupin ecotypes, Cholo fuerte and Altagracia, were germinated in the dark for two, four and six days; colour coordinates (L*, a*, b*) were determined by colorimeter, while carotenoids and tocopherols were quantified by HPLC. The germination significantly modified the characteristics examined. The luminosity decreased with increasing germination time, while only minor changes were recorded for a* and b* . The sum of all carotenoids increased up to 12-fold during germination, with lutein always being the most abundant compound. The predominant tocol was γ-tocopherol; although total tocol content was almost unchanged, α-tocopherol increased from not-quantifiable up to 74.8 mg/kg dry matter, improving the vitamin E activity, while γ-tocopherol decreased progressively. Our results demonstrate that germination promises to be a cost-effective approach to improve the nutritional properties of lupin seeds.

Tocol content in oat varieties grown under different environmental conditions and farming systems

The effect of variety and environmental factors on the tocol content and composition in oat grain determined by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was investigated. Basic grain parameters – such as yield, TKW (thousand kernel weight), and fat content – and their relation to the tocol content were also monitored. Four varieties of hulled oats (Kertag, Korok, Seldon, Raven) and one of naked oats (Patrik) were grown over two years, at two different localities, under conventional and organic farming systems. The total tocol content ranged from 68.4 to 163 μg/g DW and consisted of only α- and β-forms of tocols, with α-tocotrienol predominating (68.2%), followed by α-tocopherol (26.4%). The year was the largest contributor to the overall variability, with significantly higher tocol content in 2019 (143 μg/g DW) compared to 2020 (94.9 μg/g DW). The effect of the variety and farming system was significant only for the minor β-forms of tocols, while locality represented a statistically insignificant factor. Tocol content was strongly negatively correlated with TKW (−0.75) and moderately negatively correlated with grain yield (−0.44). Conversely, a moderate positive correlation (0.44) was found between the tocol content and grain fat content, with higher values for α-forms of tocols.

Bioaccessibility of Tocols in Commercial Maize Hybrids Determined by an In Vitro Digestion Model for Poultry

Despite the high proportion of maize grain in animal diets, the contribution made by maize phytochemicals is neglected. Tocols and their contribution to the vitamin E content of animal diets are one example, exacerbated by sparse information on the tocol bioaccessibility of commercial hybrids. In this study, the contents of individual and total tocols and their bioaccessibility were determined in the grain samples of 103 commercial hybrids using a standardized INFOGEST digestion procedure. In the studied hybrids, total tocol content ranged from 19.24 to 54.44 µg/g of dry matter. The contents of micellar α-, γ-, δ-tocopherols, γ-tocotrienol, and total tocols correlated positively with the corresponding contents in the grain samples of the studied hybrids. In contrast, a negative correlation was observed between the bioaccessibility of γ- tocopherol, α- and γ-tocotrienol, and total tocols, along with the corresponding contents in the grain of studied hybrids. The highest bioaccessibility was exhibited by γ-tocotrienol (532.77 g/kg), followed by δ-tocopherol (529.88 g/kg), γ-tocopherol (461.76 g/kg), α-tocopherol (406.49 g/kg), and α-tocotrienol (359.07 g/kg). Overall, there are significant differences in the content and bioaccessibility of total and individual tocols among commercial maize hybrids, allowing the selection of hybrids for animal production based not only on crude chemical composition but also on the content of phytochemicals.

Retention of high-value tocols during enzymatic esterification of palm fatty acid distillate using liquid lipase for improving the economics and sustainability of biodiesel production

Liquid lipase has recently been gaining popularity in converting secondary lipid feedstocks to biodiesel. However, it was unknown whether enzymatic biodiesel production could affect the retention of high-value phytonutrient(s) in the feedstocks. For the first time, the retention of tocols (a highly potent antioxidant) during enzymatic conversion of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) to biodiesel using a low-cost liquid lipase, Eversa® Transform 2.0, was studied. This study investigated the effects of methanol dosage on ester and fatty acid contents alongside tocols retention. The highest ester content (92.03 wt%) was achieved within a short reaction time of 4 h using 2 wt% enzyme concentration and 3:1 methanol-to-PFAD molar ratio. Interestingly, tocols retention was found to be correlated to the extent of fatty acid conversion. The maximum tocols retention was determined to be 91.98%. After vacuum distillation, the tocols content was enriched 25-fold (∼66,000 ppm) in the heavy phase, whereas the ester content increased to ∼96 wt% in a light-colored distillate (biodiesel). In conclusion, it is feasible to efficiently produce high-value phytonutrient(s) alongside biodiesel from secondary feedstock via an enzymatic route using a liquid lipase. The findings from this work provide the industry an opportunity to improve process economics and sustainability of biodiesel production.

A Comprehensive Review On Pistacia Khinjuk Well-Known Medicinal Plant

Pistacia, a genus of flowering plants from the family Anacardiaceae, contains about twenty species, among them five are more popular including P. vera, P. atlantica, P. terebinthus, P. khinjuk, and P. lentiscus. Different parts of these species have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes like tonic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antihypertensive and management of dental, gastrointestinal, liver, urinary tract and respiratory tract disorders.Pistacia khinjuk Stoks (P. khinjuk) is an evergreen shrub or tree of the family Anarcadiaceae. This specie is native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.P. khinjuk used as tonic and expectorant, it has been used in cough, fever and asthma.Few investigations have been reported the effect of different crude and isolated compound extracts of P. khinjuk on different diseases such as antidiabetic, antitumor, anti-cholinesterase, antimicrobial and antifungal activity. The oil of P. khinjuk kernel is valuable oil being used in the pharmaceutical industry. It’s mainly composed of oleic, linolenic, palmitic, linolenic, behenic,lauric, myristic and arachidic acid. In addition, oil is considered a valuable source of tocopherols and tocotrienols because the tocols content reported for this oil is much higher than that of common oils. The aim of the present review is to explore the traditional and modern knowledge including the botanical description, ethnomedicinal claims, pharmacognostic parameters, phytochemicals and pharmacological potential of P. khinjuk. The comprehensive literature and relevant information regarding the plant were gathered through electronic databases including Google Scholar, Pub Med, Science direct, online open access databases and books from the college library. The review represents consolidated summary in all aspects of plant with a special emphasis on reported phytochemicals isolated from plant and their therapeutic potential. The rearranged data in the form of a single review will be essential in providing updated knowledge to the readers regarding the plant and it will act as a baseline for future exploration of P. khinjukin terms of its phytochemistry and pharmacology

Antioxidants of Amaranth, Quinoa and Buckwheat Wholemeals and Heat-Damage Development in Pseudocereal-Enriched Einkorn Water Biscuits.

A viable approach to improve the nutritional quality of cereal-based foods is their enrichment with pseudocereals. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat, and the heat damage of water biscuits (WB) produced from either wholemeal or refined flour of einkorn and enriched with 50% buckwheat, amaranth or quinoa wholemeal. Buckwheat had the highest tocols content (86.2 mg/kg), and einkorn the most carotenoids (5.6 mg/kg). Conjugated phenolics concentration was highest in buckwheat (230.2 mg/kg) and quinoa (218.6 mg/kg), while bound phenolics content was greatest in einkorn (712.5 mg/kg) and bread wheat (675.7 mg/kg). The all-wholemeal WB had greater heat damage than those containing refined flour (furosine: 251.5 vs. 235.8 mg/100 g protein; glucosylisomaltol: 1.0 vs. 0.6 mg/kg DM; hydroxymethylfurfural: 4.3 vs. 2.8 mg/kg DM; furfural: 8.6 vs. 4.8 mg/kg DM). The 100% bread wheat and einkorn wholemeal WB showed greater heat damage than the WB with pseudocereals (furfural, 9.2 vs. 5.1 mg/kg; glucosylisomaltol 1.1 vs. 0.7 mg/kg). Despite a superior lysine loss, the amino-acid profile of the pseudocereals-enriched WB remained more balanced compared to that of the wheats WB.

Oxidative stability of high oleic palm and hazelnut skin oil blends

AbstractHigh oleic palm oil (HOPO) with high oleic and palmitic acid contents is a new vegetable oil that needs to find further use in food applications, while hazelnut skin oil (HSO) with high oleic acid content is a by‐product of hazelnut oil production and have no commercial value. The aim of the study was to obtain new oil blends for new food formulations with high oxidative stability and low (or reasonable) saturated fatty acid content using HOPO and HSO. For this aim, they were blended in the proportions of 0 to 100% (wt/wt), and fatty acid and tocol compositions, induction period and storage stability of the blends were evaluated. Tocotrienols (560.94 mg/kg) constitute the majority of the tocol content of HOPO, while tocopherols (437.69 mg/kg) were the major tocols of HSO. HOPO has a higher saturated fatty acid composition and lower monounsaturated fatty acids content than HSO. In general, it was determined that increasing the HSO ratio in oil blends reduced their oxidative stabilities, which is most likely because HSO is richer in total unsaturated fatty acids (91.8%) than HOPO (68.4%). In addition, tocotrienols are known to be stronger antioxidants than tocopherols. Although HOPO is rich in γ‐tocotrienol, which has a strong antioxidant activity, it also has some disadvantages such as having a high price and containing significant levels of saturated fatty acids (mainly palmitic acid). The optimum blend ratio was then determined as 50% HOPO:50% HSO considering oxidative stability and fatty acid compositions.

Assessment of Lipid Quality in Commercial Omega-3 Supplements Sold in the French Market.

Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids is considered a valuable strategy to supply the low intake of these fatty acids. Thus, the safety of the supplements is an important milestone. Because of that, we analyzed 20 unflavored supplements sold in the French market for fatty acid and triglyceride composition, for EPA and DHA, and for tocol content, as well as for oxidative status. This study found that only 2.5% of the supplements did not meet their label claims for omega-3 content. TAG analysis showed high variability among the triglyceride distribution, and the same trend was also noticed for the tocol content; in fact, a high variability of the distribution of the six tocols (four tocopherols and two tocotrienols) was found among the samples. Of the tested products, all of them complied with peroxide value, p-anisidine value, and Totox values established by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) and were not oxidized.

Phytochemical Profile and Chemopreventive Properties of Cooked Glutinous Purple Rice Extracts Using Cell-Based Assays and Rat Model.

Purple rice has gained attention for its health promoting potential due to a high content of bioactive phytochemicals. The heat generated during cooking alters the quality and quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals in food. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and chemopreventive properties of cooked glutinous purple rice using cell-based assays and a rat model. Purple rice was cooked in a rice cooker and was then further extracted with solvents to obtain dichloromethane and methanol extracts. The methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice contained great amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Protocatechuic acid (2.26–5.40 mg/g extract) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (34.3–65.7 mg/g extract) were the major phenolic acid and anthocyanin contents, respectively. After cooking, the content of anthocyanins, γ-oryzanols, and phytosterols decreased, while the amount of some phenolic acid and tocol contents increased. Methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice inhibited reactive oxygen species production about 60% in PMA-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reduced nitric oxide formation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (26–39% inhibition), and exhibited antimutagenicity against several mutagens using the Ames test, but dichloromethane extracts presented only mild anti-inflammatory activities. Although methanol extracts induced mild mutagenicity (mutagenic index 2.0–2.5), they did not induce micronucleated hepatocyte formation and certain hepatic CYP450 isozyme activities in rats. However, the mutagenicity of the methanol extract significantly declined after cooking. In summary, the methanol extract of the cooked glutinous purple rice might be a promising cancer chemopreventive fraction, which was neither genotoxic nor posing adverse effects on phytochemical–drug interaction in rats.

Rediscovery of cold pressed cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L.) oil: a good source of fat-soluble bioactives with functional and health-enhancing traits

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) fruits or capsules are rich in bioactive phytochemicals with beneficial health impacts. Very few studies reported the chemistry and functionality of Elettaria cardamomum lipids, fixed oil, and cold pressed cardamom oil (CPCO). This work characterized CPCO for its lipid classes, fatty acids, phytosterols, tocols, total phenolics, antiradical potential (toward galvinoxyl and DPPH· radicals), antioxidative effects, and antimicrobial behavior (against foodborne bacteria and dermatophytic fungi). Neutral lipids were detected at the highest amount (ca. 96.6%), followed by glycolipids (ca. 2%) and phospholipids (ca. 1.3%). Oleic (C18:1, 43.7%), palmitic (C16:0, 21.6%), and linoleic (C18:2, 17.6%) were the major fatty acids in CPCO. The levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 47%, 32%, and 21%, respectively. CPCO contained large amounts of unsaponifiables (16.4 g/kg). The total content of phytosterols was 222 mg/100 g oil, wherein β-sitosterol was the main compound, followed by sitostanol, campesterol, stigmasterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and citrostadienol. The total content of tocols was 2.38 mg/100 g of oil, and the contents (mg/100 g oil) of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols in CPCO were 1.25, 0.08, 0.58, and 0.28, respectively. Besides, CPCO contained high amounts of total phenolics (3.9 mg GAE/g oil). CPCO exhibited better antiradical traits than extra virgin olive oil. The induction time (IT) recorded for sunflower oil (SFO) and CPCO blend (9:1, v/v) was 405 min, while the IT for blend) 8:2, v/v) was 532 min. Besides, CPCO showed broad antimicrobial effects against foodborne pathogens (Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli) and dermatophytic fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum). It could be concluded that CPCO is a good source of lipid-soluble bioactives, making it a unique raw material for novel food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

Variation in the Content and Composition of Tocols in a Wheat Population.

Wheat is a well-known source of B vitamins but also contains significant amounts of vitamin E and related tocols, which have a number of positive health benefits. However, there are no reports on increasing the tocol content of wheat. A prerequisite for increasing the tocol content is the identification of variation in its amount within wheat and related cereals. We therefore determined the tocol content and composition in the grain of 230 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a diverse biparental wheat population (Mv Toborzó/Tommi), showing variation in the total content from 13.69 to 45.18 μg/g d.m. The total content also showed transgressive segregation in the population. The effect of the genotype on the variance components of tocols was studied, and the broad-sense heritability was calculated to be 0.71. The lines were also grouped based on their tocol content and analyzed for their chemical composition and breadmaking quality. The high heritability value and the wide variation found in the total amount indicate that increasing the content of tocols is a possible breeding strategy.