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Evaluation of Selected Medicinal, Timber and Ornamental Legume Species’ Seed Oils as Sources of Bioactive Lipophilic Compounds
Bioactive lipophilic compounds were investigated in 14 leguminous tree species of timber, agroforestry, medicinal or ornamental use but little industrial significance to elucidate their potential in food additive and supplement production. The tree species investigated were: Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia concinna, Albizia lebbeck, Albizia odoratissima, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia fistula, Dalbergia latifolia, Delonix regia, Entada phaseoloides, Hardwickia binata, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Senegalia catechu, Sesbania sesban and Vachellia nilotica. The hexane-extracted oils of ripe seeds were chromatographically analysed for their fatty acid composition (GC-MS), tocochromanol (RP-HPLC/FLD), squalene and sterol (GC-FID) content. A spectrophotometrical method was used to determine total carotenoid content. The results showed generally low oil yield (1.75–17.53%); the highest was from H. binata. Linoleic acid constituted the largest proportion in all samples (40.78 to 62.28% of total fatty acids), followed by oleic (14.57–34.30%) and palmitic (5.14–23.04%) acid. The total tocochromanol content ranged from 100.3 to 367.6 mg 100 g−1 oil. D. regia was the richest and the only to contain significant amount of tocotrienols while other oils contained almost exclusively tocopherols, dominated by either α-tocopherol or γ-tocopherol. The total carotenoid content was highest in A. auriculiformis (23.77 mg 100 g−1), S. sesban (23.57 mg 100 g−1) and A. odoratissima (20.37 mg 100 g−1), and ranged from 0.7 to 23.7 mg 100 g−1 oil. The total sterol content ranged from 240.84 to 2543 mg 100 g−1; A. concinna seed oil was the richest by a wide margin; however, its oil yield was very low (1.75%). Either β-sitosterol or Δ5-stigmasterol dominated the sterol fraction. Only C. fistula oil contained a significant amount of squalene (303.1 mg 100 g−1) but was limited by the low oil yield as an industrial source of squalene. In conclusion, A. auriculiformis seeds may hold potential for the production of carotenoid-rich oil, and H. binata seed oil has relatively high yield and tocopherol content, marking it as a potential source of these compounds.
Sustainable valorization of seeds from eight aquatic plant species as a source of oil and lipophilic bioactive compounds
Phytochemicals in recovered seed oils from by-products of common quince (Cydonia oblonga) and Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
AbstractNearly 100% of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) and common quince (Cydonia oblonga) fruits are processed. It generates large amounts of seeds. One of the possible utilization of seeds is oil recovery. Seeds of both quinces were tested for their oil recovery using two methods—solvent‐free protocol by mechanical press and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) applying n‐hexane, and phytochemistry of obtained oils was studied. The oil yield was nearly twice higher from common quince than Japanese quince (20.9% and 11.2%, respectively) for UAE. Compared to UAE, screw‐pressed allowed for 67% oil recovery. In general, the phytochemical profile of both quince seed oils was similar with some differences in the content of individual compounds. The two quince seed oils were dominated by the same molecules in different compound groups: fatty acids—linoleic acid; tocochromanols—α‐tocopherol; phytosterols—β‐sitosterol, and triterpenoid—squalene. Common quince seed oil was richer in tocochromanols, squalene, and linoleic acid, whereas Japanese quince seed oil was richer in phytosterols. The present study showed the oil potential of fruit industry by‐products and the relatively high oil recovery by the environmentally friendly/healthy technique of extraction (solvent‐free) to achieve ultimately high‐quality products in a “Natural‐Safe‐Green” strategy.Practical applications: Production of fruit each year, especially those used for processing, for example, common quince (C. oblonga), has been increasing in recent years, likely, so has processing and amounts of generated by‐products, including seeds. To reduce the costs, CO2 emissions, and other environmental safety aspects of production, different techniques of plant oil recovery are considered. The extraction method affects oil yield as well as its phytochemical composition. The generated information in the present study can contribute to improved effectiveness of the use of plant material thereby providing environmental, health, and economic benefits.