European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology最新文献

Mozzarella is a soft white fermented cheese comprising up to 40% saturated fats and is well known for its stretchability. Consumers’ demand for low-fat mozzarella cheese (LFMC) has increased with increasing health consciousness. However, the rubbery texture of LFMC tends to lower its acceptability. The study investigates the effect of aloe vera mucilage (AVM) as a fat replacer on the physicochemical, proximate composition, functional, and sensory attributes of LFMC using buffalo milk as substrate. For this purpose, mucilage from AV leaves was extracted and added in concentrations (1%, 2.5%, and 5% v/v) during the formulation of LFMC treatments using the direct acidification technique. A significant reduction in fat contents of LFMC treatments prepared using AVM (p = 0.02) was observed, and among all LFMC treatments, AT₂ with 2.5% AVM exhibited significantly improved (p = 0.00) stretchability and meltability. The higher free oil content of 3.8% was observed in LFMC in T_o (positive control), whereas the lowest (1.28%) was reported in T* (negative control). For hardness, the lowest puncture force of 2.12 and 2.17 N was experienced by the LFMC treatments prepared using 2.5% AVM v/v. The study concluded that adding AVM with a concentration of 2.5% v/v was considered best for its organoleptic properties, improving the textural and functional attributes of LFMC.

Practical Application: The demand of consumers for low-fat mozzarella cheese (LFMC) has increased with increasing health consciousness. The rubbery texture of LFMC tends to lower its acceptability. This research will help to formulate LFMC at the industrial level, creating more diversity and availability of health-modulating functional foods in markets.

Edible vegetable oils are sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, necessary for a balanced diet capable of providing elements that act on the energetic, structural, and hormonal composition of humans. The growing consumption of these foods has encouraged the search for techniques capable of characterizing their compositions and transformations when subjected to industrial processes or during domestic use. We propose to analyze the transformations undergone by edible vegetable oils originating from different plants due to thermal oxidation. For this, dynamic viscosity, oxidative stability index, fatty acid profile, and infrared spectra determined before and after being subjected to thermal oxidation. The results from infrared spectroscopy were improved through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Among other results, it was possible to establish correlations between the FTIR spectra, dynamic viscosity, and the profile of fatty acids, allowing the prediction of the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) after thermal oxidation by measuring the spectrum of samples before the thermal oxidation process. Furthermore, it is observed that the dynamic viscosity is strongly altered by thermal oxidation, which is directly related to the decrease in PUFA content. The results obtained can be used to predict quality factors of edible vegetable oils, helping to choose the right type of oil for each industrial or domestic process.

Practical Applications: This research holds significant practical implications, particularly in detecting adulteration and fraud of edible vegetable oils. The developed method uses physicochemical properties and infrared spectroscopy with principal component analysis to characterize oils and to determine the oil stability index.

Simplified cholesterol backbone with images of a random spectral trace, a palm leaf (Rainer Sturm/pixelio.de), fluorescently stained lipid droplets (red) and associated proteins (green) in a T3T-L1 adipocyte (Johanna Spandl, University of Bonn, Germany), and fish (Vera/pixelio.de).

Research on natural sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for both food and nutraceutical prospects has significantly grown in recent years. Some plant oils and lipid extracts contain carotenoids, xanthophylls, sterols, and/or phenolic compounds that can provoke a lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs) overestimation when quantifying them using nonselective colorimetric assays. Herein, we have optimized a mid-infrared method using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) to quantify LOOHs in oils or lipid extracts. This method is based on the conversion of triphenylphosphine (TPP) to triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) in the presence of hydroperoxides, with a direct assessment of TPPO levels following the formation of an oil film on the ATR crystal's surface, allowing for a low detection limit of 0.5 mmol of LOOH kg⁻¹. The concentration of oil and TPP, as well as the reaction time, were optimized. It was demonstrated that the presence of pigments, unsaponifiable compounds, phenolics, and/or PUFAs on oils, do not disrupt the analysis. Furthermore, the stoichiometry of the TPP/LOOH reaction was examined, confirming the reliability of the method in detecting various forms of hydroperoxides. An accelerated oxidation study was carried out and the hydroperoxide contents measured using TPP/TPPO were found to be comparable to those obtained using the ferric thiocyanate method. Our method offers a fast, simple, robust, and sensitive approach to accurately quantify hydroperoxides, regardless of the chemical composition of oil or lipid extracts.

Practical Application: The hydroperoxide assay method outlined in this study allows for the rapid and straightforward detection of hydroperoxides in pure oil matrices. The method's elevated sensitivity facilitates the early identification of oxidation indicators in oils, especially those with significant carotenoid or xanthophyll contents since these compounds may affect the results when using methods based on colorimetric quantification of hydroperoxides. This accurate, precise, and reproducible approach requires only small quantities of test samples and chemical products, making it well suited to routine application in laboratories and industrial environments.

The microencapsulation of fish oil by the spray-drying technique was conducted using Arabic gum (AG) and Persian gum (PG) as wall materials. AG-to-PG ratios, including 29:1, 28:2, 27:3, 26:4, and 25:5 (%w/w), wall-to-oil ratios, including 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2;1, and 1:1, drying temperature (180, 190, 200, 210, and 220°C), and feed flow rate at high and low states were optimized using response surface methodology. Microencapsulation efficiency (MEE), moisture content (MC), peroxide value (PV), and particle size (PS) were determined. Results showed that the highest MEE and the lowest MC, PV, and PS were attained when 26:4, 4:1, 210°C, and high speed were considered, respectively. At this point, the MEE, MC, PV, and PS were 79.49%, 3.39%, 10.98 meq O₂/kg oil, and 39.05 µm, respectively. The microstructure of optimum microencapsulated powder exhibited no observable cracks, fissures, or pores while having a typical spherical and smooth surface. Microencapsulation of fish oil using a mixture of AG and PG showed higher oxidative stability associated with high MEE, low MC, and low PV at the final product. Moreover, the optimized emulsion formulation and drying conditions increased the storage stability.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a characteristic fruit from the Mediterranean area, composed of a hard pulp and numerous seeds that have been unfairly undervalued and underutilized over time. To enhance the Mediterranean's biodiversity and support food production from sustainable resources, the carob has recently received attention for its nutritional value, and it has advantageously served as a healthy ingredient of many food products. Hence, in this study, the composition of the Mediterranean carob was further deepened by investigating its lipid fraction on a dry weight basis in relation to the fruit part (i.e., pulp and seeds) and the geographical origin (i.e., different Moroccan and Italian provinces). On average, lipids of pulp and seeds amounted to 1.71% and 2.46%, respectively. Predominant fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Palmitic and oleic acids were higher in pulp (20.21%–26.50% and 37.63%–44.49%) than seeds (13.93%–17.26% and 31.92%–36.66%), whereas linoleic acid showed an opposite accumulation trend (pulp: 8.32%–15.46%, seeds: 38.19%–43.45%). Among sterols, β-sitosterol (57.49%–72.47%), Δ-5-avenasterol (10.26%–21.27%), and stigmasterol (3.97%–8.11%) accounted for more than 70% of total sterols of pulp, whereas β-sitosterol alone represented more than 70% of sterols in seeds. Considering tocopherols, γ-tocopherol was the most abundant isomer both in pulp (10.37–22.78 mg/100 g) and seeds (4.95–22.86 mg/100 g). Carob also resulted in a good source of squalene, which on average was 2.17 mg kg⁻¹ in pulp and 19.07 mg kg⁻¹ in seeds. A principal component analysis pointed out that the study of the lipid fraction of carob can help in discriminating samples based on their Moroccan or Italian origin.

Practical Applications: The study provides further insights into the still-little-explored lipid fraction of Mediterranean carob and fills a relevant gap in the literature by contributing to a more exhaustive framework of the nutritional and functional value of this fruit. In a wider perspective, it can be of practical help in the formulation of carob-based products and in the establishment of a more informed market of carob and carob-based products.

This study aimed to improve metformin skin administration by creating solid lipid microparticles (SLMs). To obtain optimal metformin delivery, SLMs were created using a double emulsion hot homogenization technique with a rotor-stator. The effects of the two surfactants and homogenization time on particle characteristics and performance were studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Tween 60 concentration had the most significant effect on particle size. The simple effects of the studied factors did not significantly affect encapsulation efficiency. However, the interactions between these parameters influenced this response. Moreover, the particle size was affected more by the surfactant concentration. After optimizing the three factors, the results showed an optimum encapsulation efficiency of 82% and a particle size of 2 µm with a desirability of 0.915. The topical drug release profile of lipid microparticle suspensions is characterized by an early burst, followed by sustained drug release. The release of metformin from solid lipid particles followed the Higuchi release model, whereas it followed the Weibull model for release from the gel formulation. Based on the in vitro drug release results, we can conclude that the particles containing the drug are in the shape of a matrix.

Practical Applications: The SLM formulation produces a film on the cutaneous surface, retaining the active component in the skin's superficial layer. Furthermore, owing to their micron size, SLM increases the contact surface of the encapsulated drug with the stratum corneum, which might improve cutaneous delivery and provide sustained release of the drug.

The Balanites aegyptiaca tree is widely used in many countries where it occurs. However, in Morocco its nutritional properties and chemical composition have not been extensively studied. This study aims to investigate its potential health benefits, focusing on bioactive compounds found in the fruit, including the pulp, shell and kernel. The fatty acid composition, phytosterol content, triacylglycerols and tocopherol levels of the lipid fraction extracted from different parts of Balanites fruit were analyzed using chromatographic techniques. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was assessed through the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Results showed that the pulp, shell and kernel are rich in oleic acid, with percentages of 47.2%, 45.9%, and 41.9%, respectively. The linoleic acid content was consistent across all three parts. The shell had the highest phytosterols content, with β-sitosterol being the most abundant in all three parts. The analysis revealed some variability in the identification of tocopherols, with the kernel containing the highest content of tocopherols, mainly α-Tocopherol at 399 mg kg⁻¹. The fruit, in its entirety, exhibits antioxidant activity as evaluated by three different methods: DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Overall, the study demonstrates that the fruit of B. aegyptiaca growing in Morocco possesses properties that could be utilized in the food and medical industries.

Practical Application: The fruit parts of the Balanites tree (Balanites aegyptiaca) are rich in fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols, exhibiting significant antioxidant capacity. This study reveals the potential of the bioactive compounds of the fruit, which offers substantial practical applications as a natural source of antioxidants in food formulations and nutraceuticals. By leveraging the bioactive compounds identified in this study, researchers and industries can investigate the development of functional food and cosmeceuticals formulations to enhance human health and well-being.