Oxidative stability of echium crude oil during the cold-press extraction process

Author(s)

Cesconetto-Bisinotto, Mariana ; Chedid, Luiza Dourado ; Gouveia, Angelica de Souza ; Ramos, Humberto Josue de Oliveira ; Garcia-Moreno, Pedro J. ; Castro, Imnar Alves

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ITALIAN JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE; v. 37, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2025-01-01.

Abstract

Crude oil extracted from Echium plantagineum L. is a promising sustainable and economical source of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) for human consumption. However, it is highly susceptible to oxidation during seed processing and oil storage. The objective of this study was to enhance the oxidative stability of crude echium oil by applying antioxidants or thermal treatment to inactivate potential lipoxygenase activity. Echium seeds were subjected to thermal treatment (100 degrees C for 15 min) to inhibit enzymatic oxidation or mixed with tocopherols (300 ppm, oil-based) to mitigate autoxidation during seed crushing. Our analysis revealed no detectable lipoxygenase activity in echium seeds. Interestingly, both thermal treatment (ECH) and the addition of a tocopherol mixture (TOC) increased hydroperoxide concentrations to 10.37 +/- 0.56 mmol and12.69 +/- 0.49 mmol, respectively, compared to 7.81 +/- 0.18 mmol in the untreated seeds (CONT). Similarly, volatile compound levels rose significantly, reaching a ratio of 1.15 +/- 0.04 (ECH) and 2.16 +/- 0.33 (TOC), compared to 0.44 +/- 0.12 in the CONT. In addition, these treatments also reduced the total tocopherol content, with values of 53.69 +/- 0.22 mg/100 g (ECH) and 29.62 +/- 0.21 mg/100 g (TOC) compared to 62.47 +/- 0.71 mg/100 gin the CONT. These findings suggest that oxidation of crude echium oil is not catalyzed by lipoxygenases and that the tocopherol-based antioxidant strategy used in this study, at the tested dose and protocol, did not improve oxidative stability. Future research should explore alternative approaches, such as CO2 supercritical extraction, to enhance the preservation of crude echium oil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/14268-7 - Echium oil as a vegetable source of omega 3 fatty acids for human supplementation
• Grantee: Inar Castro Erger
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/05355-0 - Echium oil as a sustainable alternative to fish oil: from seeds to the physiological effects in humans (Part 1)
• Grantee: Luiza Dourado Chedid
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation