ABSTRACT
Objectives: To design an educational intervention on sexual dysfunction for patients suffering from schizophrenia and diabetes based on patients' and other relevant stakeholders' preferences, and to offer transparency into the basic decision-making process behind a final design. Methods: We conducted a three-part investigation to explore theory, preferences, and feasibility based on literature searches and interviews with patients, healthcare professionals, heads of Assertive Community Treatment Centres and experts. Based on a content analysis of this material, a draft of the intervention was developed. The draft was quality-checked by involvement of stakeholder representatives and refined to its final design. Results: The intervention evolved into having two components: One intervention for patients and one for healthcare professionals. In patient education, meeting peers and predictability were important factors. For healthcare professionals, daily clinical activities were prioritised. Conclusions: We present a framework for an educational intervention about sexual dysfunction, schizophrenia and diabetes targeting both patients and healthcare professionals. Innovation: The transparency of the design process underlying the interventions allows for reproduction and eases further refinement, extension, and adjustment if implemented in other contexts.
ABSTRACT
With the aim to upcycle fish side-streams, enzymatic hydrolysis is often applied to produce protein hydrolysates with bioactive properties or just as a protein source for food and feed. However, the production of hydrolysates generates a side-stream. For underutilized fish and fish backbone this side-stream will contain fish bones and make it rich in minerals. The aim of this study was to assess the relative bioaccessibility (using the standardized in vitro model INFOGEST 2.0) of minerals in a dietary supplement compared to bone powder generated after enzymatic hydrolysis of three different fish side-streams: undersized whole hake, cod and salmon backbones consisting of insoluble protein and bones. Differences in the bioaccessibility of protein between the powders were also investigated. The enzyme hydrolysis was carried out using different enzymes and hydrolysis conditions for the different fish side-streams. The content and bioaccessibility of protein and the minerals phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) were measured to evaluate the potential of the powder as an ingredient in, e.g., dietary supplements. The bone powders contained bioaccessible proteins and minerals. Thus, new side-streams generated from enzymatic hydrolysis can have possible applications in the food sector due to bioaccessible proteins and minerals.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones , Dietary Supplements , Minerals , Seafood , Animals , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Hydrolysis , Salmon/metabolism , Biological Availability , Fish Proteins/metabolism , Fishes/metabolism , Protein Hydrolysates/chemistry , PowdersABSTRACT
Palmaria palmata is a viable source of nutrients with bioactive properties. The present study determined the potential role of post-extraction ultrasonication on some compositional features and antioxidant properties of enzymatic/alkaline extracts of P. palmata (EAEP). No significant difference was detected in terms of protein content and recovery, as well as the amino acid composition of the extracts. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 5 was found to be too high for the seaweed and EAEP. The extracts sonicated by bath for 10 min and not sonicated showed the highest and lowest total phenolic contents (p < 0.05), respectively. The highest radical scavenging and lowest metal-chelating activities were observed for the non-sonicated sample, as evidenced by IC50 values. The extract sonicated by bath for 10 min showed the most favorable in vitro antioxidant properties since its radical scavenging was not significantly different from that of the not-sonicated sample (p > 0.05). In contrast, its metal-chelating activity was significantly higher (p < 0.05). To conclude, post-extraction ultrasonication by an ultrasonic bath for 10 min is recommended to increase phenolic content and improve the antioxidant properties of EAEP.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Chelating Agents , Phenols , Plant Extracts , Rhodophyta , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Chelating Agents/chemistry , Edible Seaweeds/chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers/isolation & purification , Phenols/chemistry , Phenols/isolation & purification , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Rhodophyta/chemistry , SonicationABSTRACT
Metal-catalyzed lipid oxidation is a major factor in food waste, as it reduces shelf life. Addressing this issue, our study investigates the potential of hydrolysates derived from potato protein, a by-product of potato starch production, as metal-chelating antioxidants. Through sequential enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase or trypsin combined with Flavourzyme, we produced various hydrolysates, which were then fractionated using ultrafiltration. Using a combination of peptidomics and bioinformatics, we predicted the presence of metal-chelating and free radical-scavenging peptides across all hydrolysate fractions, with a trend indicating a higher content of antioxidant peptides in lower molecular weight fractions. To validate these predictions, we utilized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and a 9-day emulsion storage experiment. While SPR demonstrated potential in identifying antioxidant activity, it faced challenges in differentiating between hydrolysate fractions due to significant standard errors. In the storage experiment, all hydrolysates showed lipid oxidation inhibition, though not as effectively as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Remarkably, one fraction (AF13) was not significantly different (p < 0.05) from EDTA in suppressing hexanal formation. These results highlight SPR and peptidomics/bioinformatics as promising yet limited methods for antioxidant screening. Importantly, this study reveals the potential of potato protein hydrolysates as antioxidants in food products, warranting further research.
ABSTRACT
Lipid oxidation constitutes the main source of degradation of lipid-rich foods, including food emulsions. The complexity of the reactions at play combined with the increased demand from consumers for less processed and more natural foods result in additional challenges in controlling this phenomenon. This review provides an overview of the insights acquired over the past two decades on the understanding of lipid oxidation in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. After introducing the general structure of O/W emulsions and the classical mechanisms of lipid oxidation, the contribution of less studied oxidation products and the spatiotemporal resolution of these reactions will be discussed. We then highlight the impact of emulsion formulation on the mechanisms, taking into consideration the new trends in terms of emulsifiers as well as their own sensitivity to oxidation. Finally, novel antioxidant strategies that have emerged to meet the recent consumer's demand will be detailed. In an era defined by the pursuit of healthier, more natural, and sustainable food choices, a comprehensive understanding of lipid oxidation in emulsions is not only an academic quest, but also a crucial step towards meeting the evolving expectations of consumers and ensuring the quality and stability of lipid-rich food products.
Subject(s)
Emulsions , Oxidation-Reduction , Emulsions/chemistry , Humans , Lipids/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/metabolism , Lipid MetabolismABSTRACT
The production of plant-based dairy alternatives has been majorly focused on the improvement of sensorial, technological and nutritional properties, to be able to mimic and replace milk-based fermented products. The presence of off-flavours and antinutrients, the lack of production of dairy-like flavours or the metabolic inaccessibility of plant proteins are some of the challenges to overcome to generate plant-based dairy alternatives. However, in the present study, it is demonstrated how the synergistic effect of two LAB strains, when cocultured, can simultaneously solve those challenges when fermenting in four different plant-based raw materials: soy, pea, oat, and potato drinks (SPOP). The fermentation was performed through the mono- and co-culture of the two LAB strains isolated from Apis mellifera (honeybee): Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides NFICC 2004 and Lactococcus lactis NFICC 2005. Firstly, the coculture of both strains demonstrated to increase the acidification rate of the four plant matrices. Moreover, L. pseudomesenteroides (LP) demonstrated to in situ produce high concentrations of mannitol when fructose was present as C-source. Furthermore, L. pseudomesenteroides, which encoded for PII-proteinase, demonstrated to break down SPOP proteins, releasing free amino acids that were used by L.lactis (LL) for growth and metabolism. Lastly, the analysis of their co-metabolic volatile performance showed the principal ability of removal of the main off-flavours found in SPOP, such as hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-pentylfuran, pentanal, octanal, heptanal, and nonanal, mainly led by L. pseudomesenteroides, as well as the production of dairy-like flavours, such as diacetyl and 3-methyl-1-butanol, triggered by L. lactis metabolism. Overall, these findings endorsed the use of honeybee isolated strains as starter cultures, demonstrated the potential of coupling genotypes and phenotypes of multiple strains to improve the organoleptic properties suggesting a potential of combining plant-based matrices for the generation of future high-quality plant-based dairy alternatives.
Subject(s)
Lactococcus lactis , Solanum tuberosum , Bees , Animals , Avena , Coculture Techniques , Pisum sativum , Fermentation , PlantsABSTRACT
A novel approach consisting of preselection of peptides using bioinformatics tool followed by final selection using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) - an efficient technique to investigate metal complexing properties of peptides/hydrolysates - was developed. Selected pea hydrolysates and synthetic metal chelating peptides potentially present in pea hydrolysates were investigated for their ability to inhibit the lipid oxidation in emulsions composed of 5 % w/w fish oil and stabilized with Tween® 20. Results indicated that addition of peptides/hydrolysates did not impact the physical stability of emulsions and led to lower level of lipid hydroperoxides. Moreover, peptide KGKSR inhibited the generation of 1-penten-3-ol and hexanal to the same level as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) did and the formation of 2 ethyl-furan was lower than when EDTA was added. Peptide GRHRQKHS showed same concentration of hexanal as EDTA thus confirming efficacy of using SPR for selecting peptides/hydrolysates to use as antioxidants in emulsions.
Subject(s)
Fish Oils , Protein Hydrolysates , Emulsions , Edetic Acid , Water , Oxidation-Reduction , Antioxidants , PeptidesABSTRACT
Liquid side-streams from food industries can be processed and used in food applications and contribute to reduce the environmental footprint of industries. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of protein and phosphorus separation processes, namely microfiltration, ultrafiltration and flocculation, using protein-rich process waters with low (LS) and high (HS) salt content from the processing of salted cod (Gadus morhua). The application of different flocculants (chitosan lactate and Levasil RD442) were evaluated at different concentrations and maturation periods (0, 1 or 3 h). The results showed that different flocculation treatments resulted in different recoveries of the nutrients from LS and HS. Proteins in LS could be most efficiently recovered by using Levasil RD442 0.25% and no maturation period (51.4%), while phosphorus was most efficiently recovered when using Levasil RD442 1.23% and a maturation period of 1 h (34.7%). For HS, most of its protein was recovered using Levasil RD442 1.23% and a maturation period of 1 h (51.8%), while phosphorus was recovered the most using Levasil 1.23% and no maturation period (47.1%). The salt contents allowed interactions through intermolecular forces with Levasil RD442. The ultrafiltration method was effective on HS since it recovered higher percentages of nutrients in the retentate phase (57% of the protein and 46% of the phosphorus) compared to LS.
Subject(s)
Chitosan , Ultrafiltration , Animals , Ultrafiltration/methods , Sodium Chloride , Phosphorus , NutrientsABSTRACT
Currently, side-streams (e.g., head, backbone, tail, and intestines) generated in the fish processing industry often end up as low-value products for feed applications or even as waste. In order to upcycle such side-streams, they need to be preserved to avoid oxidative degradation of the lipids between the generation point and the valorization plant. In the cod filleting industry, three main solid side-streams: viscera, heads, and backbones, are obtained. Hence, this study aimed to identify the most efficient antioxidant for preserving the cod side-streams using a dipping-based strategy prior to pre-valorization storage at low temperatures (ice and frozen storage). The dipping solutions evaluated contained: (i) a lipophilic rosemary extract (0.05% and 0.2% in 0.9% NaCl), (ii) Duralox MANC (a mixture of rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, tocopherols, and citric acid; 2% in 0.9% NaCl), and (iii) NaCl (0.9%) w/w solution. One group was not dipped. No dipping and dipping in NaCl were included as controls. The results showed a positive effect of dipping with solutions containing antioxidants as measured by peroxide value (PV), TBA-reactive substances (TBARS), and sensory profiling, e.g., rancid odor. Moreover, the oxidative stability increased with decreased storage temperature. The cod side-streams were in general most efficiently preserved by Duralox MANC, followed by the lipophilic rosemary extract (0.2%), compared to no dipping and dipping in NaCl solution and the lower concentration of the lipophilic rosemary extract (0.05%). The efficiency of the antioxidant treatments was independent of the side-stream fraction and storage temperature. Thus, using antioxidant dipping combined with low temperature storage is an efficient preservation method for maintaining the quality of the lipids in cod solid side-streams during their pre-valorization storage.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Saline Solution , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Temperature , Sodium Chloride , Rivers , Lipids , Oxidative StressABSTRACT
This work studies the emulsifying and antioxidant properties of potato protein hydrolysates (PPHs) fractions obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis of potato protein using trypsin followed by ultrafiltration. Unfractionated (PPH1) and fractionated (PPH2 as >10 kDa, PPH3 as 10-5 kDa, PPH4 as 5-0.8 kDa, and PPH5 as <0.8 kDa) protein hydrolysates were evaluated. Pendant drop tensiometry and dilatational rheology were applied for determining the ability of PPHs to reduce interfacial tension and affect the viscoelasticity of the interfacial films at the oil-water interface. Peptides >10 kDa showed the highest ability to decrease oil-water interfacial tension. All PPH fractions predominantly provided elastic, weak, and easily stretchable interfaces. PPH2 provided a more rigid interfacial layer than the other hydrolysates. Radical scavenging and metal chelating activities of PPHs were also tested and the highest activities were provided by the unfractionated hydrolysate and the fractions with peptides >5 kDa. Furthermore, the ability of PPHs to form physically and oxidatively stable 5% fish oil-in-water emulsions (pH 7) was investigated during 8-day storage at 20 °C. Our results generally show that the fractions with peptides >5 kDa provided the highest physicochemical stability, followed by the fraction with peptides between 5 and 0.8 kDa. Lastly, promising sensory results with mostly mild attributes were obtained even at protein concentration levels that are higher than needed to obtain functional properties. The more prominent attributes (e.g., bitterness and astringency) were within an acceptable range for PPH3 and PPH4.
ABSTRACT
Enzymatic hydroxylation of fatty acids by Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) offers an eco-friendly route to hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs), high-value oleochemicals with various applications in materials industry and with potential as bioactive compounds. However, instability and poor regioselectivity of CYPs are their main drawbacks. A newly discovered self-sufficient CYP102 enzyme, BAMF0695 from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 7, exhibits preference for hydroxylation of sub-terminal positions (ω-1, ω-2, and ω-3) of fatty acids. Our studies show that BAMF0695 has a broad temperature optimum (over 70 % of maximal enzymatic activity retained between 20 to 50 °C) and is highly thermostable (T50 >50 °C), affording excellent adaptive compatibility for bioprocesses. We further demonstrate that BAMF0695 can utilize renewable microalgae lipid as a substrate feedstock for HFA production. Moreover, through extensive site-directed and site-saturation mutagenesis, we isolated variants with high regioselectivity, a rare property for CYPs that usually generate complex regioisomer mixtures. BAMF0695 mutants were able to generate a single HFA regiosiomer (ω-1 or ω-2) with selectivities from 75 % up to 91 %, using C12 to C18 fatty acids. Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of a recent CYP and its variants for sustainable and green production of high-value HFAs.
Subject(s)
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/metabolism , Fatty Acids/chemistry , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Hydroxylation , Substrate SpecificityABSTRACT
For ages, indigenous small fish species have been important in food and nutritional security of poor communities in low income countries. Freshwater fish, in particular fatty fish species are attracting a great attention because they are good sources of health promoting long chain omega-3 fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) are the main omega-3 PUFAs known to confer health benefits in humans if consumed in required amounts. While nutritionally valued, omega-3 PUFAs in fish are susceptible to oxidative damage during processing, transportation and subsequent storage. Lake Victoria sardines (Rastrineobola argentea), are rich source of chemically unstable omega-3 fatty acids DHA, DPA and EPA. Traditionally, sardines are preserved by sun drying, deep frying and smoking. Sardine products are transported, stored and marketed at ambient temperatures. Generally, uncontrolled and higher temperatures are known to increase vulnerability of polyunsaturated fatty acids to oxidation which in turn results into loss of nutritional and sensory qualities. This study investigated changes of fat acids in sun dried, deep fried and smoked sardines during storage. Lipolysis and the progressive hydroperoxides formation were monitored by free fatty acids (FFAs) and peroxide value (PV) respectively. None volatile secondary products of lipid oxidation were measured by thiobabituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography with a flameionization detector (GC-FID). Deep fried sardines maintained the lowest and apparently stable PV, TBARS and FFAs. Proportions of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased with time while that of monounsaturated fatty acids increased. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA, DPA and DHA decreased with increase in storage time. In 21 days of storage, DHA was oxidized beyond detectable levels in all sardine products. Gradual increase in FFAs in sun dried sardines was suggestive of lipid hydrolysis induced by enzymes.
ABSTRACT
Bioinformatics tools were used to predict radical scavenging and metal chelating activities of peptides derived from abundant potato, seaweed, microbial, and spinach proteins. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in 5% oil-in-water emulsions (pH4) and best-performing peptides were tested in mayonnaise and compared with EDTA. Emulsion physical stability was intact. The peptide DDDNLVLPEVYDQD showed the highest protection against oxidation in both emulsions by retarding the formation of oxidation products and depletion of tocopherols during storage, but it was less efficient than EDTA when evaluated in mayonnaise. In low-fat emulsions, formation of hydroperoxides was reduced 4-folds after 5 days compared to control. The concentration effect of the peptide was confirmed in mayonnaise at the EDTA equimolar concentration. The second-best performing peptides were NNKWVPCLEFETEHGFVYREHH in emulsion and AGDWLIGDR in mayonnaise. In general, the peptide efficacy was higher in low-fat emulsions. Results demonstrated that peptide negative net charge was important for chelating activity.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Fish Oils , Emulsions , Edetic Acid , Water , Oxidation-Reduction , Peptides , Hydrogen-Ion ConcentrationABSTRACT
Effects of sodium caseinate (SC) and its combination with OSA-modified starch (SC-OS; 1:1) alone and with n-alkyl gallates (C0-C18) on the physical and oxidative stability of high-fat fish oil-in-water emulsion were evaluated. SC emulsion contained the smallest droplets and highest viscosity due to the fast adsorption at droplet surfaces. Both emulsions had non-Newtonian and shear-thinning behavior. A lower accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides and volatile compounds was found in SC emulsion due to its better Fe2+ chelating activity. The incorporated short-chain gallates (G1 > G0 â¼ G3) in SC emulsion had a strong synergistic effect against lipid oxidation compared to that of SC-OS emulsion. The better antioxidant efficiency of G1 can be related to its higher partition at the oil-water interface, while G0 and G3 had a higher partition into the aqueous phase. In contrast, G8, G12, and G16 added emulsions indicated higher lipid oxidation due to their internalization inside the oil droplets.
Subject(s)
Fish Oils , Caseins , Emulsions , Esters , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxidative Stress , Starch , WaterABSTRACT
Emulsions are implemented in the fabrication of a wide array of foods and therefore are of great importance in food science. However, the application of emulsions in food production is restricted by two main obstacles, that is, physical and oxidative stability. The former has been comprehensively reviewed somewhere else, but our literature review indicated that there is a prominent ground for reviewing the latter across all kinds of emulsions. Therefore, the present study was formulated in order to review oxidation and oxidative stability in emulsions. In doing so, different measures to render oxidative stability to emulsions are reviewed after introducing lipid oxidation reactions and methods to measure lipid oxidation. These strategies are scrutinized in four main categories, namely storage conditions, emulsifiers, optimization of production methods, and antioxidants. Afterward, oxidation in all types of emulsions, including conventional ones (oil-in-water and water-in-oil) and uncommon emulsions in food production (oil-in-oil), is reviewed. Furthermore, the oxidation and oxidative stability of multiple emulsions, nanoemulsions, and Pickering emulsions are taken into account. Finally, oxidative processes across different parent and food emulsions were explained taking a comparative approach.
Subject(s)
Lipids , Water , Emulsions , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxidative StressABSTRACT
The impact of the encapsulation technology on the oxidative stability of fish-oil-loaded capsules was investigated. The capsules (ca. 13 wt% oil load) were produced via monoaxial or coaxial electrospraying and spray-drying using low molecular weight carbohydrates as encapsulating agents (e.g., glucose syrup or maltodextrin). The use of spray-drying technology resulted in larger capsules with higher encapsulation efficiency (EE > 84%), whilst the use of electrospraying produced encapsulates in the sub-micron scale with poorer retention properties (EE < 72%). The coaxially electrosprayed capsules had the lowest EE values (EE = 53-59%), resulting in the lowest oxidative stability, although the lipid oxidation was significantly reduced by increasing the content of pullulan in the shell solution. The emulsion-based encapsulates (spray-dried and monoaxially electrosprayed capsules) presented high oxidative stability during storage, as confirmed by the low concentration of selected volatiles (e.g., (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal). Nonetheless, the monoaxially electrosprayed capsules were the most oxidized after production due to the emulsification process and the longer processing time.
ABSTRACT
This study performed the extraction of gelatin from saithe (Pollachius virens) skin and compared it to commercial marine gelatin. As a first stage, we investigated the physicochemical and biochemical properties of the gelatin. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed the presence of α-chains, ß-chains, and other high-molecular-weight aggregates. DSC thermograms showed typical gelatin behavior, while the FTIR spectra were mainly situated in the amide band region (amide A, amide B, amide I, amide II, and amide III). In the second stage, we produced O/W emulsions and analyzed their physical and oxidative stability over 9 days. Oil droplets stabilized with the gelatins obtained from saithe fish skin had a size of ~500 nm and a ζ-potential ~+25 mV, which is comparable to oil droplets stabilized with commercial gelatin products. Moreover, the oxidative stability of the emulsions stabilized with gelatin from saithe fish skin showed promising results in terms of preventing the formation of some volatile compounds towards the end of the storage period compared to when using the commercial gelatins. This study indicates the potential application of fish skin gelatin in the fields of food and cosmetics, as well as suggesting that further investigations of their techno-functional properties.
Subject(s)
Gadiformes , Gelatin , Animals , Gelatin/chemistry , Emulsions/chemistry , Seafood , Oxidative Stress , Water/chemistryABSTRACT
Phlorotannins play a role in biological functions to protect the cells against UV and oxidative damage in brown algae. We hypothesized that these compounds can function as photo-protectors and antioxidants in skin care formulations. Two types of extracts (water (FV-WE) and 67% v/v ethanol (FV-EE)) from Fucus vesiculosus were obtained with a phlorotannin content between 7-14% in dry extract. Exposure to sun light during growth was included as a factor on the phlorotannin content but did not influence the phlorotannin content. However, green colored F. vesiculosus had lower total phenolic content (TPC) (FV-WE = 6.9 g GAE 100 g-1 dw, FV-EE = 7.8 g GAE 100 g-1 dw) compared to those with a yellow/brownish color (FV-WE = 10.4-13.7 g GAE 100 g-1 dw, FV-EE = 11.2-14.0 g GAE 100 g-1 dw). UVA and UVB photo protective capabilities of the extracts through different biological effective protection factors (BEPFs) were evaluated using in vitro methods; the Mansur method for sun protection factor (SPF) and calculation of effective solar absorption radiation (%ESAR) to determine SPF and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) of the extract and in seaweed enriched lotion. The SPF was negligible, when evaluating FV-WE in lotion (10 and 20% w/w). Moreover, %ESAR of the FV-WE showed SPF and some UVA-PF, but not enough to give sufficient SPF in lotions (10% w/w). It was concluded that the concentration of UV protecting compounds in the extracts was too low to and that further fractionation and purification of phlorotannins is needed to increase the SPF.
Subject(s)
Cosmeceuticals , Fucus , Phaeophyceae , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The increasing demand for oils that contain health-beneficial omega-3 fatty acids calls for new resources or better utilization of existing resources, such as side-streams or underutilized resources to maintain a sustainable fishery. Starfish has been, until recently, an unexploited resource with limited utilization. Currently, starfish is processed into starfish meal for feed. However, the content of bioactive compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids and phospholipids, could make it a new source of marine oil containing omega-3 fatty acids for human consumption. The aim of this study was to map the composition of bioactive compounds in starfish and starfish meal at different harvesting times to elucidate the content and variation over seasons. The results showed that starfish is a good source of marine omega-3 fatty acids and rich in phospholipids. Some variation was observed in the composition, especially for EPA bound to phospholipids, which was significantly higher in the spring. Traditional extraction using heat and mechanical separation was not applicable to the starfish, and neither was enzyme-assisted extraction. On the other hand, the supercritical CO2 extraction method using EtOH as a co-solvent seemed to be a promising green technology for extracting not only non-polar lipids, but also polar lipids, such as phospholipids. However, the conditions for extraction need further optimization.
ABSTRACT
The intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the average consumer is generally low, and products such as fish oils high in omega-3 PUFA have become popular dietary supplements. There is a need for more sources of omega-3 PUFA to cover the increasing demand. This study investigated whether livers from different lean fish species could be a potential new source of oils rich in omega-3 PUFA. The seasonal variation in lipid content, fatty acid composition, peroxide value and free fatty acid content (FFA) of livers from cod, hake, ling, coalfish and monkfish was determined, and the effect of storage conditions on the fishing vessel (ice vs frozen) was studied. Generally, the lipid content and composition of the livers from the five fish species varied similarly during the two years of the sampling period, with significantly lower values in spring (March, April) and higher values in fall (October, November). Storage conditions were found to have no significant effect on the quality and oil composition. Monkfish livers were less suitable for production of omega-3 oil due to their lower lipid and EPA content as well as higher FFA levels. Coalfish had higher fluctuations in oil composition during the sampling period, which potentially makes a standardised quality difficult to obtain. Cod, hake and ling were the most suitable species for fish liver oil production.