Concentrations of tocols and γ-oryzanol compounds in rice bran oil obtained by fractional extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide.

Rice bran oil (RBO) is a good source of several commercially important bioactive phytochemicals, such as tocols (i.e. tocopherols and tocotrienols) and ferulic esters of sterols (i.e. γ-oryzanol). The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of different pressure and temperature combinations on the fractional extraction of RBO using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and to assess the levels of tocols homologues and γ-oryzanol components in the resulting oil fractions. Fractional extraction of rice bran oil was performed using SC-CO2 at either 27.6 or 41.4 MPa and either 40 or 60°C. The effects of the four different pressure and temperature combinations on the levels of seven tocols homologues (α-, ß-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol) and the four major components of γ-oryzanol in the resulting oil fractions were investigated. Superior extraction efficiency was obtained using the higher pressure of 41.4 MPa. The tocols (particularly α-tocopherol and α-tocotrienol) were recovered early in the extraction process, while the γ-oryzanol compounds were obtained in the later stages. With regard to SC-CO2 extraction, tocols are more soluble than γ-oryzanol components, α-tocopherol is the most soluble of the tocols and the four γ-oryzanol components all have similar solubilities. Valuable data on solubilities of tocols homologues in SC-CO2 were provided from present study.

Lipase-catalyzed production of pinolenic acid concentrate from pine nut oil using a recirculating packed bed reactor.

Pinolenic acid (PLA) concentrate in fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) was efficiently produced from pine nut oil via lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis using a recirculating packed bed reactor (RPBR). The effects of reaction temperature, molar ratio, and residence time on the concentration of PLA were explored. Novozym 435 lipase from Candida antarctica showed less selectivity toward PLA esterified at the sn-3 position when temperature was increased from 45 to 55 °C. For the trials of molar ratio between 1: 50 and 1: 100 (pine nut oil to ethanol), there were no significant differences in the yield of PLA. Residence time of substrate in a RPBR affected significantly the PLA content as well as the yield of PLA. Optimal temperature, molar ratio (pine nut oil to ethanol), and residence time for production of PLA concentrate via lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis in a RPBR were 45 °C, 1: 50, and 3 min, respectively. Under these conditions, the maximal PLA content (36.1 mol%) in the concentrate was obtained during the initial 10 min of reaction.

Short-term control of capsaicin on blood and oxidative stress of rats in vivo.

Capsaicin (8-methyl-n-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), a pungent component found in red pepper can induce body heat and possibly enhance blood flow as well as increase energy expenditure, and prevent oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were divided into vehicle, 1 mg/kg body weight capsaicin and 3 mg/kg body weight capsaicin groups. Samples were taken from the animals on day 1 of i.p. treatment with capsaicin and on 3 consecutive days of i.p. treatment with capsaicin. Our investigation demonstrated that blood flow measurements in rats was negatively correlated with LDL after treatment with capsaicin. Although capsaicin did not show a noticeable effect on the serum total cholesterol level, LDL decreased while HDL and triglyceride increased in rats treated with 3 mg/kg capsaicin for 3 days. The antioxidant effect of capsaicin was not shown when the rats were treated with 1 mg/kg body weight capsaicin. However, rats treated with 3 mg/kg body weight capsaicin for 3 days showed a reduction of oxidative stress measured as malondialdehyde in the liver, lung, kidney and muscle. Liver glycogen was found to decrease after 3 days treatment with 3 mg/kg body weight capsaicin. From this study, it is hypothesized that capsaicin can be a potent antioxidant and aid in lowering LDL even when consumed for a short period.