Effects of Harvest Time on the Yield, Quality and Active Substance of Torreya grandis Nut and Its Oil.

Torreya grandis is an important economic tree species in China. It provides nutritional value and is important to the health care industry. There are ongoing issues with product quality which are primarily related to improper management and early harvest. This study was carried out during the fruit ripening processes to evaluate the influence of harvesting date on T. grandis quality, and to determine the optimal harvest period. The effects of harvest time on the variation of quality and nutritional parameters of T. grandis nuts and its oil were evaluated, and the optimal harvest period was determined. The results showed that harvest timing had a strong effect on both oil yield and quality. Prolonged ripening could induce higher levels of kernel rate, fruit inclusions, oil and nutritional quality. When the sample harvested in the mid-September, the kernel rate and oil content were increased by 1.88±0.31% and 6.65±0.47%, respectively, compared to samples harvested in the beginning of late-August. Similarly, the mid-September harvest resulted in total unsaturated fatty acids content of the oil being increased by 5.3±0.34%, the FFA and peroxide value being decreased by 40.7±0.15% and 76±0.08%, respectively, and total tocopherols and free amino acids were increased 7.5±0.24% and 47.3±0.15%, respectively, compared to the samples harvested on Aug. 25. The results indicated that the optimal harvest time of T. grandis fruits was mid-September as it was beneficial for improving the quality of T. grandis nut and its oil. It was suggested that T. grandis fruit should be harvested later.

Maillard reaction derived from oil-tea camellia seed through roasting.

BACKGROUND: The Maillard reaction products (MRPs) formed after roasting of oil-tea camellia seeds (camellia seeds) were investigated. Camellia seeds are inevitably heated during processing, but the effect of heating or roasting on the physicochemical properties of camellia seed or oil-tea camellia seed oil (camellia oil) has been seldom studied, especially with respect to the Maillard reaction. RESULTS: Changes in reducing sugars, free amino acids, pH, color, browning intensity and MRP (furosine, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furural) concentrations were examined in camellia seeds during roasting at 120-160 °C for 20-120 min. Results showed that roasting leads first to a decrease and then to a considerable increase in free amino groups and, at the same time, to a reduction in moisture content and decrease in pH. The sucrose content of the seeds decreased, while that of glucose and fructose increased reciprocally during roasting. On the other hand, the observed changes concerning glyoxal were negligible. Furthermore, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural have been found at the end of the roasting process, with maximum values of 572.26 ± 1.91 mg kg-1 dry wt and 0.46 ± 0.003 mg kg-1 dry wt, at 160 °C for 120 min, respectively. CONCLUSION: This investigation provides the initial groundwork necessary for the development and implementation of green and efficient technology that could be applied to obtain high-quality camellia oil. Future research is necessary to assess antioxidant capacity, quality and safety of oil after thermal processing of camellia seeds. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antifungal Effect of Camellia Seed Cake Extract on Aspergillus flavus.

HIGHLIGHTS: The antifungal effect of the active substance in camellia seed cake is evaluated on Aspergillus flavus. The n-butanol phase exhibited an apparent antagonistic effect on A. flavus. A reference and a guide for natural antifungal agents is provided. Knowledge of the utilization of the by-products of camellia seed is broadened.