Search Results (34)

This study compares the nutritional and metabolic properties of unconventional cold-pressed vegetable oils available on the Polish market. Twelve oils—milk thistle, evening primrose, flaxseed, camelina sativa, black cumin, pumpkin seed, sesame, mustard seed, sea buckthorn, blue poppy seed, borage, and safflower—were examined. The chosen oils were investigated based on their fatty acids profiles, total phenolic compounds (TPC), tocopherols, and pigment contents. Despite the high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content raising concerns about oxidative stability, the significant tocopherol levels and polyphenols content contribute to antioxidative protection. These oils’ favorable hypocholesterolemic, antiatherogenic, and antithrombogenic properties were highlighted by key nutritional indices, showing potential benefits for cardiovascular health. These results suggest that these oils are a promising dietary supplement for promoting both cardiovascular health and sustainability, owing to their rich content of essential fatty acids and bioactive compounds. Moreover, high correlations were found between theoretical and experimental established oxidative stability of the tested oils at the ending stage of the thermostat test. Full article

The sustainable production of healthy structured lipids (SLs) using oils extracted from agro-industry by-products or non-conventional lipid sources is of utmost importance in the framework of a circular bioeconomy, toward a zero-waste goal. In this study, low-calorie triacylglycerols (TAGs) containing a long-chain (L) fatty acid (FA) at position sn-2 and medium-chain (M) FAs at positions sn-1,3 (MLM type SL) were obtained from virgin cold-pressed milk thistle (51.55% linoleic acid; C18:2), grapeseed (66.62% C18:2), and apricot kernel (68.61% oleic acid; C18:1) oils. Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis with capric acid (C10:0) or interesterification with ethyl caprate (C10 Ethyl) in solvent-free media were performed. In batch reactions, immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase (Lipozyme RM) was used as a biocatalyst. For all tested oils, new TAG (SL) yields, varying from 61 to 63%, were obtained after 6 h of interesterification. Maximum new TAG yields were reached after 6, 24, and 30 h of acidolysis with grapeseed (64.7%), milk thistle (56.1%), or apricot kernel (69.7%) oils, respectively. Continuous acidolysis and interesterification of grapeseed oil were implemented in a packed-bed bioreactor, catalyzed by immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (Lipozyme TL IM). Throughout 150 h of continuous operation, no lipase deactivation was observed, with average SL yields of 79.2% ± 4.1 by interesterification and 61.5% ± 5.91 by acidolysis. Full article

Background: Silibinin (SLB), a flavonoid derived from milk thistle, exhibits promising therapeutic properties but faces significant clinical limitations due to poor solubility and bioavailability. Objectives: This study focuses on the development and characterization of SLB-loaded nanoemulsions designed for mucosal delivery. Methods: Nanoemulsions were prepared using the spontaneous emulsification method, guided by pseudoternary phase diagrams to determine selected component ratios. Comprehensive characterization included particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, rheological properties, and surface tension. Mucoadhesive properties were evaluated using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to quantify interactions with mucin layers. Results: The combination of Capryol 90, Tween 80, and Transcutol in selected proportions yielded nanoemulsions with excellent stability and solubilization capacity, enhancing the solubility of silibinin by 625 times compared to its intrinsic solubility in water. The ternary phase diagram indicated that achieving nanoemulsions with particle sizes between 100 and 300 nm required higher concentrations of surfactants (60%), relative to oil (20%) and water (20%), with formulations predominantly composed of Smix (surfactant and cosurfactant mixture in a 1:1 ratio). Rheological analysis revealed Newtonian behavior, characterized by constant viscosity across varying shear rates and a linear torque response, ensuring ease of application and mechanical stability. QCM-D analysis confirmed strong mucoadhesive interactions, with significant frequency and dissipation shifts, indicative of prolonged retention and enhanced mucosal drug delivery. Furthermore, contact angle measurements showed a marked reduction in surface tension upon interaction with mucin, with the SLB-loaded nanoemulsion demonstrating superior wettability and strong mucoadhesive potential. Conclusions: These findings underscore the suitability of SLB-loaded nanoemulsions as a robust platform for effective mucosal drug delivery, addressing solubility and bioavailability challenges while enabling prolonged retention and controlled therapeutic release. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stability and surface properties of cold-pressed vegetable oils using the Langmuir monolayer technique. Six oils—milk thistle, evening primrose, flaxseed, camelina sativa, black cumin, and pumpkin seed—were analyzed to investigate their molecular organization and behavior at the air/water interface, particularly after undergoing oxidation. The results showed that oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as flaxseed and evening primrose oils, formed monolayers with larger molecular areas and lower stability, which led to faster oxidative degradation, especially under thermal conditions. In contrast, pumpkin seed oil, with a higher content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), formed more condensed and stable monolayers, enhancing its resistance to oxidation. Black cumin oil, with a balanced profile of SFAs and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), demonstrated similar stability. The Langmuir technique facilitated a detailed analysis of monolayer phase transitions: PUFA-rich oils transitioned more readily to less stable phases, while SFA-rich oils maintained durable, condensed structures. These findings underscore the utility of this method for assessing the oxidative stability of vegetable oils and highlight key parameters—such as surface pressure, molecular area, and elasticity modulus—that can support the optimization of oil storage and quality in the food industry and related sectors. Full article

This study investigates the underutilized potential of agri-crops from the Asteraceae family by employing sustainable and green technologies (supercritical fluid, ultrasound, and Soxhlet extractions) to enhance the recovery of bioactive compounds. A total of 21 extracts from native and waste seeds of dandelion, milk thistle, and chamomile were systematically compared utilizing a combination of solvents (supercritical CO₂ and absolute or aqueous ethanol). Supercritical CO₂ extraction yielded up to 281 mg/g of oils from native seeds, while conventional techniques with ethanol recovered an additional 142 mg/g of extracts from waste seeds. Notably, waste seed extracts exhibited superior biological activity, including potent antioxidant properties (IC₅₀ values as low as 0.3 mg/mL in the DPPH assay) and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against 32 microbial strains, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast strains. Phenolic compounds were abundant, with up to 2126 mg GAE/g, alongside 25.9 mg QE/g flavonoids, and 805.5 mg/kg chlorophyll A. A selective anticancer activity of waste milk thistle extracts was observed, with a selectivity index of 1.9 to 2.7. The oils recovered from native seeds demonstrated lower bioactivity and are well-suited for applications in food. The potent bioactivity of the smaller quantities of waste seed extracts positions them as valuable candidates for pharmaceutical use. Full article

The present study is integrated in a global effort to capitalize waste cooking oil (WCO) into versatile compounds by introducing an oxirane ring into the unsaturated carbon chain of fatty acid residues (the epoxidation of double bound). Therefore, an enzymatic method was set up for the epoxidation of artificially adulterated WCO (SFw) and WCO under real conditions (SFr) derived from sunflower biomass. Commercial lipase (Novozyme, NZ) was used as a biocatalyst for generating the peracid requested by the epoxidation pathway. Optimum experimental conditions (e.g., 1.5 wt% NZ, 1:1:0.5 = H₂O₂/double bonds/peracid precursor (molar ratio) and 12 h reaction time) allowed for the conversion of 90% of the SFw substrate into products with an oxirane ring. Octanoic acid was selected as the best peracid precursor. The versatility of the developed system was tested for olive, milk thistle, hemp and linseed oils as both fresh and WCO samples. The characterization of the oil samples before and after the enzymatic epoxidation allowed for the evaluation of the system performance. SFw/SFr exhibited a better susceptibility to enzymatic epoxidation. In addition, the reusability of the biocatalytic system was investigated. Furthermore, different strategies, such as biocatalyst coating and the addition of organic solvents/buffers were applied, limiting enzyme leaching, for the better recovery of the biocatalyst activity. Full article

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using residues from cooking oil production to produce alternative biochar fuels along with optimizing the pyrolysis process. The work consisted of carrying out the pyrolysis process at varying temperatures and holding times at the final temperature, and then evaluating the energy potential of the materials studied. Taking into account aspects of environmental emissions, the content of selected oxides in the flue gases generated during the combustion of cakes and the biochar obtained from them was evaluated. Plant biomass derived from a variety of oilseeds, i.e., fennel flower (Nigella sativa L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. Napus), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), was used to produce biochar. The experimental data have shown that the obtained biochar can have a calorific value of nearly 27 MJ kg⁻¹. The use of pyrolysis allowed for a maximum increase in the calorific value of nearly 41% compared to non-thermally processed cakes and a several-fold decrease in carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions. According to these results, it can be concluded that the pyrolysis process can be an attractive method for using residues from the production of various cooking oils to produce alternative biofuels, developing the potential of the circular economy. Full article

This study aims to explore the potential of Algerian milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seeds for food application. Solid–liquid extraction and Soxhlet extraction methods were employed to obtain both aqueous and fatty fractions using different solvents. Spectrophotometry was used to assess the content of bioactive compounds and pigments, while gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyzed the fatty acid composition. Additionally, the oxidative stability of the plant oil was evaluated using the Rancimat test. The results indicated a moisture content of 0.779% and a plant oil extraction yield of 0.278%. The polyphenol content in the oil was measured at 142.66 mg/100 g. The choice of solvent significantly impacted the content of bioactive compounds, with the highest values observed in the 80% methanol extract for total polyphenols, the aqueous extract for total flavonoids, and the ethanol extract for reducing power. Furthermore, the present study quantified pigments including chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. GC-MS analysis revealed a diverse range of fatty acids typical of edible oils, including essential fatty acids from the ω3, ω6, and ω9 series. The Rancimat test indicated an oxidation resistance of 14.65 h. Overall, the findings suggest that Silybum marianum holds promise as an edible oil source rich in antioxidants, micronutrients, and essential fatty acids. Full article

The group of innovative ingredients in cosmetic preparations includes bio-ferments (Bs), which are characterized by high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and one of the plants rich in bioactive compounds that has a beneficial effect on the skin and the body is Silybum marianum. Bio-ferments obtained from this plant are becoming increasingly useful as active ingredients in cosmetics. In the present study, four different bio-ferments were obtained by fermentation of pomace (B-P), extract (B-E), oil (B-O), and seeds (B-S) of milk thistle. Their biodegradability (%B), total polyphenols content (Folin–Ciocalteu method), and antimicrobial, antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods), chelating (Fe²⁺ ions), and reduction (Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions) properties, as well as the acidity, were evaluated. The contact angle using the sessile drop method was assessed to investigate bio-ferments’ impact on skin wettability. Finally, the content of selected phenolic acids in the Bs was evaluated using the HPLC method, while the lactic acid (LA) content was assessed using the GC-MS method. All bio-ferments were characterized by high polyphenols content (13.56 ± 0.10–15.28 ± 0.12 mmol GA/L B), chelating (0.08 ± 0.01–0.17 ± 0.01 mmol Fe²⁺/L B) and antioxidant activity (DPPH method, 2.41 ± 0.01–3.53 ± 0.01 mmol Tx/L B), and reducing Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, neochlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, and LA were identified in Bs. The most increased antibacterial activity for B-P was observed for a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 250 μL/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 250 μL/mL). Simultaneously, B-S demonstrated the highest inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli (MIC = 125 μL/mL), emphasizing the varied antimicrobial profiles of these bio-ferments against different bacterial strains. Research on aerobic biodegradation demonstrated a high level of degradation (%B = 60 ± 1–65 ± 3), and all Bs were categorized as readily degradable according to the OECD classification. Full article

Cold-pressed moringa, milk thistle, and jujube seed oils were investigated in terms of their characteristic profiles, thermal properties, and oxidative stability. The findings proved that the extracted oils were characterized by high nutritional values, which encourages their use in various fields. Results showed significant differences between the obtained oils. Overall, jujube seed oil exhibited the best quality parameters, with acidity equal to 0.762 versus 1% for the moringa and milk thistle seed oils. Milk thistle seed oil showed absorbance in the UV-C (100–290 nm), UV-B (290–320 nm), and UV-A (320–400 nm) ranges, while the moringa and jujube seed oils showed absorbance only in the UV-B and UV-A ranges. Concerning bioactive compounds, jujube seed oil presented the highest content of polyphenols, which promoted a good scavenging capacity (90% at 10 µg/mL) compared to the moringa and milk thistle seed oils. Assessing the thermal properties of the obtained oils showed the presence of four groups of triglycerides in the moringa and milk thistle seed oils, and two groups of triglycerides in the jujube seed oil. The thermograms were constant at temperatures above 10 °C for milk thistle seed oil, 15 °C for jujube seed oil, and 30 °C for moringa seed oil, which corresponded to complete liquefaction of the oils. The extinction coefficients K₂₃₂ and K₂₇₀, monitored during storage for 60 days at 60 °C, proved that jujube seed oil had the highest polyphenols content and was the most stable against thermal oxidation. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the peroxide values, acid numbers, oxidative stability (Rancimat method), antioxidant activity (DPPH method), antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method), sensory properties (9-point hedonic scale), and fatty acid profiles (FAME) of five edible oils purchased from local Slovakian producers—grape seed oil, flax seed oil, walnut oil, poppy seed oil, and milk thistle seed oil. The peroxide value ranged from 2.27 (milk thistle oil) to 8.51 (flax seed oil) mmol O₂/kg. All these values were in accordance with regulations (upper limit of 20 mmol O₂/kg). The values of the acid number ranged from 0.11 (walnut oil) to 2.49 (milk thistle oil) mg KOH/g, and were in accordance with regulations as they did not exceed the value of 4 mg KOH/g. The oxidation stability was the lowest in flax seed oil (0.18 h) and the highest in grape seed oil (2.05 h). In milk thistle oil, the highest amounts of oleic and behenic acids, in flax seed oil, the highest amount of α-linolenic acid, and in grape seed oil, the highest amount of linolic acid were determined. Antioxidant activity was the strongest in the sample of grape seed oil—65.53 mg TEAC/L (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity). Samples of flax seed oil showed the strongest inhibition of Candida albicans CCM 8186 (4.58 mm) and Bacillus subtilis CCM 2010 (0.31 mm). Poppy seed oil was determined to be the most inhibiting towards Klebsiella pneumoniae CCM 2318 (3.68 mm). Milk thistle oil showed the strongest inhibition of Clostridium perfringens CCM 4435 (6.31 mm). Grape seed oil was the most inhibitory towards Staphylococcus aureus subs. aureus CCM 2461 (5.32 mm). Walnut oil showed the strongest activity towards Yersinia enterocolitica CCM 5671 (6.33 mm). The sensory analysis resulted in the samples of walnut and grape seed oil being awarded the highest scores for smell, taste, and overall acceptability. The tested edible oils are rich in biologically active compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Their consumption can have a positive effect on the functioning of the human body and its health. Proper storage conditions are, however, necessary because of the susceptibility of these oils to oxidation. Full article

The fatty acid (FA) compositions of thirty-nine vegetable oils and fats, including nangai nut, pili nut, shea butter, tamanu oil, baobab, sea buckthorn berry, Brazil nut, grape seed, black seed, evening primrose, passion fruit, milk thistle, sunflower, pumpkin seed, sesame, soybean, flax seed, kukui, red raspberry seed, walnut, chia seed, hemp seed, rosehip, almond, avocado, carrot seed, moringa, apricot kernel, camellia seed, macadamia, olive, marula, argan, castor, jojoba, pomegranate seed, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut, roasted coconut, canola, and mustard oil, were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vegetable oils and fats have different profiles in terms of their fatty acid composition, and their major constituents vary significantly. However, we categorized them into different classes based on the percentages of different fatty acids they contain. The saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid and stearic acid, and the unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, are the main categories. Among them, roasted coconut oil contained the greatest amount of saturated fatty acids followed by nangai nut (45.61%). Passion fruit oil contained the largest amount of linoleic acid (66.23%), while chia seed oil had the highest content of linolenic acid (58.25%). Oleic acid was exclusively present in camellia seed oil, constituting 78.57% of its composition. Notably, mustard oil had a significant presence of erucic acid (54.32%), while pomegranate seed oil exclusively contained punicic acid (74.77%). Jojoba oil primarily consisted of (Z)-11-eicosenoic acid (29.55%) and (Z)-docos-13-en-1-ol (27.96%). The major constituent in castor oil was ricinoleic acid (89.89%). Compared with other vegetable oils and fats, pili nut oil contained a significant amount of (E)-FA (20.62%), followed by sea buckthorn berry oil with a content of 9.60%. FA compositions from sources may be problematic in the human diet due to no labeling or the absence of essential components. Therefore, consumers must cast an eye over some essential components consumed in their dietary intake. Full article

In this present study, an oil press was used to process 200 g each of sesame, pumpkin, flax, milk thistle, hemp and cumin oilseeds in order to evaluate the amount of oil yield, seedcake, sediments and material losses (oil and sediments). Sesame produced the highest oil yield at 30.60 ± 1.69%, followed by flax (27.73 ± 0.52%), hemp (20.31 ± 0.11%), milk thistle (14.46 ± 0.51%) and pumpkin (13.37 ± 0.35%). Cumin seeds produced the lowest oil yield at 3.46 ± 0.15%. The percentage of sediments in the oil, seedcake and material losses for sesame were 5.15 ± 0.09%, 60.99 ± 0.04% and 3.27 ± 1.56%. Sediments in the oil decreased over longer storage periods, thereby increasing the percentage oil yield. Pumpkin oil had the highest peroxide value at 18.45 ± 0.53 meq O₂/kg oil, an acid value of 11.21 ± 0.24 mg KOH/g oil, free fatty acid content of 5.60 ± 0.12 mg KOH/g oil and iodine value of 14.49 ± 0.16 g l/100 g. The univariate ANOVA of the quality parameters against the oilseed type was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05), except for the iodine value, which was not statistically significant (p-value > 0.05). Future studies should analyze the temperature generation, oil recovery efficiency, percentage of residual oil in the seedcake and specific energy consumption of different oilseeds processed using small-large scale presses. Full article

The agricultural policy of the European Union is currently focused on increasing the area of organic farming. Medicinal plants, including milk thistle (Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.), are particularly suitable for this type of cultivation. The aim of this study was to compare milk thistle fruits from organic and conventional farming in terms of the content of silymarin and individual flavonolignans, oil content, microbiological purity, as well as antimicrobial activity of the silymarin extract, mainly in relation to microorganisms responsible for skin infections. The raw material of Silybi mariani fructus obtained from organic farming did not differ in terms of silymarin and oil content compared to the raw material from conventional cultivation. However, it differed in the composition of silymarin and the level of microbiological contamination. Raw material from organic farming was mostly characterized by a higher proportion of the sum of silydianin and silychristin in the silymarin complex than the sum of silybinin A and silybinin B. In the samples from conventional cultivation, only genotypes with a predominance of silybinins were present. Although the total number of microorganisms (TAMC) and yeasts and molds (TYMC) on fruit from organic farming were several times higher than on fruit from conventional farming, it was still within the standards set for food products. All raw materials were free of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, it was shown that the silymarin extract from organic farming was generally characterized by greater antimicrobial activity, especially in relation to Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant and troublesome in skin infections. Full article

The consumption of cold-pressed oils (CPOs) has continuously increased due to their health-promoting compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), tocopherols, sterols, and polyphenols. This study focused on the estimation and comparison of the physicochemical properties and sensory quality of six CPOs: linseed oil (CPLO), pumpkin oil (CPPO), milk thistle oil (CPMTO), rapeseed oil (CPRO), camelina oil (CPCO), and sunflower oil (CPSO), which are the most popular in the Polish market. These oils were analysed for their fatty acid composition (FAC), their tocopherol, sterol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), water, and volatile matter (WVM) contents, as well as their antioxidant activity (AA) and oxidative stability parameters. Moreover, quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was performed to obtain detailed information on the sensory profiles and quantitative data on the CPOs’ attributes that affected consumer acceptability and purchase intent. All of the analysed CPOs were rich in PUFA (27.94–68.42%). They were characterised by the different total amounts of health-beneficial compounds, such as tocopherols (TTC = 44.04–76.98 mg/100 g), sterols (TSC = 300–684 mg/100 g), and polyphenols (TPC = 2.93–8.32 mg GA/100 g). Additionally, their AA was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, with results ranging between 185.36–396.63, 958.59–1638.58, and 61.93–119.21 µmol TE/100 g, respectively. However, the deterioration parameters of CPOs, such as peroxide values (PV = 0.24–4.61 meq O₂/kg), p-anisidine values (pAnV = 0.39–4.77), acid values (AV = 0.31–2.82 mg KOH/g), and impurity amounts (Σ4PAHs = 1.16–8.76 μg/kg and WVM = 0.020–0.090%), did not exceed the level recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The obtained results indicated that all of the investigated CPOs are valuable sources of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Full article