Impact of hydrothermal processing on squalene, α-tocopherol, and fatty acid content in Job's tears grain milled fractions: evaluation of their storage stability

J Sci Food Agric. 2021 Apr;101(6):2319-2327. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.10853. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Abstract

Background: Job's tears possess an exceptionally high amount of fat and the unsaponifiable fraction is a potential source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydrothermal processing on squalene, α-tocopherol, and fatty acids in the whole-grain, milled fractions, and their storage stability.

Results: The highest level of squalene content was found in the bran fractions of native and processed Job's tears (11.54-12.75 mg 100 g-1 ). A remarkably high amount of α-tocopherol was also found in the bran (59.75 ± 0.47 mg 100 g-1 ) and germ (67.05 ± 0.94 mg 100 g-1 ) of the processed grain fractions. The storage stability evaluation of these bioactive compounds in the polished grains revealed no significant difference between 0 and 15 days of storage under elevated temprature of 37 °C and 92% relative humidity (accelarated storage conidition) and retained the bioactive compounds longer in the processed grains.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the processed Job's tears milled fractions with high bioactive compounds and improved shelf life can be used as food ingredients in product development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: fatty acids; fractionation; hydrothermal treatment; squalene; storage stability; α-tocopherol.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Coix / chemistry*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis*
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Food Storage
  • Hot Temperature
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Squalene / analysis*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Squalene
  • alpha-Tocopherol