Background: Characterization of food lipids has triggered the development of applications for the food and health\nindustries. Thus, the lipid profiles of an increasing number of fruits and their seeds have been characterized and\nnumerous bioactive components have been isolated. The bitter gourd seed oil has aroused great interest because\nit contains relevant amounts of conjugated fatty acid �±-eleostearic acid (C18:3 9c11t13t), a positional and geometric\nisomer of �±-linolenic acid. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the phytochemical composition and quality\nparameters of the seed oil of bitter gourd grown in Brazil.\nMethods: Bitter gourd was purchased from CEAGESP (Brazilian company of fresh food storages and warehouses).\nSeeds were lyophilized, and their oil was extracted using the Soxhlet and Folch extraction methods. The profiles\nof fatty acids and phytosterols were analyzed by gas chromatography, and the acidity and peroxide values were\nevaluated by methods of the American Oil Chemistsâ�� Society (AOCS).\nResults: The Soxhlet extraction (40 % w/w) resulted in a higher yield of bitter gourd seed oil than the Folch\nextraction (16 % w/w). For both methods, �±-eleostearic acid (56 and 58 %) was the major lipid in bitter\ngourd seed oil, followed by stearic acid (C18:0; 32 and 27 %). The oil displayed high content of phytosterols\n(886 mg/100 g), mainly �²-sitosterol, and low acidity and peroxide values.\nConclusions: Bitter gourd seed oil from Brazil is an oil of good quality and its high contents of �±-eleostearic\nacid and phytosterols with potential health-beneficial properties make it an attractive plant byproduct.
Loading....