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Minor lipid components of some Acacia species: potential dietary health benefits of the unexploited seeds

BACKGROUND: Oilseed samples from four Acacia species ( A. cyclops, A. ligulata, A. salicina and A. cyanophylla) were analyzed in order to evaluate the potential nutritional value of their unexploited seeds. METHODS: Samples were collected from different Tunisian geographic locations. Seed oils were...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Nasri, Nizar, Elfalleh, Walid, Tlili, Nizar, Hannachi, Hédia, Triki, Saida, Khaldi, Abdelhamid
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BioMed Central 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3439337/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22577797
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-11-49
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Oilseed samples from four Acacia species ( A. cyclops, A. ligulata, A. salicina and A. cyanophylla) were analyzed in order to evaluate the potential nutritional value of their unexploited seeds. METHODS: Samples were collected from different Tunisian geographic locations. Seed oils were extracted and carotenoids, tocopherols and sterols were analyzed using chromatographic methods. RESULTS: The studied Acacia seeds seem to be quite rich in lipids (from 6% to 12%). All Acacia species contain mainly the xanthophylls zeaxanthin and lutein compounds: from ca. 38 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 113 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyanophylla). Total tocopherols varied from ca. 221 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 808 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. ligulata). Sterols are highly present and their contents ranged between ca. 7 g. kg(-1) of total lipids (A. salicina) and 11 g. kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that these unexploited seeds might have a potential nutritional value and encourages researchers to more explore and find developments for these plants for healthy purposes.