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Journal of Food Science and Technology Aug 2023Medium-chain triglycerides contain medium-chain fatty acid esterified to the glycerol backbone. These MCFA have a shorter chain length and are quickly metabolized in the... (Review)
Review
Medium-chain triglycerides contain medium-chain fatty acid esterified to the glycerol backbone. These MCFA have a shorter chain length and are quickly metabolized in the body serving as an immediate energy source. They are known to have good physiological as well as functional characteristics which help in treating various health disorders. Naturally, they are found in coconut oil, milk fat, and palm kernel oil, and they are synthetically produced by esterification and interesterification reactions. Due to their numerous health benefits, MCT is used as a functional or nutraceutical oil in various food and pharmaceutical formulations. To increase their nutraceutical benefits and food applications MCFA can be used along with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the synthesis of structured lipids. This review aims to provide information about triglycerides of MCFA, structure, metabolism, properties, synthetic routes, intensified synthesis approaches, health benefits, application, and safety of use of MCT in the diet.
PubMed: 35761969
DOI: 10.1007/s13197-022-05499-w -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023() is a soil-borne fungus threatening oil palm at the present. It causes basal stem rot disease on oil palm. Within six months, this fungus can cause an oil palm... (Review)
Review
() is a soil-borne fungus threatening oil palm at the present. It causes basal stem rot disease on oil palm. Within six months, this fungus can cause an oil palm plantation to suffer a significant 43% economic loss. The high persistence and nature of spread of in soil make control of the disease challenging. Therefore, controlling the pathogen requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that underlie pathogenicity as well as its interactions with host plants. In this paper, we present the general characteristics, the pathogenic mechanisms, and the host's defensive system of . We also review upcoming and most promising techniques for disease management that will have the least negative effects on the environment and natural resources.
PubMed: 37492765
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1156869 -
Heliyon Nov 2023This paper carried out a comparative review on the current trends in the conversion of palm oil waste into value-adding products by the Cameroonian and Malaysian palm... (Review)
Review
This paper carried out a comparative review on the current trends in the conversion of palm oil waste into value-adding products by the Cameroonian and Malaysian palm sectors/researchers. Trends like composting, composite, pulping, mushroom cultivation, pyrolysis, aerobic and anaerobic digestion of palm biomass were studied as means to reduce the bulk, and to curb emissions of Greenhouse gas while producing value. Base on this research, limited works has been done on the conversion of palm biomass into value in Cameroon, whereas Malaysian palm researchers have employed all of these techniques and producing values from them. It was discovered that the various conversion process have different degree of feasibility and sustainability, and the end-products have different applications. Conversion process like pyrolysis is relatively faster, it could take just a few minute and the end-product which is biofuel have a wide range of applications; in contrast to composting which could take up to 180 days to mature and the end-product is limited to fertilizer. This research aims to sensitize the palm sector in Cameroon to the various processes that can be applied to sustainably manage palm waste. A priority table was also developed based on the feasibility and sustainability of the various conversion processes to serve as a guide towards sustainable waste management in the agro-industrial palm sector in Cameroon and a step towards industrialization.
PubMed: 38027990
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21410 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023The aim of this study was to assess the gelling potential of chiral oxalamide derivatives in vegetable oils. Special emphasis was given to the potential applications of...
The aim of this study was to assess the gelling potential of chiral oxalamide derivatives in vegetable oils. Special emphasis was given to the potential applications of the examined oil gels as sustained delivery systems and as fat substitutes in food products. The applicability of oil gelators is envisaged in food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry. The regulations requiring the elimination of saturated fats and rising concerns among consumers health motivated us to investigate small organic molecules capable of efficiently transforming from liquid oil to a gel state. The oxalamide organogelators showed remarkable gelation efficiency in vegetable oils, thermal and mechanical stability, self-healing properties, and a long period of stability. The physical properties of the gels were analysed by TEM microscopy, DSC calorimetry, and oscillatory rheology. The controlled release properties of acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, and hydrocortisone were analysed by the LC-MS method. The influence of the oil type (sunflower, soybean, and olive oil) on gelation efficiency of diverse oxalamide derivatives was examined by oscillatory rheology. The oxalamide gelators showed thermoreversible and thixotropic properties in vegetable oils with a minimum gelation concentration of just 0.025 wt%. The substitution of palm fats with gelled sunflower oil applied in cocoa and milk spreads at gelator concentrations lower than 0.2 wt% have shown promising viscoelastic properties compared to that of the original food products.
PubMed: 37754380
DOI: 10.3390/gels9090699 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023The oil palm kernel (OPK) expeller is the main byproduct of palm oil, but its utilization is limited. To obtain angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition...
The oil palm kernel (OPK) expeller is the main byproduct of palm oil, but its utilization is limited. To obtain angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition peptides with Zn-chelating capacity, defatted oil palm kernel globulin hydrolysates (DOPKGH) were subjected to Sephadex G-15 gel electrophoresis, reverse-phase high liquid performance chromatography, and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Five representative oligopeptides, including Gln-Arg-Leu-Asp-Arg-Cys-Lys (QRLERCK), Leu-Leu-Leu-Gly-Val-Ala-Asn-Tyr-Arg (LLLGVANYR), Arg-Ala-Asp-Val-Phe-Asn-Pro-Arg (RADVFNPR), Arg-Val-Ile-Lys-Tyr-Asn-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly (RVIKYNGGGSG), and Glu-Val-Pro-Gln-Ala-Tyr-Ile-Pro (EVPQAYIP), without potential toxicity and allergenicity, were identified in DOPKGH. Of these, only EVPQAYIP showed both ACE-inhibitory activity (IC: 102.75 μmol/L) and Zn-chelating capacity (11.69 mg/g). Molecular docking and inhibition kinetics showed that EVPQAYIP was a competitive inhibitor of ACE because it could bind to Glu384, Lys511, and Gln281 (belonging to the central S1 and S2 pockets, respectively) of ACE. Moreover, EVPQAYIP affects zinc tetrahedral coordination in ACE by binding to Glu411; the amino and carboxyl groups of EVPQAYIP chelate with zinc ions. During gastrointestinal digestion, the ACE inhibitory activity of EVPQAYIP was relatively stable. Additionally, EVPQAYIP enhanced zinc stability in the intestine and exerted antihypertensive effects in spontaneous hypertensive rats. These results suggest the potential application of OPK peptides as ingredients in antihypertensive agents or zinc fortification.
PubMed: 37601067
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1225256 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The production of waxes from vegetable oils, such as palm oil, for use as a base material in products for human applications is an alternative to those derived from...
The production of waxes from vegetable oils, such as palm oil, for use as a base material in products for human applications is an alternative to those derived from petroleum and animals. Seven palm oil-derived waxes, called biowaxes (BW1-BW7) in this work, were obtained by catalytic hydrotreating of refined and bleached African palm oil and refined palm kernel oil. They were characterized by three properties: compositional, physicochemical (melting point, penetration value, and pH), and biological (sterility, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, antioxidant, and irritant). Their morphologies and chemical structures were studied by SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, and H NMR. The BWs presented structures and compositions similar to natural biowaxes (beeswax and carnauba). They had a high concentration of waxy esters (17%-36%) with long alkyl chains (C, 19-26) per carbonyl group, which are related to high melting points (<20-47.9 °C) and low penetration values (2.1-3.8 mm). They also proved to be sterile materials with no cytotoxic, phototoxic, antioxidant, or irritant activity. The biowaxes studied could be used in cosmetic and pharmacological products for human use.
PubMed: 37374583
DOI: 10.3390/ma16124402 -
BMC Nutrition Jan 2024During recent years several studies have investigated the impact of different dietary oils on body weight. They have shown differential positive and negative effects on...
BACKGROUND
During recent years several studies have investigated the impact of different dietary oils on body weight. They have shown differential positive and negative effects on anthropometry. We investigated the effects of palm and coconut oils on body weight and other anthropometric parameters, considering their importance as a primary source of saturated fat, controlling for other confounding variable such as total energy intake.
METHODS
The study was conducted as a sequential feeding clinical trial with 40 healthy men and women divided into two feeding periods of initial palm oil (8 weeks) and subsequent coconut oil (8 weeks), with a 16-week washout period in between. Each participant received a pre-determined volume of each oil, which were integrated into their routine main meals and snacks during the respective study periods. Changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were evaluated. Physical activity levels and dietary intake were also evaluated as potential confounding factors.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven participants completed both oil treatment periods. The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 39 (± 13.1) years. There were no significant differences in any of the anthropometric parameters between the initial point of feeding coconut oil and the initial point of feeding palm oil. Following both oil treatment phases, no significant changes in the subjects' body weight, BMI, or other anthropometric measurements (WC, HC, and WHR) were observed.
CONCLUSION
Neither coconut oil nor palm oil significantly changed anthropometry-related cardiovascular risk factors such as body weight, BMI, WC, HC, and WHR.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Sri Lankan Clinical Trial Registry: SLCTR/2019/034 on 4th October 2019 ( https://slctr.lk/trials/slctr-2019-034 ).
PubMed: 38200608
DOI: 10.1186/s40795-023-00812-y -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Apr 2024The expansion of the oil palm industry in Indonesia has improved livelihoods in rural communities, but comes at the cost of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation. Here,...
The expansion of the oil palm industry in Indonesia has improved livelihoods in rural communities, but comes at the cost of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation. Here, we investigated ways to balance ecological and economic outcomes of oil palm cultivation. We compared a wide range of production systems, including smallholder plantations, industrialized company estates, estates with improved agronomic management, and estates with native tree enrichment. Across all management types, we assessed multiple indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, management, and landscape structure to identify factors that facilitate economic-ecological win-wins, using palm yields as measure of economic performance. Although, we found that yields in industrialized estates were, on average, twice as high as those in smallholder plantations, ecological indicators displayed substantial variability across systems, regardless of yield variations, highlighting potential for economic-ecological win-wins. Reducing management intensity (e.g., mechanical weeding instead of herbicide application) did not lower yields but improved ecological outcomes at moderate costs, making it a potential measure for balancing economic and ecological demands. Additionally, maintaining forest cover in the landscape generally enhanced local biodiversity and ecosystem functioning within plantations. Enriching plantations with native trees is also a promising strategy to increase ecological value without reducing productivity. Overall, we recommend closing yield gaps in smallholder cultivation through careful intensification, whereas conventional plantations could reduce management intensity without sacrificing yield. Our study highlights various pathways to reconcile the economics and ecology of palm oil production and identifies management practices for a more sustainable future of oil palm cultivation.
Topics: Ecosystem; Industrial Oils; Arecaceae; Forests; Biodiversity; Agriculture; Trees; Palm Oil; Conservation of Natural Resources
PubMed: 38621138
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307220121 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023Palmitic acid (PA) is a saturated fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil and palm oil. It serves as an energy source for the body and plays a role in the structure and... (Review)
Review
Palmitic acid (PA) is a saturated fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil and palm oil. It serves as an energy source for the body and plays a role in the structure and function of cell membranes. Beyond its industrial applications, PA has gained attention for its potential therapeutic properties. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that PA exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing effects. In recent years, PA has emerged as a promising anti-tumor agent with demonstrated efficacy against various malignancies including gastric cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Its anti-tumor effects encompass inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, suppressing metastasis and invasion, enhancing sensitivity to chemotherapy, and improving immune function. The main anticancer mechanism of palmitic acid (PA) involves the induction of cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, facilitated by the promotion of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. PA also exhibits interference with the cancer cell cycle, leading to cell cycle arrest predominantly in the G1 phase. Moreover, PA induces programmed cell autophagy death, inhibits cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, and synergistically enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs while reducing adverse reactions. PA acts on various intracellular and extracellular targets, modulating tumor cell signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), endoplasmic reticulum (ER), B Cell Lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), P53, and other signaling pathways. Furthermore, derivatives of PA play a significant regulatory role in tumor resistance processes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent studies investigating the anti-tumor effects of PA. It summarizes the underlying mechanisms through which PA exerts its anti-tumor effects, aiming to inspire new perspectives for the treatment of malignant tumors in clinical settings and the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.
PubMed: 37637038
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1224125