Background and objectives: According to literature the whole cold-pressed lipid fraction extracted from pomegranate seeds, if assumed through diet, can improve immune function in vivo, reduce hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation and act as a chemopreventive agent against hormone-related human cancers. Pomegranate seed oil comprises 10–20% of total seed weight, with an ideal highly unsaturated fatty acid content, mainly constituted by the rare conjugate linolenic acid isomer punicic acid, which activities against inflammation and metabolic syndrome have been confirmed by various in vivo experiments. However, besides several very encouraging studies on the possible beneficial effects of this oil, little is known about the composition of its minor fraction. Therefore, in this work, the main lipidic classes of 17 pomegranate varieties were determined. Methods: The pomegranate oil was extracted by Folch method and several chromatographic techniques were used to determine fatty acid, tocopherol, sterol and phospholipid composition. Results: The total lipid content of pomegranate seeds varied between 7.9 and 16 %. Pomegranate seed oil contained higher amount of CLnA (punicic acid) in the range of 73.6-85.0 % of total fatty acid content. Other major fatty acids were oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid, respectively. Pomegranate seed had high contents of tocopherol (0.6-2.6 mg/g of fat). Delta-tocopherol was 91.2-96.7 % of total tocopherols. The major phytosterols analyzed were delta5-avenasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and â-sitosterol. Moreover some triterpene compounds as betulin, botulino and cyclolanostanol were identified. Three different phospholipids were detected; phosphatidylethanolamine was the first compounds in the range of 44-91% of total phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine were, also, quantified. Conclusions: In summary, these data indicated that pomegranate seeds are rich sources of CLnAs, tocopherols, phospholipids and sterols with potential beneficial physiological activities. In addition, different pomegranate cultivars may differ in their seed components and health properties.

POMEGRANATE SEEDS AS SOURCE OF BIOACTIVE LIPIDS

VERARDO, VITO;TOSELLI, MORENO;CABONI, MARIA
2013

Abstract

Background and objectives: According to literature the whole cold-pressed lipid fraction extracted from pomegranate seeds, if assumed through diet, can improve immune function in vivo, reduce hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation and act as a chemopreventive agent against hormone-related human cancers. Pomegranate seed oil comprises 10–20% of total seed weight, with an ideal highly unsaturated fatty acid content, mainly constituted by the rare conjugate linolenic acid isomer punicic acid, which activities against inflammation and metabolic syndrome have been confirmed by various in vivo experiments. However, besides several very encouraging studies on the possible beneficial effects of this oil, little is known about the composition of its minor fraction. Therefore, in this work, the main lipidic classes of 17 pomegranate varieties were determined. Methods: The pomegranate oil was extracted by Folch method and several chromatographic techniques were used to determine fatty acid, tocopherol, sterol and phospholipid composition. Results: The total lipid content of pomegranate seeds varied between 7.9 and 16 %. Pomegranate seed oil contained higher amount of CLnA (punicic acid) in the range of 73.6-85.0 % of total fatty acid content. Other major fatty acids were oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid, respectively. Pomegranate seed had high contents of tocopherol (0.6-2.6 mg/g of fat). Delta-tocopherol was 91.2-96.7 % of total tocopherols. The major phytosterols analyzed were delta5-avenasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and â-sitosterol. Moreover some triterpene compounds as betulin, botulino and cyclolanostanol were identified. Three different phospholipids were detected; phosphatidylethanolamine was the first compounds in the range of 44-91% of total phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine were, also, quantified. Conclusions: In summary, these data indicated that pomegranate seeds are rich sources of CLnAs, tocopherols, phospholipids and sterols with potential beneficial physiological activities. In addition, different pomegranate cultivars may differ in their seed components and health properties.
2013
V. Verardo; P. Garcia-Salas; M. Toselli; A. Segura- Carretero; A. Fernandez-Gutierrez; M F. Caboni
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/191849
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