Olive Oil

Modern membrane technologies are useful for enhancing the concentration of phenolic antioxidants in olive mill waste water (OMWW) to produce concentrates with valuable applications in functional foods. Three types of OMWW concentrates, each with different levels of solute concentration and purity, were obtained from a single OMWW batch and dissolved in two extra virgin olive oils to achieve saturated solutions. Three addition levels were considered. Accelerated aging testing of the oils was performed at 60 °C and the samples were analyzed after two, four, and 6 weeks of aging. D-optimal design was used to select the 26 experiments that allowed the evaluation of the influence of the different variables on oil stability. The addition of OMWW concentrates resulted in a significant increase in the Radical Scavenging Activity (RSA) of the olive oils. Under these mild experimental conditions, the moderate formation of fatty acid hydroperoxides was probably masked by interfering compounds.

Teaoil Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) is a promising horticultural crop that has been cultivated for various purposes in China for more than 1000 years. It is a small tree, which grows naturally from latitudes of 18° to 34° North and in acidic soils where January mean temperatures do not drop below 2°C. As cooking oil, it compares favorably with olive oil, stores well at room temperature, and has a high smoke temperature. Teaoil is also used in the manufacture of soap, margarine, hair oil, lubricants, paint, rustproof oil and other compounds with a high-molecular weight as well as in cosmetology and dermopharmacy. Extracts from the residues of teaoil processing have been used in livestock feeds, pesticides and fertilizers. The use of tea oil products in controlling rice blast and wheat rust also suggests potential for the development of new biological-based pesticides from this plant. Although edible tea oil production covers about 40,000 km 2 in China, other countries know little about this species, only planting it as an ornamental plant. To share this valued crop to the world, selecting promising clones for targeted habitats is the key to success. Cloning propagation using hypocotyl grafting is recommended. Management practices, such as preparing planting sites with organic fertilizer, controlling weeds, thinning, pruning, alternating harvest time, improving harvest techniques, etc., could significantly increase the economic return for C. oleifera plantations. Further studies on the genetic improvement of tea oil will improve its popularity around the world.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental carcinogenic compounds that may contaminate vegetable oils and their levels can be reduced by refining. In order to understand the influence of the refining steps, the content of 15 PAHs was assessed throughout alkaline refining in soybean, sunflower and olive oil samples. Eight commercial brands of these oils were also analysed. The analytical method involved a liquid–liquid extraction, a solid-phase clean up (C18 and Florisil) followed by RP-HPLC with fluorimetric detection. The total PAHs content in the studied samples can be considered generally low. The light PAHs (2–4 rings) were predominant. Virgin olive oils showed the highest values (max. 26 μg/kg). An evident decrease of PAHs contents during alkaline refining was observed (71%, 88% and 85% in sunflower, soybean and olive oils, respectively) being more pronounced in light PAHs. Neutralization and, particularly, deodorization were the more effective steps contributing...

Ž. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether MTBE is an oxygenated fuel additive that is present in gasoline at levels up to 15% by volume. Since the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments require the use of oxygenated gasoline in 39 areas of the USA, the use of MTBE is projected to continue to dramatically increase. As the use of MTBE increases, the potential for environmental release of MTBE from gasoline stations and automobiles will also increase. Despite its growing use as a fuel additive and its potential for increased exposure to the public, few genotoxicity data on MTBE have been published in the peer-reviewed literature. In the present study, we tested the potential genotoxicity of MTBE in two short-term test systems, an in vitro Salmonella microsuspension assay and an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. For the microsuspension assay, MTBE was tested at 7 dose levels of 30 to 7400 mgrtube in tester strains TA98, TA100, TA104, and TA1535, with and Ž. Ž. without the addition of metabolic enzymes S9 at 4 concentrations 0, 300, 600, and 1200 mg S9rml final concentration. A closed system was used to minimize loss of MTBE. The response was not significant. However, a high degree of toxicity was observed at the highest doses in all tester strains. MTBE was also tested for clastogenicity in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test using both male and female Swiss-Webster mice. Mice were administered single intraperitoneal injections of MTBE in olive oil at 5 doses ranging from 0.25 to 1.75 grkg. There were no significant increases in micronucleus formation at any dose of MTBE when compared with the negative control animals receiving only olive oil. MTBE was not positive when tested for point mutations and clastogenicity, using respectively, a Salmonella microsuspension assay and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Alpeorujo is a waste product of the olive oil mill industry that still has a signi®cant oil content. Before extracting the remaining oil with hexane, the moisture content of the wet waste product has to be reduced from approximately 65% to about 8%. To develop standards for dryer design and operation, an extensive study was carried out at laboratory scale. A drying tunnel was built to calculate drying curves, volatile emissions, ignition temperatures, and solids degradation at high temperatures while drying under several dierent operating conditions. The results of this experimental work allowed us to develop a useful drying model for designing new dryers and for assessing the behaviour of existing ones. Ó

Laccase from Trametes versicolor was immobilized by diazotization on a nylon membrane grafted with glycidil methacrylate, using phenylenediamine as spacer and coupling agent. The behavior of these enzyme derivatives was studied under isothermal and nonisothermal conditions by using syringic acid as substrate, in view of the employment of these membranes in processes of detoxification of vegetation waters from olive oil mills. The pH and temperature dependence of catalytic activity under isothermal conditions has shown that these membranes can be usefully employed under extreme pH and temperatures. When employed under nonisothermal conditions, the membranes exhibited an increase of catalytic activity linearly proportional to the applied transmembrane temperature difference. Percentage activity increases ranging from 62% to 18% were found in the range of syringic acid concentration from 0.02 to 0.8 mM, when a difference of 1°C was applied across the catalytic membrane. Because the percentage activity increase is strictly related to the reduction of the production times, the technology of nonisothermal bioreactors has been demonstrated to be an useful tool also in the treatment of vegetation waters from olive oil mills.

Twelve aroma compounds were monitored and quantified by dynamic headspace analysis after their addition in refined olive oil model systems with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) biophenols to simulate EVOO aroma. The influence of polyphenols on aroma release was studied under simulated mouth conditions by using human saliva, and SPME-GC/MS analysis. While few differences were observed in orthonasal assay (without saliva), interesting results were obtained for retronasal aroma. Biophenols caused generally the lowest headspace release of almost all volatile compounds. However, only ethyl esters and linalool concentrations were significantly lower in retronasal than orthonasal assay. Saliva also caused higher concentration of hexanal, probably due to hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) action on linoleyl hydroperoxides. Epicatechin was compared to EVOO phenolics and the behaviour was dramatically different, likely to be due to salivary protein-tannin binding interactions, which influenced aroma headspace release. These results were also confirmed using two extra virgin olive oils.

To check the influence of the conservation procedure in the chemical composition of chanterelle mushroom, phenolic compounds and organic acids of samples preserved under four different conditions (drying, freezing, conservation in olive oil and in vinegar) were determined. Phenolics and organic acids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-UV, respectively. The results showed that chanterelle is characterized by the presence of six phenolic compounds (3-, 4-, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rutin) and five organic acids (citric, ascorbic, malic, shikimic, and fumaric acids). Samples preserved in olive oil also exhibited hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, luteolin, and apigenin, whereas conservation in vinegar led to the detection of hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and tartaric acid in the analyzed samples. The conservation procedures to which chanterelle samples were subjected seem to affect the qualitative and quantitative phenolics and organic acids profiles.

The influence on the lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in rabbit-liver mitochondria exerted by different edible oils high in oleic acid but different non-glyceride phenolic fractions was studied. High-phenolic virgin olive oil from the variety "Picual", the same oil submitted to an exhaustive process of washing to eliminate the phenolic fraction without altering the lipid profile and high-oleic sunflower oil (poor in phenolic compounds) were added to rabbit diets. The results reveal the importance of the different oleic: linoleic ratio of the lipid sources on the lipid profile of mitochondrial membranes. This is highlighted by the greater proportion of saturated fatty acids and the lower content in oleic acid ( p Ͻ 0.05) shown by the rabbits fed on high-oleic sunflower oil. The group fed on the fat rich in phenolics exhibited the highest level of antioxidants (␣-tocopherol, ubiquinone 10) and the highest activity of glutathione peroxidase as well as the lowest content in hydroperoxides and TBARS. The study provides evidences in vivo about the considerable antioxidant capacity of the phenolic fraction of virgin olive oil in rabbit-liver mitochondria and the important role that this non-glyceride fraction can play in the overall antioxidant benefits attributed to this oil.

RESUMEN. Se ha estimado la concentración de los principales nutrientes de un suelo agrícola, seis meses después de haberlo abonado con alperujo. Los resultados muestran diferencias importantes en el porcentaje de materia orgánica y potasio asimilable entre las parcelas tratadas y las testigo, y confirman que se trata de un fertilizante de liberación lenta y difícil degradación por su descompensada relación C/N.

In recent years, recovery and characterization of enzymes from fish and aquatic invertebrates have taken place and this had led to the emergence of some interesting new applications of these enzymes. However, much less is known about lipases from crustaceans. A lipolytic activity was located in the crab digestive glands (hepatopancreas), from which a crab digestive lipase (CDL) was purified. Pure CDL has a molecular mass of 65 kDa as determined by SDS/PAGE analysis. Unlike known digestive lipases, CDL displayed its maximal activity on long and short-chain triacylglycerols at a temperature of 60 C. A specific activity of 500 U/mg or 130 U/mg was obtained with TC 4 or olive oil as substrate, respectively. Only 10% of the maximal activity was detected at 37 C. The enzyme retained 80% of its maximal activity when incubated during 10 min at 60 C, and was completely inactivated at a temperature higher than 65 C. Interestingly, neither colipase, nor bile salts were detected in the crab hepatopancreas. Which suggests that colipase evolved in invertebrates simultaneously with the appearance of an exocrine pancreas and a true liver which produce bile salts. No similarity between the 13 N-terminal amino acid residues of CDL was found with those of known other digestive lipases.

Written by a diverse team of Midwesterners, this little book is an exploration of the Mediterranean diet - its associated history, agriculture, biology, philosophy, botany, ingredients, and lifestyle - and how this diet can be adapted and celebrated in the American Heartland.

It’s a book for people who share a zeal for healthy food, healthy minds, and healthy hearts.

It’s a book for people who love cooking, love living, and love feeling their very best.

It’s a book for people who want to feed their bodies and their souls.

While this book does contain some incredible recipes curated from some of the most exciting chefs of the High Plains, it’s not just a “cookbook.” (Or a “health book.” Or a “diet book,” for that matter.) Rather, this book is an amazing smorgasbord of principles and particulars - a kind of eclectic community table, a table at which we can all sit, share, learn, and enjoy. In this case, the table is loaded with some truly life-changing ideas that will transform the way you eat and live.

Gel matrices of scleroglucans from Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126 (EPS I and EPS II, from 48-h and 72-h fermentations, respectively) were evaluated on their release kinetics of theophylline (Th). Equivalent polymer (2%, w/w) and Th (0.2%, w/w) concentrations showed almost coincident drug release patterns, independently of polymer molecular weight or the microstructural properties of gel matrices. Dynamic rheological studies of scleroglucan hydrogel structures (storage, G , and loss, G , moduli) indicated a solid-like behavior. Differences on pore size dimensions (EPS I = 20 m and EPS II = 7 m) were in accordance to the differences in G (EPS I = 113 Pa and EPS II = 161 Pa), a fact likely related to variations in the cross-linking density of polymer networks. Compared to already known biopolymers, EPS I and EPS II at 0.5 g/L showed a good dispersing ability against particulate suspensions of activated charcoal, bentonite, CaCO 3 , celite and quartz powder. Emulsifying ability of both EPSs at 2 g/L was high (E = 56-60%) when tested with kerosene, moderate (∼30%) with hexadecane, and negligible in the presence of olive oil-in-water emulsions. (J.I. Fariña).

In this work, feasibility of using chemical pretreatment to improve the anaerobic biological degradation of industrial effluents containing high concentrations of phenolic compounds was investigated. For this purpose, chemical pretreatment of the wastewater generated from olive oil production process, namely olive mill effluent (OME), was conducted by means of acid cracking followed by coagulation-flocculation process using one of the coagulating agents such as Al 2 SO 4 , FeSO 4 and FeCl 3, respectively. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay was carried out for both crude OME and chemically pretreated OME samples in order to monitor and comparatively evaluate any increase in biogas production as the indicator of improvement in anaerobic biological degradation after chemical pretreatment. The experimental results obtained in this work suggest that pretreatment significantly enhances the biodegradability of OME which was much lower if it was digested alone (without pretreatment). Over 80% increase in biogas production was obtained when digesting OME after chemical pretreatment. It was concluded that among the alternative chemicals, Al 2 SO 4 resulted in highest biogas production from OME, thereby the best results for the enhancement of anaerobic biodegradability of OME were also achieved. It was demonstrated that the biodegradability of OME could be significantly enhanced by chemical pretreatment and therefore anaerobic degradation after a suitable pretreatment could be considered as a safe disposal method for OME.

Phthalate, adipate and sebacate esters contamination in olive oils produced in Sicily in the crop years 2006e2009 and in Molise in the crop years 2007e2008 was studied by HRGC-MS. The statistical elaboration of plasticizer data was performed to compare the contamination of the Sicilian samples with those of the samples produced in Molise in the same crop years and to compare the contamination of the Sicilian samples produced in three consecutive crop years. In all analyzed samples DEA, DiHP, DOP, and DEHS residues were always less than their LOQ. Furthermore in Sicilian olive oils were not found residues of DBA and DiDP, while DiBP, BBP and DEHP were found to be the phthalates most abundants. In Molise olive oils there were not residues of DiBA, DMP and DEP, while DiNP and DiDP are the most abundants. Among all plasticizers found only DEHP was observed stronger that its proposed limit by BNN (3 mg/kg) in 9.1% of Molise olive oils and in 27.27% of Sicilian samples of the year 2007e2008.

Mongrel dogs from weaning to 6 months of age were fed on one of two diets that differed only in the type of fat content (virgin olive oil or sunflower seed oil) to compare plasma levels of peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in the basal period and in response to food. Under resting conditions, blood concentrations of both peptides, measured by specific radioimmunoassays, were significantly higher in the olive oil group. Food intake was not followed by any marked or significant changes in PYY or PP circulating levels, although some rises were observed. On the other hand, plasma PYY reached significantly greater values throughout the postprandial period in the dogs fed on the diet containing olive oil, whereas no differences were recorded between the groups as far as PP is concerned. Our results demonstrate that long-term intake of diets enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil) produces significantly higher basal levels of PYY and PP, as well as significantly higher PYY levels in response to food compared with diets containing sunflower oil. The differences, traceable to the composition of the two types of dietary fat supplied, explain the attenuated pancreatic secretory activity observed by us previously in this animal species. This mechanism may be responsible, at least in part, for the adaptation of pancreatic secretion to the quality of dietary fat.

To assess the genetic diversity of the most important olive cultivars used in Portugal, a base collection was established with two hundred and one accessions of eleven cultivars from the different agro-ecological-regions (AER) of olive oil production. Inter-cultivar diversity was evaluated using seven RAPD primers producing fifty-nine polymorphic markers that enable cultivar distinction. Discriminant analysis according to fruit use and AER revealed a genetic structure associated with local selection both for fruit exploitation and agro-ecological adaptation. Intra-cultivar diversity of the ancient cultivar ‘Galega’ was also investigated. Three RAPD and five ISSR primers produced ninety-three polymorphic markers upon seventy-seven accessions from five AERs. Total accession discrimination was achieved. UPGMA clustering and discriminant analysis revealed that the genetic diversity was predominantly structured according to accessions origin. The within and among AER variation revealed by AMOVA supported this genetic structure and showed a high proportion of intra-AER variability. These evidences suggest that ‘Galega’ is composed by a mixture of different genotypes adapted to local conditions, indicating that this cultivar is in an early stage of domestication and should be treated as a landrace instead of a uniform cultivar. The assessment of ‘Galega’ genetic diversity within each of the five AERs indicated the highest significant level (Hg = 6.23 at p

A 1 H NMR analytical protocol for the detection of refined hazelnut oils in admixtures with refined 17 olive oils is reported according to ISO format. The main purpose of this research activity is to 18 suggest a novel analytical methodology easily usable by operators with a basic knowledge of NMR 19 spectroscopy. The protocol, developed on 92 oil samples of different origins within the European 20 MEDEO project, is based on 1 H NMR measurements combined with a suitable statistical analysis. It 21 was developed using a 600 MHz instrument and was tested by two independent laboratories on 22 600 MHz spectrometers, allowing detection down to 10% adulteration of olive oils with refined 23 hazelnut oils. Finally, the potential and limitations of the protocol applied on spectrometers operating 24 at different magnetic fields, that is, at the proton frequencies of 500 and 400 MHz, were 25 investigated. 26 27 KEYWORDS: Hazelnut oil; olive oil; NMR; statistical analysis 28 45 and tocotrienols (6), and on the difference between theoretical 46

Exact formulas of the acoustic radiation force and torque exerted by an arbitrary time-harmonic wave on an absorbing compressible particle that is suspended in an inviscid fluid are presented. It is considered that the particle diameter is much smaller than the incident wavelength, i.e. the so-called Rayleigh scattering limit. Moreover, the particle absorption assumed here is due to the attenuation of compressional waves only. Shear wave propagation inside and outside the particle is neglected, since the inner and outer viscous boundary layer of the particle are supposed to be much smaller than the particle radius. The obtained radiation force formulas are used to establish the trapping conditions of a particle by a single-beam acoustical tweezer based on a spherically focused ultrasound beam. In this case, it is shown that the particle absorption has a pivotal role in single-beam trapping. Furthermore, the axial radiation torque induced by a Bessel vortex beam is calculated. It is found that only the first-order Bessel vortex beam can generate the radiation torque on a small particle. In addition, numerical evaluation of the radiation force and torque exerted on a benzene and an olive oil droplet suspended in water are presented and discussed.

Two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW) is a semisolid effluent that is rich in contaminating polyphenols and is produced in large amounts by the industry of olive oil production. Laboratory-scale bioreactors were used to investigate the biodegradation of TPOMW by its indigenous microbiota. The effect of nutrient addition (inorganic N and P) and aeration of the bioreactors was studied.

Antioxidant activity of the phenolic fraction of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) was measured by means of a chemical and an electrochemical method. Both methods were tested in predicting the oxidative spoilage and stability to oxidation of 22 EVOO samples and resulted correlated with peroxide values and oxidative stability measured by Rancimat. The main phenolic compounds of EVOOs were detected by HRGC. To study the contribution of single polyphenols (PPs) to antioxidant activity of phenolic fraction and oxidative stability of EVOOs, multivariate statistical analyses were applied on HRGC data. An isomer of oleuropein aglycon was shown to affect significantly antioxidant activity of phenolic fraction but not oil stability to oxidation. No individual compounds was identified as the main cause of the overall antioxidant activity, and the total polyphenol determination by the Folin reagent was better correlated to antioxidant activity and oxidative stability than each tested PP or PPs groups such as o-diphenols.

Aging is a multifactorial and tissue-specific process involving diverse alterations regarded as the "hallmarks of aging", which include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion and altered intracellular communication. Virtually all these hallmarks are targeted by dietary olive oil, particularly by virgin olive oil, since many of its beneficial effects can be accounted not only for the monounsaturated nature of its predominant fatty acid (oleic acid), but also for the bioactivity of its minor compounds, which can act on cells though both direct and indirect mechanisms due to their ability to modulate gene expression. Among the minor constituents of virgin olive oil, secoiridoids stand out for their capacity to modulate many pathways that are relevant for the aging process. Attenuation of aging-related alterations by olive oil or its minor compounds has been observed in cellular, animal and human models. How olive oil targets the hallmarks of aging could explain the improvement of health, reduced risk of aging-associated diseases, and increased longevity which have been associated with consumption of a typical Mediterranean diet containing this edible oil as the predominant fat source.

The aim of the work was to compare dierent techniques, in evaluating the phenolic content of an extra-virgin olive oil with varying storage time and storage conditions. A disposable screen-printed sensor (SPE) was coupled with dierential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to determine the phenolic fractions after extraction with a glycine buer; DPV parameters were chosen in order to study the oxidation peak of oleuropein, which was used as reference compound. A calibration curve of oleuropein was performed in glycine buer 10 mM, pH=2, NaCl 10 mM (D.L.=0.25 ppm oleuropein, RSD=7%). Moreover a tyrosinase based biosensor operating in organic solvent (hexane) was also assembled, using an amperometric oxygen probe as transducer. The calibration curves were realised using¯ow injection analysis (FIA) with phenol as the substrate (D.L.=4.0 ppm phenol, RSD=2%). Both of these methods are easy to operate, require no extraction (biosensor) or rapid extraction procedure (SPE), and the analysis time is short (min). The results obtained with these two innovative procedures were compared with a classical spectrophotometric assay using Folin±Ciocalteau reagent and HPLC analysis. Other extra-virgin olive oil quality parameters were investigated using classical methods in order to better de®ne the alteration process and results are reported. #

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is only marginally employed in the official EU methods on the characteristics of olive oil. In the present study a SPE procedure was optimised for the subsequent extraction of squalene and a-tocopherol prior to HPLC of triacylglycerols. Squalene elution from a silica cartridge was achieved with 10 ml of n-hexane whereas a-tocopherol was isolated using 2 Â 10 ml n-hexane/diethylether, 99:1, v/v. For both constituents, the precision of the SPE procedure (squalene: CV % = 4.4-6.4, n = 5; a-tocopherol: CV% = 5.3, n = 7) and the mean recovery (squalene: 88 ± 9% and 85 ± 4% for 700 and 4000 mg/kg levels of addition; a-tocopherol: 88 ± 6% and 91 ± 3% for 70 and 225 mg/kg levels of addition, respectively) were satisfactory with regards to those reported using other HPLC procedures with or without sample pretreatment. The results of the present study can be proved useful in the official control of virgin olive oil.

The antibacterial effects of olive oil wastes from traditional installations (TM), wastes from modern installations (CM), and wastes from an evaporation pool (EP) were assayed with a soil bacterium (Bacillus megaterium ATCC 33085). Irrespective of the origin, fresh wastes showed higher antimicrobial activity than those from evaporation pools. Among several extractants, ethyl acetate and n-propanol were the most effective organic solvents in the recovery of the antimicrobial activity from wastes. No antimicrobial activity was recovered by hexane extraction. Extracts from evaDoration ~o o l wastes showed no antibacterial activity. A good correlation between phenolic content and antimicrobial activity was found.

The occurrence of biophenolic components in olives provides functional value to the Mediterranean food culture, owing to recognized antioxidant activities of these substances. The concentration of biophenolic compounds in olives are closely linked to texture and organoleptic characteristics of agrifood products, i.e. table olive and olive oil. The concentrations of dierent biophenolic compounds in olives were investigated in order to develop appropriate procedures for determination of these compounds in fresh and processed table olives and in the olive drupes for olive oil production. Olives from Spain (Hojiblanca cv), Portugal (Douro cv), Greece (Thasos and Conservolia cvs) and Italy (Taggiasca and Cassanese cvs) were analysed. Four dierent protocols were employed. The ®rst allows for an estimate of the total concentration of simple biophenolic compounds; the second, for soluble compounds and soluble esteri®ed derivatives of these compounds; the third, the qualitative determination of cytoplasmatic soluble biophenolic content; the fourth, determination of soluble, glucosidic, esteri®ed and cell-wall bound biophenols by means of a rapid, though more complex, sequential method, for their accurate evaluation on a structural and quantitative basis. Thus, the experimental procedures yield four dierent fractions of the biophenolic components of the olive, checked by CC, HPLC and NMR. The experimental results depend on the procedure chosen, the degree of ripeness of the olives, and the environment of the olive cultivars. The composition of each of these fractions can be of valuable information, supporting for table olive growing and olive oil producers in maximising the competitive quality of their products by selecting olive materials whose concentrations of biophenolic compounds can be responsible for bene®cial eects on human health. #

The production of a biosurfactant by Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula 1895-DSMZ was studied. Cultures conditions involving variations in carbon and nitrogen sources and different C:N ratios were examined at constant temperature and pH, with the aim of increasing productivity in the process. Biosurfactant synthesis was followed by measuring surface tension and emulsifying index E24. The best results were obtained when using olive oil and ammonium nitrate as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively with a C:N ratio of 10. The production of biosurfactant was growth associated as indicated by the growth and biosurfactant production kinetics. The surface tension was reduced to below 32 dyne/cm and with emulsification index E24 of 65% in 36 to 48 h. The properties of biosurfactant that was separated by acetone precipitation were investigated. The biosurfactant was a rhmnolipid-type in nature as a positive rhamnose assay was tested positive. It had a good foaming and emulsifying and antimicrobial activities. It showed stability during exposure to high temperatures (up to 120°C for 15 min), high salinity (10% Nacl) and a wide range of pH. Analysis by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and HPLC were also performed.

Olive mill waste-waters (OMWW) are a by-product of olive-oil production and a major environmental problem in the Mediterranean area. The use of a polyphenol-oxidase from olive husk is proposed for the enzymatic removal of low-molecular phenolics in OMWW. For comparison ...

A survey carried out among olive tree growers in different districts of southern Spain allows the identification and analysis of factors related with adoption of several technical and institutional innovations. At that respect, a composite numerical index has been performed including all innovations considered, among then the following: changes in orchard structure, non or reduced tillage, use of tree vibrators for harvesting, non conventional methods for fighting pests and diseases, keeping an accounting systems, annual farm planning, level of information and awareness of the European CMO in relation to olive oils, etc. Structural and managerial variables of the orchard and personal characteristics of the grower, related to the composite innovation index, have been identified. In a second step, two similar separate analysis have been made for both technical and institutional innovations, and several conclusions have, finally, been drawn concerning factors that should enhance both t...

Vitamin K2 may preserve bone strength and reduce fracture risk. In this randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial among healthy postmenopausal Norwegian women, 1 year supplementation of vitamin K2 in the form of Natto capsules had no effect on bone loss rates. Introduction Japanese studies indicate that vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) intake may preserve bone strength, but this has not been documented in Europeans. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of MK-7 on bone mineral density (BMD) changes in postmenopausal Norwegian women.

Squalene and its hydrogenated derivate squalane are widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. The two compounds are mainly produced from the liver oil of deep sea sharks and from olive oil distillates. Squalene and squalane from shark cost less than the same compounds derived from olive oil, and the use of these shark-derived compounds is unethical in cosmetic formulations. In this work we investigate whether 13C/12C and 2H/1H ratios can distinguish olive oil from shark squalene/squalane and can detect the presence of shark derivates in olive oil based products. The 13C/12C ratios (expressed as δ13C values) of bulk samples and of pure compounds measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) were significantly lower in authentic olive oil squalene/squalane (N: 13; −28.4 ± 0.5‰; −28.3 ± 0.8‰) than in shark squalene/squalane samples (N: 15; −20.5 ± 0.7‰; −20.4 ± 0.6‰). By defining δ13C threshold values of −27.4‰ and −26.6‰ for olive oil bulk and pure squalene/squalane, respectively, illegal addition of shark products can be identified starting from a minimum of 10%. 2H/1H analysis is not useful for distinguishing the two different origins.δ13C analysis is proposed as a suitable tool for detecting the authenticity of commercial olive oil squalene and squalane samples, using IRMS interfaced to an elemental analyser if the purity is higher than 80% and IRMS interfaced to a gas chromatography/combustion system for samples with lower purity, including solutions of squalane extracted from cosmetic products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of in vitro models to identify sensitizing chemicals receives public interest since animal testing should be avoided whenever possible. In this article we analyze two essential properties of sensitizing chemicals: skin penetration and dendritic cell (DC) activation. Activation of immature DC derived from peripheral blood monocytes was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of CD86 positive cells and quantitative measurement of interleukin-1b and aquaporin P3 gene expression. The sensitizer 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid induced a concentration-dependent response for all parameters, whereas the irritant sodium lauryl sulfate did not. When two related aromatic amines, p-toluylenediamine (PTD) and hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine (HE-PPD) were tested, both induced substantial DC activation indicating their potential sensitizing properties. These findings contrasted with in vivo results: in murine local lymph node assays (LLNA) PTD, but not HE-PPD, was sensitizing using acetone/ aqua/olive oil as vehicle. Skin penetration measurement revealed that this was due to bioavailability differences. On retesting HE-PPD in the LLNA using the penetration enhancer dimethylsulfoxide as vehicle, it induced a specific response. We conclude that in vitro analysis of DC activation capability of the two selected chemicals demonstrates that prediction of skin sensitization potential is possible provided that skin penetration data indicate sufficient bioavailability of the test compound.

Brazil is one of the world's largest food producers. Adulteration of foods is often reported and represent an important potential threat to food safety. Because of this, reduction of the vulnerability of foods to adulteration is of high priority to Brazil. This study analyzes economically motivated food fraud and adulterations in Brazil between 2007 and 2017, based on academic journal reports. In addition, alternatives are proposed to minimize these incidents through good practices, traceability systems and the development of methods to detect food fraud and adulteration. Complex supply chains for foods of animal origin, such as milk and dairy products, were the main targets of food fraud and adulterations. Other products prone to fraudulent activities were vegetable oils, especially olive oil, which are high value products. Meat and fish, as well as their respective by-products, were also involved in some food fraud and adulteration, especially substitution. Cases of extraneous...

A gas chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry multi-residue method for the analysis of 19 organochlorine pesticides in fats and oils has been developed. Gel permeation chromatography was employed to remove lipid material prior to GC-MS/MS analysis. Average recoveries of the pesticides spiked at 10 and 50 g kg −1 into fish oil, pork fat, olive oil and hydrogenated vegetable oil were typically in the range 70-110% with relative standard deviations generally less than 10%. Calculated limits of detection are between 0.1 and 2.0 g kg −1 and results obtained for the analysis of proficiency test materials are in good agreement with assigned values. The higher selectivity of the GC-MS/MS compared to electron capture detection and GC-MS in selective ion monitoring mode allowed unambiguous identification and confirmation of all the target pesticides at low g kg −1 levels in fats and oils in a single analysis. Crown

This study discusses the changing trends in the supply of wine, olive oil, fish sauce and domestic pottery in Pompeii over a period of more than two centuries through the examination of a pottery assemblage excavated recently in the House of the Vestals. The ceramic evidence is viewed in the light of broader political and economic trends that affected production and trade over the course of time. A clear shift from regional self-sufficiency to a heavier reliance upon extraregional goods, particularly from the Roman provinces of Africa and Spain, is observed. The authors point out that while the ceramic record is a useful indicator of general supply trends, conclusions must be drawn with caution and scholars need to consider what is not apparent in the archaeological record in order to gain a more complete picture of the past.

The operating conditions for a shake-flask culture of Ganoderma lucidum were studied. Of the carbon sources examined, brown sugar and malt extract most effectively promoted mycelial growth and the production of polysaccharide, while yeast extract and skim milk were the most effective nitrogen sources. Adding safflower seed oil to the medium significantly promoted the formation of mycelium. Additionally, supplying CaCO 3 promoted both the mycelial growth and the polysaccharide production. The optimal initial pH and incubation temperature were 6.5 and 34 • C, respectively. The medium composition was then optimized using a systematic method that integrated the Taguchi array method and the steepest ascent method. The mycelium yield and the polysaccharide production were considered as two product quality variables. A desirability function was applied to combine these two qualities as a single objective function. The steepest ascent method was demonstrated effectively and efficiently to approach the neighborhood of the optimum. The optimum medium composition was found to be 1.88 g l −1 CaCO 3 , 71.4 g l −1 brown sugar, 12.

The present work is aimed at developing oven walls with self-cleaning properties, via catalytically enhanced thermal oxidation of soiling material within the standard range of household oven, temperatures, i.e. up to 300 • C. Some saturated fatty acids, e.g. myristic (tetradecanoic), palmitic (hexadecanoic) and stearic (octadecanoic) acids, were selected as single soiling compounds to investigate their thermal degradation behaviour under different operating conditions. MnCr 2 O 4 , LaFeO 3 and CeO 2 were chosen as oxidative catalysts and synthesized by the "Solution Combustion Synthesis" (SCS) method. The catalytic activity towards fatty acids was tested in a temperature programmed combustion (TPC) apparatus. The Ozawa method was adopted to calculate the activation energy for the catalytic combustion of palmitic acid on, e.g. ceria showing a very low value of 50 kJ/mol compared to the 90 kJ/mol for the non-catalytic combustion. The prepared catalysts were then deposited on steel sheet samples coated with commercial enamel by in situ spray pyrolysis. The obtained catalytic layers were characterized by SEM-EDS analysis to assess their integrity and adhesion to enamel and the obtained phases. The self-cleaning performance of the coated sample activity was measured in a standard oven, by performing a cooking cycle simulation (250 • C for 60 min; soiling by olive oil and pork lard); the weight loss and aesthetic appearance were benchmarked versus a bare, non-catalytic enamel surface. The CeO 2 catalyst showed the best adhesion properties as well as the best performances towards the combustion of the three selected fatty acids, whereas the MnCr 2 O 4 catalyst provided the best performance towards both the pork lard and the olive oil catalytic combustion with fat removal per cycle of about 18% and 40%, respectively.