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The authenticity assessment of edible oils is crucial to reassure consumers of product compliance. In this study, a new approach was taken to combining untargeted profiling by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with chemometric methods in order to distinguish cold-pressed oils (flaxseed, camelina, hempseed) from refined oils (rapeseed, sunflower, soybean). The whole spectrum of DSC melting profiles was considered as a fingerprint of each oil. Flaxseed and hempseed oils exhibited four endothermic peaks, while three peaks with one exothermic event were detected for camelina seed oil. In the case of refined oils, two endothermic peaks were detected for rapeseed oil, three for sunflower oil and four for soybean oil. Thermodynamic parameters, such as peak temperature, peak heat flow and enthalpy, differed for each type of oil. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used for processing data consisting of the whole spectrum of heat flow variables of melting phase transition. PCA demonstrated a clear separation between refined and cold-pressed oils as well as six individual oils. The OPLS-DA showed a distinct classification in six classes according to the types of oils. High OPLS-DA coefficients including R2X(cum)=0.971, R2(cum)=0.916 and Q2X(cum)=0.887 indicated good fitness of the model for oil discrimination. Variables influence on projection (VIP) plot indicated the most significant variables of the heat flow values detected at temperatures around −29°C, −32°C, −14°C, −10°C, −24°C and −41°C for the differentiation of oils. The study ultimately demonstrated great potential of the untargeted approach of using the whole melting DSC profile with chemometrics for the discrimination of cold-pressed and refined oils.

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that is not satisfactorily treated with available antipsychotics. The presented study focuses on the search for new antipsychotics by optimising the compound D2AAK3, a multi-target ligand of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), in particular D2, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptors. Such receptor profile may be beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia. Compounds 1–16 were designed, synthesised, and subjected to further evaluation. Their affinities for the above-mentioned receptors were assessed in radioligand binding assays and efficacy towards them in functional assays. Compounds 1 and 10, selected based on their receptor profile, were subjected to in vivo tests to evaluate their antipsychotic activity, and effect on memory and anxiety processes. Molecular modelling was performed to investigate the interactions of the studied compounds with D2, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptors on the molecular level. Finally, X-ray study was conducted for compound 1, which revealed its stable conformation in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A suitable and balanced diet is a major factor determining human health and should comprise unprocessed food enriched with oilseed products containing bioactive components and fatty acids. This paper reviews the chemical compositions and biomedical functions of plant seed oils extracted from black cumin, evening primrose, hemp, milk thistle, sesame, flax, and pumpkin seeds. The review provides a comprehensive overview of current oil extracting techniques and of the composition and content of bioactive components, including fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols, phenols, and carotenoids. Moreover, we describe research findings on the medical applications, benefits and limitations of treatment with plant seed oils for diverse diseases such as mastalgia, premenstrual syndrome, menopause, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and urinary tract and liver disease, as well as their use in dermatology and chemotherapy. The use of plant seed oils as topical agents and their anti-bacterial properties are reviewed, as well as important precautions in their medical applications. The information provided in this review is intended to serve as a compendium for medical professionals in the field of integrative medicine, nutrition, and dietetics, and to help consumers make the best use of plant seed oils in accordance with their medical and health needs. The review is also addressed to food control laboratories, as it provides detailed tabularised data on the components and their contents in the above-mentioned seven plant seed oils. These data are highly useful for the development of new analytical methods for testing the quality and authenticity of oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authenticity assessment of edible oils is crucial to reassure consumers of product compliance. In this study, a new approach was taken to combining untargeted profiling by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with chemometric methods in order to distinguish cold-pressed oils (flaxseed, camelina, hempseed) from refined oils (rapeseed, sunflower, soybean). The whole spectrum of DSC melting profiles was considered as a fingerprint of each oil. Flaxseed and hempseed oils exhibited four endothermic peaks, while three peaks with one exothermic event were detected for camelina seed oil. In the case of refined oils, two endothermic peaks were detected for rapeseed oil, three for sunflower oil and four for soybean oil. Thermodynamic parameters, such as peak temperature, peak heat flow and enthalpy, differed for each type of oil. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used for processing data consisting of the whole spectrum of heat flow variables of melting phase transition. PCA demonstrated a clear separation between refined and cold-pressed oils as well as six individual oils. The OPLS-DA showed a distinct classification in six classes according to the types of oils. High OPLS-DA coefficients including R2X(cum)=0.971, R2(cum)=0.916 and Q2X(cum)=0.887 indicated good fitness of the model for oil discrimination. Variables influence on projection (VIP) plot indicated the most significant variables of the heat flow values detected at temperatures around -29°C, -32°C, -14°C, -10°C, -24°C and -41°C for the differentiation of oils. The study ultimately demonstrated great potential of the untargeted approach of using the whole melting DSC profile with chemometrics for the discrimination of cold-pressed and refined oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authenticity of food products marketed as health-promoting foods—especially unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils—should be controlled to ensure their quality and safeguard consumers and patients. Metabolomic profiling using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF) was employed to identify authenticity markers for five types of unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils: black seed oil (Nigella sativa L.), pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo L.), evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis L.), hemp oil (Cannabis sativa L.) and milk thistle oil (Silybum marianum). Of the 36 oil-specific markers detected, 10 were established for black seed oil, 8 for evening primrose seed oil, 7 for hemp seed oil, 4 for milk thistle seed oil and 7 for pumpkin seed oil. In addition, the influence of matrix variability on the oil-specific metabolic markers was examined by studying binary oil mixtures containing varying volume percentages of each tested oil and each of three potential adulterants: sunflower, rapeseed and sesame oil. The presence of oil-specific markers was confirmed in 7 commercial oil mix products. The identified 36 oil-specific metabolic markers proved useful for confirming the authenticity of the five target seed oils. The ability to detect adulterations of these oils with sunflower, rapeseed and sesame oil was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]