Physicochemical analysis and pesticide estimation of nutraceuticals from barley flour, flaxseed, and rice bran oil

In the present study, researchers from Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology in India extracted various nutraceuticals from barley flour, flaxseed, and rice bran oil, for characterization on several parameters. The results of their study were published in the Journal of Food Processing and Preservation.

• The researchers focused on beta-glucans, lignans, and gamma oryzanol concentrate from different plant sources.
• These nutraceuticals have tremendous health and medicinal benefits — they protect against chronic and degenerative diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer.
• The addition of these plant components to various food formulations can be beneficial, particularly in reducing blood serum low?density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, preventing diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and minimizing the risk of atherosclerosis.
• The researchers isolated beta-glucan fibers from a six-rowed, hull-less barley variety using alkaline treatment followed by ethanol precipitation.
• They extracted a lignan concentrate from flaxseed and a gamma oryzanol concentrate from rice brain oil.
• Chromatographic analysis revealed that the lignan concentrate had a high secoisolariciresinol diglucoside content (30 mg/g) while the gamma oryzanol concentrate had four major components, namely, cycloartenyl ferulate, 24?methylenecycloartanyl ferulate, campesteryl ferulate, and B?sitosteryl ferulate.
• Using GC/MS analysis, the researchers confirmed that the raw materials were not contaminated with any pesticide, allowing for their safe utilization for extraction.
• They also found through microbial analysis that, of the three isolates, the gamma oryzanol concentrate had the lowest total plate count, yeast and mold count, and coliform count.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that these nutraceuticals are safe to incorporate into food products in order to develop functional foods that promote overall health.

Journal Reference:

Kour J, Singh S, Saxena DC. NUTRACEUTICALS FROM BARLEY FLOUR, FLAXSEED AND RICE BRAN OIL-EXTRACTION, CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND PESTICIDE ESTIMATION. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 14 October 2018;42(11). DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.13777