Calidad nutricional y contenido fitoquímico de aceites prensados en frío de semillas de chía, cardo mariano, nigella, y amapola blanca y negra

Cold pressed oils obtained from chia (Salvia hispanica L.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), nigella (Nigella sativa L.), and white and black varieties of poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) seeds were character­ized. The nutritional quality was determined based on the analysis of fatty acids, tocochromanol and phytos­terol contents, as well as antioxidant activity and general physico-chemical properties. Among the oils analyzed the fatty acid composition most beneficial for health was found in chia seed oil, with 65.62% of α-linolenic acid and the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio of 1:3.5. Other oils studied were rich sources of linoleic acid (18.35-74.70%). Chia seed oil was also distinguished by high contents of phytosterols, mainly β-sitosterol (2160.17 mg/kg oil). The highest content of tocochromanols was found in milk thistle oil with dominant α-tocopherol (530.2 mg/kg oil). In contrast, the highest antioxidant activity was recorded for nigella oil (10.23 μM Trolox/g), which indi­cated that, in addition to tocopherols, other antioxidants influenced its antioxidant potential.Se caracterizaron aceites prensados en frío obtenidos de semillas de chía (Salvia hispanica L.), cardo mariano (Silybum marianum L.), nigella (Nigella sativa L.) y de variedades blancas y negras de amapola (Papaver somniferum L.). La calidad nutricional se determinó en base al análisis de ácidos grasos, el contenido de tococromanoles y fitosteroles, así como la actividad antioxidante y las propie­dades fisicoquímicas generales. Entre los aceites analizados, la composición de ácidos grasos más beneficiosa para la salud se encontró en el aceite de semilla de chía, con un 65,62% de ácido α-linolénico y una relación de ácido graso n-6:n-3 de 1:3,5. Los demás aceites estudiados fueron ricos en ácido linoleico (18,35-74,70%). El aceite de semilla de chía también se distinguió por el alto contenido de fitosteroles, principalmente β-sitosterol (2160,17 mg/kg de aceite). El mayor contenido de tococromanoles se encontró en el aceite de cardo mariano con α-tocoferol dominante (530,2 mg/kg de aceite). Por el contrario, se registró la mayor actividad antioxidante para el aceite de nigella (10,23 μM Trolox/g), lo que indica que, además del tocoferol, otros antioxidantes influyeron en su potencial antioxidante

Cromatografía en columna como método para la eliminación de componentes menores del aceite de colza

The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of different chromatographic column beds (silicic acid, activated charcoal, aluminum oxide, silica gel) on the concentration of individual minor components (sterols, tocopherols, carotenoids and chlorophyll) in rapeseed oil. With the use of a combination of these beds, a three-stage optimized method for removing minor components from rapeseed oil was developed. It was demonstrated that the combination of silicic acid and activated charcoal removed about half of the sterols present from the oil. Aluminum oxide turned out to be the most effective bed in removing tocopherols, purifying the oil to their minimum level (2.6 mg/kg). All adsorbents used had similar capacity to purify oil from pigments (carotenoids and chlorophyll). In the three-stage purification process free sterols were almost completely removed (to the level 90.0 mg/kg). Purification of β-carotene and chlorophyll from the oil was also very effective. Tocopherols were completely removed with this method, except for a small amount of α-tocopherol (0.4 mg/kg), which results from its relatively weak interaction with a hydrophilic bed. The developed method may be used in studies on the effect of association colloids on bulk oil autoxidation processes.El propósito de este estudio fue verificar la influencia de diferentes rellenos de columnas cromatográficas (ácido silícico, carbón activo, óxido de aluminio, gel de sílice) sobre la concentración de componentes menores individuales (esteroles, tocoferoles, carotenoides y clorofila) en aceite de colza. Gracias a esto, se desarrolló un método optimizado de tres etapas para eliminar los componentes secundarios del aceite de colza (utilizando una combinación de todos los rellenos descritos anteriormente). Se ha demostrado que con la combinación de ácido silícico y carbón activo se elimina del aceite alrededor de la mitad de los esteroles presentes. El óxido de aluminio resultó ser el relleno más eficaz para eliminar los tocoferoles, purificando el aceite hasta su nivel mínimo (2,6 mg/kg). Todos los adsorbentes utilizados tenían una capacidad similar para purificar el aceite de pigmentos (carotenoides y clorofila). En el proceso de purificación en tres etapas, los esteroles libres se eliminaron casi por completo (hasta el nivel de 90,0 mg/kg). La purificación de aceite de β-caroteno y clorofila también fue muy efectiva. En este método, los tocoferoles se eliminaron completamente, excepto pequeñas cantidades de α-tocoferol (0,4 mg/kg), lo que resulta de su interacción relativamente débil con un relleno hidrófilo. El método desarrollado se puede usar en los estudios sobre el efecto de los coloides de asociación en los procesos de autooxidación de aceites a granel

Nicotinic receptors in the ventral tegmental area promote uncertainty-seeking.

International audienceCholinergic neurotransmission affects decision-making, notably through the modulation of perceptual processing in the cortex. In addition, acetylcholine acts on value-based decisions through as yet unknown mechanisms. We found that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are involved in the translation of expected uncertainty into motivational value. We developed a multi-armed bandit task for mice with three locations, each associated with a different reward probability. We found that mice lacking the nAChR β2 subunit showed less uncertainty-seeking than their wild-type counterparts. Using model-based analysis, we found that reward uncertainty motivated wild-type mice, but not mice lacking the nAChR β2 subunit. Selective re-expression of the β2 subunit in the VTA was sufficient to restore spontaneous bursting activity in dopamine neurons and uncertainty-seeking. Our results reveal an unanticipated role for subcortical nAChRs in motivation induced by expected uncertainty and provide a parsimonious account for a wealth of behaviors related to nAChRs in the VTA expressing the β2 subunit