Search

Sustainability and renewability are the terms that concern most researchers today. In the world of paints and adhesives, polyurethane (PU) is a popular material due to the enormous possibilities in the choice of raw materials. The scientific community today is more focused on adopting water-based and low-solvent or solvent-free technologies instead of traditional solvent-based routes in the synthesis of PUs. Adopting more ecological routes is a step towards achieving the goal of sustainable and renewable development. The use of bio-derived monomers not only contributes to the goal of sustainable development but also eliminates the uncertainty of price, availability and environmental hazards associated with traditional petroleum-derived monomers. Among the biologically derived resources, vegetable oils are the most promising and most studied raw materials in the PU industry due to their abundance, inherent biodegradability, non-toxicity and low price. Since primitive times they had traditionally been used for coatings and adhesive applications. Today, the full field use of vegetable oil-based monomers or polymers as raw material is an excellent effort for a sustainable future in the world of coatings and adhesives worldwide. The review highlights recent advances in vegetable oil-based polyols as an environmentally friendly material for PU coating and adhesive applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common chronic metabolic disease that seriously threatens human health. The pharmacological activity of unsaturated fatty acid-rich vegetable oil interventions in the treatment of MAFLD has been demonstrated. This study evaluated the pharmacological activity of Polygala tenuifolia Willd, which contains high levels of 2-acetyl-1,3-diacyl-sn-glycerols (sn-2-acTAGs). Methods: In this study, a mouse model was established by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD, 31% lard oil diet), and the treatment group was fed a P. tenuifolia seed oil (PWSO) treatment diet (17% lard oil and 14% PWSO diet). The pharmacological activity and mechanism of PWSO were investigated by total cho-lesterol (TC) measurement, triglyceride (TG) measurement and histopathological observation, and the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1), SREBP2 and NF-κB signaling pathways were evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses. Results: PWSO attenuated the increases in plasma TC and TG levels. Furthermore, PWSO reduced the hepatic levels of TC and TG, ameliorating hepatic lipid accumulation. PWSO treatment effectively improves the level of hepatitic inflammation, such as reducing IL-6 levels and TNF-α level. Discussion: PWSO treatment inactivated SREBP1 and SREBP2, which are involved in lipogenesis, to attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation and mitigate the inflammatory response induced via the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study demonstrated that PWSO can be used as a relatively potent dietary supplement to inhibit the occurrence and development of MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of low-quality irrigation water on plant development has garnered significant attention from researchers. In light of this, two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance, yield, oil production and composition, as well as active constituents of Rocket (Eruca sativa Mill) cultivated in calcareous soil under saline water irrigation. Foliar sprays containing condensed molasses soluble (CMS), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) alone or in combination were used for irrigation. The data obtained from measuring various parameters of Rocket following foliar spraying with CMS, Zn, B or their combinations demonstrated that most treatments resulted in a significant increase in these parameters. The highest values for most measurements were observed when foliar application included all three components (CMS + Zn + B), resulting in a seed yield of 184.6 g/m² and an oil content of 675.3 kg/ha. Compared to the control group, the macronutrient content of N, P, K, Mg, and Ca increased by 34.4%, 56%, 42%, 45%, and 39% respectively in the seeds treated with these components. Furthermore, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolics flavonoids, and antioxidants showed increases of 24%, 34%, 21%, 43%, and 28% respectively compared to the control group. Gas-liquid chromatography analysis identified ten components present in the seed oil characterized by higher unsaturated fatty acids ranging from 81.28% to 92.28% and lower saturated fatty acids ranging from 6.72% to 8.21%. Therefore, foliar spray application including CMS, zinc, and boron can help alleviate salinity effects on Rocket plants grown under saline water irrigation conditions while improving growth, yield, oil production, and nutritional content such as total carbohydrates, proteins, and macronutrients levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants with valuable health properties, rich in a spectrum of compounds with various biological activities, have long been a focus of interest of researchers and the food industry. Undoubtedly, it is a great challenge for science to compose an innovative product with functional food status, managing to combine as many advantages of a particular plant preparation as possible to obtain a product that satisfies the requirements of a specific group of consumers. This article provides a brief overview of current information on the status of sea buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) as a food ingredient, as well as its interesting biological activity. Sea buckthorn is a very valuable plant in terms of its content of various substances of high nutritional value, which recently makes the plant an area of growing scientific and industrial interest. This is due to its broad biological properties, extremely rich phytochemical composition and extensive pharmacological activity, especially antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The above-mentioned advantages of sea buckthorn and its preparations make it a good candidate for a food ingredient that can be used in functional food products produced with the support of modern food industry technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Grapes, which have gained prominence in recent years due to their positive contributions to human health, are considered a functional food due to the oil content in their seeds. Although the oil content and fatty acid composition of commonly grown grape varieties have been the subject of many studies, these characteristics of local varieties haven't been sufficiently examined. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the usability of grape varieties grown in Southeastern Anatolia (Turkey) in grape seed oil production and identify potential parent candidates that could be used in the breeding of grape varieties with high-quality seed oil. METHODS: The effects of genotypes, berry skin color, ripening time, and the climatic characteristics of the cultivation season on the oil content and fatty acid composition of seeds from 16 different grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties were investigated. Grape seed oils were extracted by soxhlet device and major, minor, and essential fatty acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography. RESULTS: According to the findings, the oil content of the grape seeds varied only depending on the genotype and ranged from 9.78% to 18.50% w/w. Moreover, 13–15 fatty acids were detected in the grape seed oils, with linoleic acid (56.13% –69.36%) and oleic acid (15.99% –30.97%) being the most common in all varieties. Only palmitic acid and stearic acid showed variation depending on the skin color; the other fatty acids weren't affected. Cultivation season didn't affect the fatty acid composition, but the major and minor fatty acid composition varied depending on ripening time. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where it isn't possible to separate the seeds of grape varieties on a variety basis, classifying them according to the ripening time of the berries may be helpful in predicting the amounts of major, minor fatty acids and partially essential fatty acids in the seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed fatty acid composition can influence seed quality, followed by seed germination and optimal seedling establishment. Therefore, to find out the role of seed fatty acids in changing the cardinal temperatures of six sesame cultivars germinated at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C) and water potentials (0, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, −0.8, −1, and −1.2 MPa), an experiment was conducted. The dent-like, beta, and segmented models were used to analyze the data. The results showed that different cultivars at optimal temperatures show different reactions to environmental conditions; for example, the germination rate in Halil and Dashtestan2 cultivars followed the dent-like model, Darab1, Oltan, and Yellow-White followed the beta model, and Naz followed the segmented model. Based on the results, the average temperature in all water potentials of the base, sub-optimal, supra-optimum, and ceiling was determined as 12.6, 33.3, 38, and 43.9 °C, respectively, once the superior dent-like model was used. Using the superior beta model, the average temperatures in the base, optimum, and ceiling were 8.5, 31.2, and 50.5 °C. In contrast, when the segmented superior model was used, they were determined to be 7.6, 34, and 44.1 °C, respectively. According to the results, it can be stated that the Halil cultivar with more oleic acid and less linoleic acid has a higher base temperature and is more adapted to high temperatures for later cultivations. The Naz cultivar with a long biological clock is suitable for earlier cultivations. The ceiling temperature of these cultivars was also affected by the osmotic potential and decreased significantly with the increase in osmotic levels. Dashtestan2 cultivar with a high germination rate could be chosen for cultivation in water and high-temperature stress areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit processing industry generates large quantities of by-products well known to be rich in bioactive compounds with numerous nutritional properties and beneficial effects for human health. We developed a strategy to valorise raspberry seeds and obtain valuable ingredients with potential application in cosmetic skincare formulas. Cold press extraction technology was applied to extract oil, and the remaining defatted raspberry seed cake was treated with three proline based deep eutectic solvents (DES) to extract polyphenols. The most potent was proline/citric acid extract, with free and total ellagic acid content (52.4 mg/L and 86.4 mg/L), total phenolic content (TPC, 550.1 mg GAE/L) and radical scavenging activity (RSA, 4742.7 mmol TE/L). After the direct mixing of the extract and after encapsulation with starch as a carrier, the skincare emulsion and microemulsion were characterised by irritation potential (Zein test), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), red blood cell (RBC), and DPPH antioxidant test. The resulting preparations were of improved quality in comparison to the control hand cream, with a low skin irritation effect, lower TEWL, and higher antioxidant potential. This work complies with circular economy principles and green technology standards, and represents the efficient model on how to reuse natural resources through waste minimization.

The present study is focused on the chemical and lipid composition of seed oil of the European ornamental and invasive wood plant Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae). Total lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, ash, and moisture in the seeds were determined. A high yield of glyceride oil (30.7%) was found, as well as a high content of fibers (29.6%) and proteins (18.7%). Physicochemical properties of the oil define it as semi-dry (129.4 g I2/100 g Iodine value) with oxidative stability, refractive index, saponification value, and relative density similar to widely used oils with nutritional value and health benefits. The composition of the seed oil was determined chromatographically. Unsaturated fatty acids (95.3%) predominated in the seed oil, of which linoleic acid (48.6%) and oleic acid (44.8%) were the major ones. The main lipid-soluble bioactive components were β-sitosterol (72.6%), γ-tocopherol (74.6%), phosphatidylinositol (29.5%), and phosphatidic acids (25.7%). The proven in vitro DNA-protective ability of seed oil is reported for the first time. The seed oil exhibited a weak antiproliferative effect on HT-29 and PC3 tumor cell lines and showed no cytotoxicity on the BALB/c 3T3 cell line. In brief, the present study reveals that A. altissima seed oil can be used as a healthy food.

Seed oils readily undergo derivatization by alcoholysis to yield biodegradable polyols and Ximenia americana plant from the family of Olacaeae has oily seeds. Hence, the objective of this paper is to assess the production of polyurethane elastomers from Ximenia americana L (Wild Olive) Seed Oil with diisocyanates, namely, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4,4’-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) respectively using standard procedure and characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Instron Tensile Testing Machine and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The tensile strength and tensile modulus for HDI-based polyurethane elastomers, 5.83±0.15 and 3.95±0.07 MPa respectively are higher than the corresponding ones for TDI- and MDI-based polymers. This is consistent with the highest crosslink density (γ) of 5.05×10-3 for HDI-based polymer with corresponding average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) of 197.87 gmol-1 The polyurethane elastomers are stable up to 250-265oC with order of stability: HDPU-1.50>MDPU-1.50>TDPU-1.50. The results showed that diol from Ximenia americana seed oil is effective for production of polyurethane elastomers with properties which are comparable to ones of the non-oil-based polymers.

Camelina sativa, a member of the Brassicaceae, is a low-cost, renewable oilseed crop that produces seeds up to 40% oil by weight with high potential for use in food, feed, and biofuel applications. Camelina seeds contain high levels of the fatty acids α-linolenic acid (C18:3), linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), and gondoic acid (C20:1), which have high nutritional and industrial value. The impact of climate change, especially increased frequency and amplitude of heat waves, poses a serious threat to crop productivity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of elevated temperatures post-anthesis on the developing seeds of C. sativa and performed physiological, morphological, and chemical characterizations at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-anthesis (DPA), as well as at maturity. While the seed oil accumulation peaked at 21 DPA under control conditions, reaching 406mg/g dry weight, under heat stress it was only 186mg/g. Physiologically, transpiration rate (E) and internal CO2 concentration (Ci) increased between 2 to 9 days post-stress imposition and overall net photosynthesis was impaired. Seed yield, seed weight, and oil content reduced by 84.5%, 38.5% and 54.1% respectively. We demonstrate that post-anthesis heat stress causes severe yield losses and developmental plasticity in fatty acid accumulation in oilseeds.

An investigation was carried out to understand the gene action for seed oil, seed protein, seed gossypol, seed cotton yield and fiber density through intra-hirsutum crosses. Combining ability and gene action were studied in eighteen hybrids involving six elite varieties as lines (females) and three fuzzless G. hirsutum accessions as testers (males) in Line x Tester analysis. This study revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action on all the traits studied including seed cotton yield. The elite general combiners identified were CO14 for seed oil and seed protein and CO17 and AKH98-81 for fiber per seed and fiber density. The best specific combiner was SVPR4 x AKH98-81 for seed oil, fiber density and seed cotton yield. A correlation study revealed a strong positive association of seed oil content, lint index, micronaire value, fiber per seed and seed fiber density traits with seed cotton yield. This study indicated the possibility of developing high-yielding hybrids with high seed oil, seed protein content and better fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to determine the proximate composition, mineral content, fatty acid profile, phytosterol, and tocopherol composition of seven Apiaceae seeds (Coriandrum sativum, Petroselinum crispum, Carum carvi, Pimpinellla anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum , and Ammodaucus leucotrichus), grown in four different regions of Morocco. The proximate composition (moisture, ash, oil, and protein contents), energy value, and mineral profile were determined from the seed powder. While fatty acid, phytosterol, and tocopherol composition were determined from the soxhlet extracted oils. The results obtained during this study showed significant difference between the seven analyzed seeds. Moisture content varied between (6.76±0.03 and 8.68±0.08 g/100g), ash content ranged between (5.17 ± 0.05 g/100g and 6.64 ± 0.02 g/100g), oil content varied between (10.63 ± 0.53 and 14.38 ± 0.37 g/100g), protein content ranged between (7.68 ± 0.18 and 13.65 ± 0.12), carbohydrate content varied from (57.35 ± 0.52 to 67.21 ± 0.92 g/100g), and energy value varied from (385.37 ± 1.66 to 408.14 ± 1.94 kcal/100g). The major macroelement detected in all samples was S (1199.71 ± 0.42 to 2232.77 ± 7.72 mg/kg) followed by K (118.773 ± 0.7 to 199.812 ± 0.002 mg/kg), Ca (69.14 ± 0.18 to 121.23 ± 0.63 mg/kg), and P (21.96 ± 0.01 to 52.46 ± 0.08 mg/kg), while Fe (0.82 ± 0.01 to 7.36 ± 0.03 mg/kg) was the main microelement detected. Total phenol content ranged from 10.51 ± 0.64 mg GAE/g DM to 28.51 ± 1.81 mg GAE/g DM. Among the tested seeds, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Coriandrum sativum , and Carum carvi exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Eleven fatty acids were detected in our samples with a dominance of petroselinic acid (53.15 ± 0.05 to 80.65 ± 0.05 g/100g), and linoleic acid (7.7 ± 0.1 to 31.25 ± 0.05 g/100g). Total tocopherol contents ranged from (102.81 ± 0.79 to 359.07 ± 0.13 mg/100g) with dominance of γ-tocopherol, ⍺-tocotrienol, and β-tocopherol. Total sterol content varied between (2556.24 ± 9.34 to 9339.33 ± 1.48 mg/kg). The major compound was β-sitosterol (997.55 ± 4.2 to 4362.15 ± 7.28 mg/kg), and the second was Δ-5-stigmasterol (632.73 ± 3.9 to 2908.36 ± 7.04 mg/kg). Moroccan Apiaceae seeds can be considered as a good source of energy, minerals, petroselinic acid, phytosterol, and tocopherol, which suggests an interesting nutritional, cosmetic, and medicinal applications. [Display omitted] • Nutritional value, and mineral profile of seven Apiaceae seeds, commonly used in Morocco. • Moroccan Apiaceae seed oils are characterized by the presence of petroselinic acid as main fatty acid. • Detection of β-sitosterol as major phytosterol in all studied seed oil. • Identification of γ-tocopherol, ⍺-tocotrienol, and β-tocopherol as dominance tocopherols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styrax tonkinensis is a promising woody biodiesel species. In this experiment, we investigated how foliar spraying of potassium gluconate solution affected the production of seed oil in S. tonkinensis. Leaf spraying of potassium gluconate solution appreciably promoted the photosynthesis of S. tonkinensis leaves through both the light reaction and the dark reaction. By boosting the activity of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism and seed oil synthesis, foliar spraying of potassium gluconate solution also dramatically enhanced glucose metabolism and seed oil synthesis in the S. tonkinensis seeds. This indicates that foliar spraying with potassium gluconate solution discernibly improved the synthesis of seed oil in S. tonkinensis by encouraging the transit of photosynthetic products from the source to the reservoir and the flow of carbon into the seed oil synthesis in the seeds. Overall, the medium concentration of potassium gluconate solution (4 g/L) was found to be the most effective for increasing the oil content of S. tonkinensis seeds. While higher potassium gluconate solution concentrations (6 g/L) had a slight inhibitory effect on specific indicators (ACCase) during specific seed development periods. This study highlighted the importance of potassium for seed oil synthesis in woody plants and provided a useful foundation for future cultivation practices aimed at enhancing seed oil synthesis in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SUMMARY: Seed oil not only provides energy for seed postgermination development but also provides essential nutrients and raw materials for human products. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism controlling seed oil accumulation remains largely unknown. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii) is an emerging woody oilseed crop in China that is known for its high‐quality seed oil. Here, we revealed that a tree peony nuclear factor Y transcription factor, PrNF‐YC2, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds and functions as an essential positive regulator of seed oil accumulation. PrNF‐YC2 promoted oil accumulation in both transient ectopic overexpression Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, globally upregulating the expression of genes involved in oil accumulation. In contrast, PrNF‐YC2‐silenced tree peony leaves using a virus‐induced gene silencing system showed reduced oil content and expression of oil synthesis‐related genes, including four master positive regulators contributing to oil accumulation, namely, LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and WRINKLED1 (WRI1). We demonstrated that PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by interacting with PrLEC1. Moreover, interaction with PrLEC1 also enhances the activation capacity of PrNF‐YC2. The activation of these four master positive regulators by PrNF‐YC2 triggered the upregulation of numerous oil synthesis‐related genes, thus promoting oil accumulation. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of seed oil accumulation and manipulation of PrNF‐YC2 may be beneficial for enhancing oil yield in tree peony and other oilseed crops. Significance Statement: We show that the tree peony NF‐Y transcriptional factor PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by recruiting PrLEC1, thus plays an essential role in seed oil accumulation. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time that NF‐YC transcription factor is a major gene that regulates seed oil accumulation via dual modes. This study also enriches our knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of LEC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermicomposting fertilizer is an ecological approach that improves both yield quantity and environmental quality. This study was carried out in the field of agriculture faculty of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2021 at two stages. In the first stage, the experimental design was a split plot with 4 crop residues (i.e. wheat, rice, sugarcane, and corn) in the main plot and 2 weight ratios (i.e. 30 & 40%) were supplot with 3 replications. In the second stage, the experimental design was a randomized complete block with 3 replications which included 8 different vermicomposting that were produced in the first stage. Results of the first stage showed that wheat 40% residue treatment produced the highest mature worm weight due to the highest mature worm population which resulted in the highest total worm weight. For all crop residue treatments, the total worm number was reduced by the increase in crop residue quantity from 30% to 40%. This reduction was affected by the reduction in the immature worm population. Despite the increase in mature worm numbers, it could not compensate for the effects of reducing the number of immature worms. Increasing the percentage of the residue of each crops from 30% to 40%, the amount of vermicompost fertilizer production was reduced, but on the other hand, the amount of non-fertilizer compounds was added. The highest sesame seed yield (1154/6 kg/h) belonged to a wheat residue with a 30% weight ratio. This superiority is influenced by the superiority of seed weight in capsule, seed number in capsule, and seed 1000 weight characters. In conclusion, the results of this research showed the importance of paying attention to the raw material in the production of vermicompost both in terms of impact on the biological and chemical properties and on the agronomic properties of the crop. A point that is perhaps less noticed now. So, it is recommended that in sustainable agriculture or organic farming it is better to produce vermicompost fertilizer suitable for each crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids (FAs) stored as triacylglycerols (TAGs) are an important source of carbon and energy for germination and seedling development, particularly for plants with small wind-dispersed seeds, allowing greater efficiency in storing both energy and carbon. These plants should be under strong selection to produce seeds rich in FAs and with large amounts of saturated FAs. Their closely packed single-chain configuration allows greater packing, more carbon and energy per unit mass, and are less costly to produce. Efficient carbon storage would be less crucial for zoochorous species, which can reach much larger seed sizes (mass). We analysed the transesterified FA profile from seeds of 22 anemochorous and zoochorous tree species from the Cerrado savannas of Central Brazil. We tested if seed FA content covaried with seed mass and if anemochorous and zoochorous seeds differed in FA contents and distribution. Fatty acids were an important seed source of carbon and energy for most species. Fifteen different FAs were identified. Oleic, linoleic and linolenic tended to be the predominant unsaturated FAs. Oleic acid corresponded to more than 60 % of the total transesterified FAs in seeds of Kielmeyera coriacea, Qualea dichotoma and Triplaris americana. Linoleic acid corresponded to more than 50 % of total FA in Dalbergia miscolobium, Parkia platycephala and Ferdinandusa elliptica while linolenic acid was the dominant component in Inga cylindrica. Across species, palmitic and stearic were the dominant saturated FAs. The only exception was lauric acid (68 % of total FA) in seeds of Qualea grandiflora. On a log10 scale, as the seed increased in mass, accumulation of FAs tends to proceed at a faster rate in anemochorous species than in zoochorous species. They also became increasingly richer in saturated FAs. Zoochorous species had seed TAGs with higher proportion of polyunsaturated FAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Glasswort (Salicornia persica) is identified as a halophyte plant, which is one of the most tolerant plants to salt conditions. The seed oil of the plant contains about 33% oil. In the present study, the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) and potassium nitrate (KNO3; 0, 0.5, and 1%) were evaluated on several characteristics of glasswort under salinity stress (0, 10, 20, and 40 dS/m). Results morphological features, phenological traits, and yield parameters such as plant height, number of days to flowering, seed oil, biological yield, and seed yield significantly decreased in response to severe salt stress. However, the plants needed an optimal salinity concentration (20 dS/m NaCl) to obtain high amounts of seed oil and seed yield. The results also showed that a high level of salinity (40 dS/m NaCl) caused a decrease in plant oil and yield. In addition, by increasing the exogenous application of SNP and KNO3, the seed oil and seed yield increased. Conclusions The application of SNP and KNO3 were effective in protecting S. persica plants from the deleterious effects of severe salt stress (40 dS/m NaCl), thereby restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes, increasing the proline content, and maintaining cell membrane stability. It seems that both factors, i.e. SNP and KNO3, can be applied as mitigators of salt stress in plants.

Seven date seeds cultivars, Deglet Nour, Degla Baïdha, Fakht, Ghars, Hamraya, Tafezouin and Takermost were provided from Algerian Sahara. Some of these Algerian date seeds were studied for the first time (Fakht, Hamraya and Takermost). The biochemical characterization of these date seeds were studied, including fatty acids and minerals profiles. The results showed that date seeds are a good source of carbohydrates and crude cellulose, with averages of 66.63 and 13.20%, respectively. They are also a good source of proteins, with the cultivar Deglet Nour seeds as the richest one (9.27 ± 0.03%). The main fatty acid for all date seeds oils is oleic acid except for Deglet Nour in which lauric acid is the main one. However, the studied date seed oils could be classified as oleic-lauric oil. Potassium was the highest mineral in all date seeds cultivars, with values ranging from 2700 to 2900 mg/Kg, followed by sodium and iron. These results indicate that date seeds have good nutritional value with different compositions among cultivars. It could be concluded that date seeds could be considered as a good opportunity for their technological and industrial valorization.

Diospyros chloroxylon is the indigenous fruit of the Indian subcontinent and both unripe and ripe fruits are eaten by tribal people. The present study explores the nutritional status of Diospyros chloroxylon fruits. Unripe and ripe fruits were rich in fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash, fiber, and minerals. The energy levels of unripe, ripe fruits, and seeds were 93.78, 133.93, and 96.16 Kcal/100 g, respectively. Ripe fruits were also rich in phenolics (4.64 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoids (1.62 mg QE/ g DW). Acetone, methanol, and water extracts of unripe, ripe fruits and seeds displayed potent free radical scavenging properties. The seeds of D. chloroxylon possess 3.16% oil and it contains oleic acid (39.91%) and palmitic acid (28.06%) as major fatty acids.

Compared with other edible oils and fats, the unsaturated fatty acids of the new food raw materials of seed oil are richer and more favored by consumers. At present, there are mostly oil and fat raw materials in the new food raw materials, among which, the seed oil in new food raw materials derived from mature plant seeds include Eucommia seed oil, tea seed oil, Acer truncatum seed oil, peony seed oil, Suaeda salsa seed oil, Silybum marianum seed oil and tomato seed oil. These seed oils are not only rich in unsaturated fatty acids but also contains active ingredients such as vitamins, trace elements and flavonoids, and has broad prospects for development in the food, medicine and cosmetics industries. This review studies the research progress of the source, extraction method, publicity, main nutritional composition, function and safety of seven seed oil in raw materials, and the application prospects of new food raw materials of seed oils are discussed. In order to provide a certain theoretical reference for the development and utilization of seed oil in new food raw materials.

Improving the pattern of water consumption in the agricultural sector is one of the necessary measures to manage the water crisis in the country. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of drought stress on yield and physiological characteristics of safflower under different amounts of potassium fertilizer. The experiment was performed as a combined analysis in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2018 and 2019. The main plot consisted of drought stress at three levels of 45%, 65%, and 85% of permissible moisture drain and the subplot consisted of potassium fertilizer at four levels of zero, 75, 150, and 225 kg of potassium sulfate per hectare. In the second year compared to the first year, the amount of proline and seed oil were significantly higher by 23.4% and 4.43%, respectively, and the amount of carbohydrates and chlorophyll a were significantly lower by 11.9% and 27.4%, respectively. With increasing potassium intake, the amount of chlorophyll a increased significantly, and the highest amount of chlorophyll a at the rate of 16.7 mg/L was obtained in the treatment of 225 kg of potassium per hectare. With increasing the intensity of stress from 45% to 85% of moisture drain in different levels of potassium fertilizer, seed yield decreased significantly. Treatment of 85% moisture drain in no application of potassium showed the highest amount of proline. The application of potassium is effective in modulating the negative effects of drought stress on seed yield, qualitative, and physiological characteristics of safflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is focused on the physicochemical characteristics, chemical composition, and some biological activities of Koelreuteria paniculata seed oil. The glyceride oil, obtained with a Soxhlet apparatus by extraction with hexane, was characterized by a relatively high oil content (over 20%), and it is defined as a non-drying oil (iodine value—44 gI2/100 g) with good oxidative stability (over 50 h). There were identified 11 fatty acids, 6 sterols, 3 tocopherols, and 6 phospholipids, as the last group was reported for the first time. The major components among them were—monounsaturated eicosenoic and oleic acids, β-sitosterol, β-tocopherol, and phosphatidylcholine. The in vitro tests demonstrated DNA protective activity and a lack of cytotoxicity of the oil, data that has been reported for the first time. The in vitro MTT test of the oil on HT-29 and PC3 cell lines did not indicate antitumor activity. The seed oil studied contains valuable bio-components, which have proven benefits for human health, and that is why it could be used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit seed oils are of new interest due to their significant properties and can be a good opportunity to recover fruit waste. Actinidia arguta (baby kiwi) fruits are a novelty in the market and berries can be consumed with the peels. Due to their limited shelf life, fruits are very perishable and the waste management techniques used post-harvest are an important issue. Berry waste can be reused, for biological flows focused on food losses and waste reduction. Therefore, baby kiwi fruit samples were collected from the Ortofruititalia company orchards in Cuneo, Italy, and then processed and analysed for seed oil constituents using standard analytical methods. The results of this study indicate that unsaturated fatty acids were the most dominant fatty acids (92.6 g/100 g) in comparison with saturated (7.4 g/100 g). In addition, α-linoleic acid (82.7 g/100 g) was the most dominant unsaturated fatty acid. Additionally, γ-Tocopherol (0.023 g/100 g) was the most dominant tocopherol in this study. Extraction of seed oil from these berries could be proposed as an option for obtaining high-added-value oils for pharmaceutical cosmetics, among other uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) seed oil (WSO) recovered by two methods—cold pressing (CP) and extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2E)—taking into account the different extraction times, was characterized for its composition and quality. The cytotoxicity assessment of WSOs was also carried out using the normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cell line. Tocopherol and total polyphenol contents were significantly higher in WSO recovered by SCO2E, up to 1901.0 and 58.5 mg/kg, respectively, in comparison with CP oil. In CP oil, the highest content of carotenoids and squalene was determined (123.8 and 31.4 mg/kg, respectively). Phytosterol summed up to 5396 mg/kg in WSO collected in 30 min of SCO2E. Moreover, the highest oxidative stability was found for this oil. All studied WSOs were non-cytotoxic in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leaching and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays; however, oils collected by SCO2E in 15 and 30 min were found to be cytotoxic in the tetrazolium salt (MTT) test, with the CC50 at a concentration of 3.4 and 5.5%, respectively. In conclusion, the composition of WSO indicates that, depending on the method of its recovery, seeds can have different bio-potencies and various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: CYCLIN‐DEPENDENT KINASE 8 (CDK8), a component of the kinase module of the Mediator complex in Arabidopsis, is involved in many processes, including flowering, plant defense, drought, and energy stress responses. Here, we investigated cdk8 mutants and CDK8‐overexpressing lines to evaluate whether CDK8 also plays a role in regulating lipid synthesis, an energy‐demanding anabolism.Quantitative lipid analysis demonstrated significant reductions in lipid synthesis rates and lipid accumulation in developing siliques and seedlings of cdk8, and conversely, elevated lipid contents in wild‐type seed overexpressing CDK8. Transactivation assays show that CDK8 is necessary for maximal transactivation of the master seed oil activator WRINKLED1 (WRI1) by the seed maturation transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3, supporting a direct regulatory role of CDK8 in oil synthesis.Thermophoretic studies show GEMINIVIRUS REP INTERACTING KINASE1, an activating kinase of KIN10 (a catalytic subunit of SUCROSE NON‐FERMENTING1‐RELATED KINASE1), physically interacts with CDK8, resulting in its phosphorylation and degradation in the presence of KIN10.This work defines a mechanism whereby, once activated, KIN10 downregulates WRI1 expression and suppresses lipid synthesis via promoting the degradation of CDK8. The KIN10‐CDK8‐dependent regulation of lipid synthesis described herein is additional to our previously reported KIN10‐dependent phosphorylation and degradation of WRI1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jatropha belongs to family of Euphorbiaceae, is an alternate or commercial crop for biodiesel production. Fresh seeds of Jatropha gossypifolia were collected during summer season (April 2022) and were dried in the sunlight for 24 hours. Around 42ml of the oil was extracted from 100 gm of seeds at 210°C from dried seeds of Jatropha gossypifolia. The seed waste with Saccharomyces cerevisiae was kept for Solid State Fermentation (SSF) for one week. Ethanol with substrate and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used for extraction of oil after one week. The Jatropha gossypifolia seed oil contains Protein, Carbohydrate, phenol, Terpenoids, steroids, Cholesterol, Quinones, flavonoids and Cardiac glycosides. The seed oil has shown little activity with Candida, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. Antimicrobial activity was observed with Petroleum ether or Ethanol dissolved with microbial oil (50:50). The proteinases like Trypsin and Proteinase K has shown gelatin degradation indicates the proteases making positive effect with gelatin degradation and protein degrading activity. Gossypiline has shown good binding activity showing good antimicrobial activity compared with gossipidien acid, gossipifan, and n - demethylricinine based on in silico analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three moringa oliefera varieties (MOMAX 3, ODC and PKM-1) seeds were used in this study. The oil was extracted from the seeds of ODC, PKM1 and MOMAX 3 moringa varieties by cold press (CP) and the solvent extraction (SE) method. Fatty acids, triglycerides, tocols (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and sterol contents of moringa seed oils obtained by two different methods were determined and compared with one another. The crude oil yield was between 26.46 - 28.19% in solvent extraction and 24.20 - 26.30% in the cold press method. It was determined that the main fatty acid in moringa seed oils (ODC, PKM1 and MOMAX 3) was Oleic acid (63.31 - 70.04%). Other dominant fatty acids were determined to be palmitic acid (16:0) (5.59-7.26%), stearic acid (18:0) (5.37-5.89%), oleic acid (18:1n9) (%63.31-70.04), arachidic acid (20:0) (2.67 - 3.71%) and behenic acid (22:0) (3.82 - 5.73%). It was determined that the main triglyceride in moringa seed oils was triolein (OOO; 35.63 - 36.50%), the main sterol was β-Sitosterol (39.04 - 42.11%) and the main tocopherol was α-tocopherol (15.88 - 18.91 µg/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to understand the gene action for seed oil, seed protein, seed gossypol, seed cotton yield and fiber density through intra-hirsutum crosses. Combining ability and gene action were studied in eighteen hybrids involving six elite varieties as lines (females) and three fuzzless G. hirsutum accessions as testers (males) in Line x Tester analysis. This study revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action on all the traits studied including seed cotton yield. The elite general combiners identified were CO14 for seed oil and seed protein and CO17 and AKH98-81 for fiber per seed and fiber density. The best specific combiner was SVPR4 x AKH98-81 for seed oil, fiber density and seed cotton yield. A correlation study revealed a strong positive association of seed oil content, lint index, micronaire value, fiber per seed and seed fiber density traits with seed cotton yield. This study indicated the possibility of developing high-yielding hybrids with high seed oil, seed protein content and better fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding.

Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds (SMS) are the main by-product of the production processing of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae. The main purposes of this work are to analyse the nutritional components in SMS, to explore the antioxidant activity of the chemical components in SMS and to evaluate the possibility of SMS as a raw material for functional foods. The contents of crude fibre, total protein, carbohydrates, total phenolics and flavonoids in SMS and the composition and relative content of fatty acids in SMS oil were determined. The results suggested that SMS has high contents of crude fibre (28.68 ± 4.66 g/100 g), total protein (26.65 ± 2.51 g/100 g), total phenolics (6.45 ± 0.55 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g) and total flavonoids (3.28 ± 0.34 mg of rutin equivalent/g), as well as a high level of α-linolenic acid (33.774 ± 4.68%) in their oil. Twenty-two secondary metabolites were identified in SMS residue, and nine compounds were isolated. The IC50 values of the total phenolic content in SMS on an ABTS radical, DPPH radical, superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical were 30.94 ± 3.68 μg/mL, 34.93 ± 4.12 μg/mL, 150.87 ± 17.64 μg/mL and 230.19 ± 24.47 μg/mL, respectively. The results indicate that SMS contain many nutrients and have high utilization value as a promising functional food.

The seeds of various Trichosanthes L. plants have been frequently used as snacks instead of for traditional medicinal purposes in China. However, there is still a need to identify the species based on seeds from Trichosanthes germplasm for the potential biological activities of their seed oil. In this study, 18 edible Trichosanthes germplasm from three species were identified and distinguished at a species level using a combination of seed morphological and microscopic characteristics and nrDNA-ITS sequences. Seed oil from the edible Trichosanthes germplasm significantly enhanced oxidative stress tolerance, extended lifespan, delayed aging, and improved healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans. The antioxidant activity of the seed oil exhibits a significant positive correlation with its total unsaturated fatty acid content among the 18 edible Trichosanthes germplasm, suggesting a genetic basis for this trait. The biological activities of seed oil varied among species, with T. kirilowii Maxim. and T. rosthornii Harms showing stronger effects than T. laceribractea Hayata.

IntroductionDue to climate change, increasing and maintaining the current level of production in low rainfall conditions in semi-arid regions is an important challenge. On the other hand, agriculture in these areas is often of low productivity due to low water use efficiency. Considering the fact that Iran is one of the challenging arid and semi-arid regions of the world, so it faces the problem of water shortage and precipitation. Therefore, in such circumstances, finding eco-friendly solutions to increase water use efficiency to achieve sustainable agricultural goals seems necessary. In recent years, many efforts have been made in this field, in this regard, limited irrigation and the use of superabsorbent into the soil as two practical strategies for water conservation and optimal use have been considered.Optimizing the effective factors in production and management of water use in the farm could saves limited water resources and protects the soil, moreover, can increase yields. Extensive research has been done on the effect of different levels of irrigation, superabsorbent and fertilizer on different crops, but in the field of simultaneous optimization of these factors using statistical techniques, there is little or no information, so this study aims to optimize consumption of irrigation water, superabsorbent and cattle manure were designed and conducted in low-input sesame cultivation using surface-response methodology and Box-Behnken design.Materials and MethodsThe experiment was conducted as a Box-Behnken design. Experimental factors including a combination of different levels of irrigation water, superabsorbent and cattle manure. The total number of treatments required for this experiment was 15 treatments including 12 factorial combinations and 3 replications of the central point. The Box-Behnken design is essentially applicable and analyzed with one replication, but to fit the level of response equations, it is necessary to repeat the central points that represent the average level of high and low levels of each of the experimental factors. Using the Box-Behnken design, it is possible that most information from the minimum executive operation would be obtained through the distribution of trial points in the treatments. The values of these factors were determined by using software due to low and high levels of irrigation water (1500 and 3000 m3 ha-1), superabsorbent (0 and 160 kg ha-1) and cattle manure (0 and 30 ton ha-1) using software.In the Box-Behnken method, the response variable (y) is estimated by Equation 1.Where y is a dependent variable and according to sesame seed yield, biological yield, leaf area index, leaf dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pods, 1000-seeds weight, relative water content and seed oil percentage were calculated separately; Xi is the independent variable, XiXj i the interaction of the independent variable i and the independent variable j, Xi2 the second power of the independent variable i and βi to βii are the coefficients of the equation. After obtaining the simulation results, using calculations and statistical methods, a quadratic polynomial is obtained which expresses the response rate (yield) as a function of input variables. Finally, after optimizing the obtained relationship and eliminating ineffective sentences, using statistical tests and criteria such as F test value, Lack of Fit test, Pvalue and R2 (coefficient of determination), the final relationship for predicting yield and other response variables is calculated for the present study (Equation 2).The obtained relationship is valid only within the limits defined for the input parameters and has no predictive power outside this range. In this equation, y: is a dependent variable already defined for Eq. 4. X1 is the independent variable of irrigation water, X2 is the superabsorbent, and X3 is the independent variable of manure, a1 to a9 are the equation coefficients. Optimal amounts of irrigation water, superabsorbent and manure were determined according to the possibility of maximum seed yield. Finally, the estimated values were compared with the observed data and the validity of the regression models was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE).Results and DiscussionIn general, considering the significant effect of linear component of manure from regression model and biological yield as well as linear effect of irrigation and manure on the number of seed per pod, it can be concluded that the use of manure ultimately increased seed yield. Regarding the quality yield of sesame (seed oil percentage), the significance of the linear component of the superabsorbent effect can guarantee the quality yield of sesame. The high significant (p≤0.01) effect of the second order (full quadratic model) component of manure on 1000-seeds weight also indicates the effectiveness of manure on yield components and finally seed yield. Optimization was performed with three scenarios. First, considering all three factors, irrigation, superabsorbent and manure were done. Optimization was done to produce the highest seed yield, in which case the highest seed yield (4541 kg ha-1) was obtained with 3,000 m3 ha-1 of irrigation water, without superabsorbent and with 30 t ha-1 of manure. In the next step, to investigate the role of superabsorbent in water saving, optimization was performed with half irrigation water, 100 kg ha-1 of superabsorbent and with no application of manure, which resulted in the production of 3380 kg ha-1 of seed. In the third case, the results of optimization for irrigation water in the range of 1500 to 2250 m3 ha-1 (limited irrigation), with no use of superabsorbent and the amount of manure from zero to 30 t ha-1, showed that applying 2250 m3 ha-1 of water and 30 t ha-1 of manure could be resulted in a seed yield of 4186 kg ha-1. The highest amount of irrigation water productivity, equal to 2.2 kg seed per m3 of water, was obtained from 2250 m3 of irrigation water. Third scenario compared with the first scenario shows a reduction of 750 m3 in the volume of irrigation water that resulted in only an 8% reduction in seed yield (4186 vs. 4541 kg of seed), therefore, the third scenario potentially could be chosen by the farmers. Depends on the level of availability of water resources, the balance of economic value of water against seed yield, and other environmental and management options, if the application of 30 t ha-1 of manure to achieve the stable seed yield is not economical for the farmer compared with the application of 100 kg ha-1 of superabsorbent, we can recommend the second scenario (1500 m3 of water plus 100 kg of superabsorbent, with no manure) that will result in the seed yield by 3380 kg ha-1. The difference in seed yield in this scenario compared with the third scenario is 806 kg of seed, so the farmer must take into account all economic and managerial conditions to select the appropriate scenario. In general, the results of this study showed that using eco-friendly inputs, it is possible to produce stable sesame in an arid and semi-arid region and achieve a yield beyond of the conventional high-input systems.

Medicinal plants are regarded as safe because of their natural origin, nevertheless, they can contain toxic substances that can exert adverse effects. This study aims to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity of Jatropha curcas seed oil using modified Lorke method and 28 days repeated dosing of grouped rats with normal saline and -10, 300, 600 mg/kg body weight of the seed oil. At the end of the experimentation, haematological and biochemical analysis of blood samples and the histopathology of the liver and kidney of rats in each group were evaluated. The Lethal Dose (LD50) of J. curcas seed oil was lower than 5000mg/kg b.wt. Haematological and biochemical analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in the Hemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume and Red Blood Cells, an increase in the level of Total White Blood Count and Platelet Count, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine in the treated groups, while the histological evaluation revealed distortion in liver and kidney cytoarchitecture of rats administered with 600 mg/kg b.wt of the seed oil. The oil was found less toxic at the acute phase but there was toxicity manifestation in subacute phase causing adverse effects on haematological, biochemical parameters and the tissues of the kidney and liver. The study suggests that the seed oil can be used, but caution should be exercised when using it at high doses for prolonged periods.

Background: Glasswort (Salicornia persica) is identified as a halophyte plant, which is one of the most tolerant plants to salt conditions. The seed oil of the plant contains about 33% oil. In the present study, the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) and potassium nitrate (KNO3; 0, 0.5, and 1%) were evaluated on several characteristics of glasswort under salinity stress (0, 10, 20, and 40 dS/m). Results: morphological features, phenological traits, and yield parameters such as plant height, number of days to flowering, seed oil, biological yield, and seed yield significantly decreased in response to severe salt stress. However, the plants needed an optimal salinity concentration (20 dS/m NaCl) to obtain high amounts of seed oil and seed yield. The results also showed that a high level of salinity (40 dS/m NaCl) caused a decrease in plant oil and yield. In addition, by increasing the exogenous application of SNP and KNO3, the seed oil and seed yield increased. Conclusions: The application of SNP and KNO3 were effective in protecting S. persica plants from the deleterious effects of severe salt stress (40 dS/m NaCl), thereby restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes, increasing the proline content, and maintaining cell membrane stability. It seems that both factors, i.e. SNP and KNO3, can be applied as mitigators of salt stress in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence of the negative effects on canola seed yield caused by shading (SH) and high temperature stress (HT) separately, but the combined effect of both stresses has not been studied. This work aimed to (i) evaluate the effects of SH and HT stresses, alone and combined, on floral development, seed yield and quality, (ii) quantify the resulting effect (additive, synergistic, antagonistic) of combined stresses, and (iii) examine the utility of the photothermal quotient (PTQ, solar radiation/temperature ratio) to predict seed yield in stressed canola crops. Two field experiments were performed in Buenos Aires (Argentina) applying HT daytime temperature stress (25–30 °C from 1000 to 1500 h), SH (−80% irradiance), and SH + HT combined stresses, with C unstressed (20 °C and 100% irradiance) crops. Long and short duration SH and HT strongly affected floral development (fewer flowers and pods, with smaller ovules) and seed yield (reduction from −40 to −90% respect to C). Combined SH + HT exhibited detrimental synergistic effects on seed yield and oil concentration for long duration stresses, whereas antagonistic effects were mainly observed for short stresses. We conclude that the PTQ (cumulative from 100 to 500 °Cd after flowering) summarizes adequately the detrimental effects of combined post-flowering abiotic stresses on canola seed productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SEVEN IN Absentia (SINA), a typical member of the RING E3 ligase family, plays a crucial role in plant growth, development and response to abiotic stress. However, its biological functions in oil crops are still unknown. Previously, we reported that overexpression of AtSINA2 in Arabidopsis positively regulated the drought tolerance of transgenic plants. In this work, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of AtSINA2 in soybean improved the shoot growth, grain yield, drought tolerance and seed oil content in transgenic plants. Compared to wild type, transgenic soybean produced greater shoot biomass and grain yield, and showed improved seed oil and drought tolerance. Physiological analyses exhibited that the increased drought tolerance of transgenic plants was accompanied with a higher chlorophyll content, and a lower malondialdehyde accumulation and water loss during drought stress. Further transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expressions of genes related to plant growth, flowering and stress response were up- or down-regulated in transgenic soybean under both normal and drought stress conditions. Our findings imply that AtSINA2 improved both agricultural production and drought tolerance, and it can be used as a candidate gene for the genetic engineering of new soybean cultivars with improved grain yield and drought resistance. • AtSINA2 promoted grain yield, seed oil and drought tolerance in transgenic soybean. • Ectopic AtSINA2 expression altered growth and stress related gene expression. • Transgenic soybean plants showed early flowering under normal growth condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils are indispensable in human and animal diets and have been widely used for the production of detergents, lubricants, cosmetics, and biofuels. The seeds of an allotetraploid Perilla frutescens contain approximately 35 to 40% oils with high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). WRINKELD1 (WRI1) encoding an AP2/ERF-type transcription factor is known to upregulate the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis and TAG assembly. In this study, two WRI1 isoforms, PfWRI1A, and PfWRI1B were isolated from Perilla and predominantly expressed in developing Perilla seeds. The fluorescent signals from PfWRI1A:eYFP and PfWRI1B:eYFP driven by the CaMV 35S promoter were detected in the nucleus of the Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermis. Ectopic expression of each of PfWRI1A and PfWRI1B increased the levels of TAG by approximately 2.9- and 2.7-fold in N. benthamiana leaves and particularly, the enhanced levels (mol%) of C18:2, and C18:3 in the TAGs were prominent with the concomitant reduction in the amounts of saturated fatty acids. The expression levels of NbPl-PKβ1, NbKAS1, and NbFATA, which were known to be target genes of WRI1, significantly increased in tobacco leaves overexpressing PfWRI1A or PfWRI1B. Therefore, newly characterized PfWRI1A and PfWRI1B can be potentially useful for the enhanced accumulation of storage oils with increased PUFAs in oilseed crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shampoo prepares surfactants to remove dirt, surface grease, and skin debris from hair, shaft, and scalp without harming the user. This study aimed to formulate herbal shampoo using Ethiopian plant extracts and evaluate their quality parameters. Herbal shampoos were formulated using seed oil extracts of Lepidium sativum L. and Ricinus communis L., and essential oil extracts of Lippia adeonsis Hochst ex. Walp koseret, along with other ingredients. The formulated herbal shampoos were evaluated for their organoleptic and physicochemical properties such as pH, surface tension, viscosity, dirt dispersion, antimicrobial activities, and stability. When the investigation data were assessed, the formulations were pleasant and attractive, produced sufficient foam, and showed suitable cleansing activities. The pH values were in a range 5.90 ± 0.22–7.45 ± 0.19, and lower surface tension (23.39 ± 0.20–31.89 ± 1.04 dyne/cm) together with acceptable viscosity with good shearing properties were obtained. The formulated products exhibited good antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. When the surface morphologies of hair samples were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a clean and smooth surface was observed for treated samples, comparable to that of the marketed shampoo. This result indicated that the formulated herbal shampoo is good, having acceptable properties at par with commercially available shampoos. However, further investigation, research, and development are required to improve its quality and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hodgsonia heteroclita subsp. Indochinensis W.J.de Wlide & Duyfjes (or Making in Thai) is a neglected and underutilized crop (NUC) with high fat containing nuts. In this study, the enzyme-assisted mechanical extraction of H. heteroclita seed oil was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) to predict the optimal fat extraction conditions. The most efficient enzyme used in the experiment was a mixture of Flavourzyme® and Viscozyme® (1:1, w/w). The predicted maximum oil yield was 46.44%, using the following extraction conditions: 2.98% (w/w) enzyme loading, 48 °C incubation temperature and 76 min of incubation time. H. heteroclita seed oil obtained from heat and enzymatic pretreatments exhibited the highest lightness and viscosity. The chemical properties of this seed oil, including water and volatile compounds (≤0.2% w/w), acid value (≤4.0 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (≤15 mEq of active oxygen/kg) and soap content (≤0.005% w/w), were within the acceptable levels specified by the Codex Alimentarius (2019). H. heteroclita seed oil obtained from heat and enzymatic pretreatments contained the highest content of δ-tocopherol (88.29 mg/100 g) and omega-6 fatty acids (48.19 g/100 g). This study is the first to report on the enzyme-assisted mechanical extraction of H. heteroclita oilseeds as a promising plant material for vegetable oil production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of black mustard [Brassica nigra (L.) Koch] has recently become increasingly popular and there is a raising demand for its oil and seeds from the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. A 2-year experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications, two main plots (plant densities: 46 and 76 plants m-2) and four sub-plots (fertilization treatments: control, urea with and without urease and nitrification inhibitors, and compost) to evaluate the fertilization and plant density effect on seed oil content, oil yield, and fatty acids composition of black mustard under Mediterranean environment. The seed yield, oil content and yield were positively influenced by the increase of available nitrogen and negatively by the increase of plant density, with their highest values recorded in the low-density and urea with double inhibitors. In response to the quality characteristics of seed oil, low-density compost application raised the quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In conclusion, plant densities higher than 46 plants m-2 result in lower seed yield, oil content and yield, while the inorganic fertilization effect, specifically with urea with double inhibitors, was equally important in seed and oil yield; however, when the seed and/or oil are used for their nutraceutical and medicinal value, the use of compost is recommended, resulting in a significant increase in PUFA content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]