Utilization of agroindustrial residue from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds as a source of fatty acids and bioactive substances

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of the oil extracted from passion fruit seeds (Passiflora edulis), an agroindustrial residue from juice industries, as a potential source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and bioactive substances. The oil presented low levels of free fatty acids and peroxides, as well a great amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids 58.4%, especially linoleic and linolenic acids, which indicates lower oxidation and good source of lipids. A relevant antioxidant activity as a result of a satisfactory content of bioactive substances, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, were determined in the passion fruit seed oil. The thermodegradation behavior of the oil suggested high thermal stability and the infrared spectroscopy exhibited high intensity bands between 1745 cm-1 to 1163 cm-1 correlated to the functional groups of fatty acids. Due to their bioactivity and presence of nutritious substances, the passion fruit seed oil may have beneficial properties to health and to extend the shelf-life foods products when present in dietary foods. Furthermore, the use of this by-product could reduce agroindustrial waste, expand and add value to the production chain when used as an industrial lipid matrix.

摘要 本研究旨在评估从西番莲果（Passiflora edulis）种子中提取的油脂的特性，该种子为果汁工业产生的农业加工副产物，可作为多不饱和脂肪酸（polyunsaturated fatty acids）与生物活性物质的潜在来源。该油脂的游离脂肪酸与过氧化物含量较低，同时含有高达58.4%的多不饱和脂肪酸，尤以亚油酸（linoleic acid）与亚麻酸（linolenic acid）为主，这表明其氧化程度较低，属于优质脂质来源。研究人员在西番莲果籽油中检测到显著的抗氧化活性，这得益于其含有充足的生物活性物质，包括多酚（polyphenols）、类黄酮（flavonoids）、类胡萝卜素（carotenoids）与抗坏血酸（ascorbic acid）。该油脂的热降解行为显示其具备较高的热稳定性；红外光谱（infrared spectroscopy）检测结果显示，在1745 cm⁻¹至1163 cm⁻¹区间存在高强度吸收带，对应脂肪酸的官能团特征。鉴于其生物活性与营养物质的存在，西番莲果籽油不仅对人体健康具有有益功效，添加至膳食食品中时还可延长食品的货架期。此外，利用这一副产物可减少农业工业废弃物，若作为工业脂质基质使用，还可拓展产业链并提升其附加值。