Journal of Oleo Science
Online ISSN : 1347-3352
Print ISSN : 1345-8957
ISSN-L : 1345-8957
Oils and Fats
Improvement of Physico-chemical Properties of Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil Enriched with β-Carotene from Fungi
Mª Carmen Murillo-CruzAna Belén García-RuízMariela Chova-MartínezRuperto Bermejo-Román
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2021 Volume 70 Issue 4 Pages 459-469

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Abstract

Nowadays the consumption of essential carotenoids is reduced due to the lower intake of fruits and vegetables, being humans not capable of synthesizing these molecules. β-carotene is one of the most important carotenoids possessing anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer properties. The aim of this work consists of preparing virgin olive oils enriched in β-carotene from fungi at different concentrations (0.041 and 0.082 mg/mL) in order to obtain new functional foods. Values of quality parameters (free acidity, peroxide value, coefficients of specific extinction and p-anisidine) have been obtained, showing that quality of olive oils was improved. Furthermore, the effect of β-carotene was evaluated as possible oxidative stabilizer during microwave heating and ultra violet-light exposure of the oils. As expected, the enrichment process brought changes in olive oils color, turning them orange-reddish. The use of natural antioxidants, in particular β-carotene could be an effective way to protect virgin olive oils from degradation and is a good strategy also to enhance the consumption of bioactive compounds improving olive oils shelf-life and nutritional value.

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© 2021 by Japan Oil Chemists' Society
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