Antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from seeds in fresh Bokbunja (Rubus coreanus Miq.) and wine processing waste

The antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from defatted Bokbunja seed wastes generated during wine processing were estimated by radical scavenging abilities (DPPH(*), H(2)O(2), and O(2)(*-)), retardation of lipid oxidation, and iron ion-chelating characteristics. For comparison, ethanol extracts from seeds of fresh ripe Bokbunja fruits were also used. The ethanol extracts from the wine seed waste always showed higher scavenging activities against DPPH(*), H(2)O(2), and O(2)(*-) than those from the fresh seeds. The oxidation of linoleic acid in dimethylsulfoxide at 105 degrees C revealed that the kinetic behavior clearly obeyed pseudo-zero-order regardless of the linoleic acid concentration. The Fe(II)-chelating capacity was determined by the Freundlich isotherm. The results showed high potential and favorability of the two extracts for Fe(II) chelation. The Freundlich chelation capacities (mg(1-1/n)L(1/n)/g) of both ethanol extracts from seeds of fresh Bokbunja and wine processing wastes, tannic acid, and proanthocyanidin from Pinus radiata bark were 100, 224, 260, and 307, respectively. The Fe(III)-chelating properties of the ethanol extracts were considered to be deeply associated with its 3',4',5'-trihydroxyl (galloyl) group as with tannic acid.     

两种海桐属植物种子油脂肪酸组成的分析评价

采用有机溶剂抽提了海桐属 2种植物 (海桐和皱叶海桐 )的籽油 ,使用气相色谱法 (GC)分析鉴定了其油脂的脂肪酸组分。 2种籽油均含有 6种脂肪酸 ,主要脂肪酸成分均为软脂酸 (C16∶0 )和油酸 (C18∶1)。其含量 ( % )分别为 :软脂酸 (C16∶0 ) 2 9.66,3 4 .72 ;油酸 (C18∶1) 66.4 3 ,62 .54。这两种油脂中 ,单不饱和脂肪酸油酸占优势 ,因而品质优良。提示海桐属植物籽油可作为保健型食用油研究和开发利用     

The Fatty Acid Composition and Quality of Oils from Post‐Industrial Waste of Quince Chaenomeles japonica

In the food industry, quince seeds are discarded as waste in the production process. Their use therefore creates added value and opens up the possibility of using no‐waste processing technologies. Three types of waste were investigated: after juicing, after the manufacture of puree and syrup. The results showed that the yield of quince seeds (Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb .) Lindl . ex Spach from waste left after different production methods varies from 29.8 to 38.3 %. The cold pressed oil yield ranges from 4.9±0.03 to 7.1±0.06 %. The oil yield obtained by Soxhlet extraction varies from 14.6±0.64 to 17.3±0.9 %. Unsaturated fatty acid, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid is predominant in quince seed oil. The linoleic acid content of the quince seed oils was between 47.12 % and 58.49 % of the total fatty acids. The fatty acid composition of oils from post‐industrial waste is more appropriate in the skin care industry than in the food industry because of the high ratio of omega‐6/omega‐3 and high linoleic acid content.     

Redirection of metabolic flux for high levels of omega‐7 monounsaturated fatty acid accumulation in camelina seeds

Seed oils enriched in omega‐7 monounsaturated fatty acids, including palmitoleic acid (16:1?9) and cis‐vaccenic acid (18:1?11), have nutraceutical and industrial value for polyethylene production and biofuels. Existing oilseed crops accumulate only small amounts (<2%) of these novel fatty acids in their seed oils. We demonstrate a strategy for enhanced production of omega‐7 monounsaturated fatty acids in camelina (Camelina sativa) and soybean (Glycine max) that is dependent on redirection of metabolic flux from the typical ?9 desaturation of stearoyl (18:0)‐acyl carrier protein (ACP) to ?9 desaturation of palmitoyl (16:0)‐acyl carrier protein (ACP) and coenzyme A (CoA). This was achieved by seed‐specific co‐expression of a mutant ?9‐acyl‐ACP and an acyl‐CoA desaturase with high specificity for 16:0‐ACP and CoA substrates, respectively. This strategy was most effective in camelina where seed oils with ~17% omega‐7 monounsaturated fatty acids were obtained. Further increases in omega‐7 fatty acid accumulation to 60–65% of the total fatty acids in camelina seeds were achieved by inclusion of seed‐specific suppression of 3‐keto‐acyl‐ACP synthase II and the FatB 16:0‐ACP thioesterase genes to increase substrate pool sizes of 16:0‐ACP for the ?9‐acyl‐ACP desaturase and by blocking C18 fatty acid elongation. Seeds from these lines also had total saturated fatty acids reduced to ~5% of the seed oil versus ~12% in seeds of nontransformed plants. Consistent with accumulation of triacylglycerol species with shorter fatty acid chain lengths and increased monounsaturation, seed oils from engineered lines had marked shifts in thermotropic properties that may be of value for biofuel applications.     

Morphometric and phytochemical profile of seeds of metallicolous and nonmetallicolous Echium vulgare populations

The morphometric and phytochemical parameters of seeds of three populations of Echium vulgare L. were compared. Two metallicolous populations (designated as MZ and MC) originated from waste deposits left over ZnPb ore smelting and processing and the reference population originated from an uncontaminated area (NM - nonmetallicolous population). The length, width, weight, and surface area of collected seeds were measured; additionally, the germination ability and vigour index for each population were determined. Moreover, heavy metal, seed oil, and secondary metabolite concentrations were measured. The results obtained indicated differentiation in the seed size and germination ability between the populations. The smaller size of seeds from the metallicolous populations was accompanied by lower germination ability; however, the seeds from the MC population achieved the highest vigour index. Furthermore, the MC population was characterized by the lowest concentration of allantoin and rosmarinic acid; additionally, the seeds of the MC population contained higher content of seed oils and increased contribution of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids by ca. 60 and 45%, respectively, and a decreased (by 16%) fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with the NM population. The strong differentiation of the MC population coincided with the high seed metal accumulation.     

用GC-MS分析不同采收和贮存时期的麻疯树种子油的脂肪酸

将采收于青果期、黄果期、黑果期及储存1a、2a的麻疯树种子提油,测定其理化性质,并利用GC-MS分析这5个不同时期的种子所提取的麻疯树种子油成分。结果表明:5个油样的水分、酸值、出油率有较大差异,主要化学成分、碘值、皂化值差异不大。青果的出油率为13.13%,水分为0.66%,酸值为69.21,不饱和脂肪酸含量最低。新采成熟果实的出油率为54.64%,水分为0.36%,酸值为1.51,不饱和脂肪酸含量也相对较高。因此,新采的成熟果实较为适合作生物柴油的原料。     

Evolution of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity and lipid content during seed maturation of two spring rapeseed cultivars (Brassica napus L.)

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc: EC 4.1.1.31) activity was monitored during seed maturation of two varieties (Hybridol and Pactol) of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), widely cultivated in Tunisia. In the Hybridol variety, PEPc activity did not exceed 5 micromol h(-1) per gram of fresh weight (FW) during the first stages of maturation. It then highly increased to reach more than 30 micromol h(-1) g(-1)/FW. On the contrary, in the Pactol variety, the evolution of PEPc activity showed a classical curve, i.e. an increase during the most active phase of lipid accumulation in maturating seeds, followed by a rapid decrease until the end of seed maturation. In both varieties, the seed oil was characterised by a high content of oleic acid (C(18:1)), linoleic (C(18:2)) and linolenic acids (C(18:3)). Saturated fatty acids were also present, although decreasing with maturation course. The analysis of the triacylglycerols (TAG) showed that trioleoylglycerol (OOO) and dioleoyllinoleoylglycerol (OOL) were the major species (ca. 35% and ca. 25% of the total respectively). The evolution pattern of fatty acids and TAG contents was similar to that of PEPc activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that PEPc may be involved in fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthesis during seed maturation of both rapeseed varieties.     

Fatty Acid Patterns of Seeds of Some Salvia Species from Iran – A Chemotaxonomic Approach

In this study, the seed oil content and fatty acid (FA) profile of 21 populations from 16 wild Salvia species of Iran were analyzed by GC. Patterns of chemical variations of the oils among species were identified via numerical analyses and also the taxonomic status of the infrageneric grouping was outlined in the genus. Salvia species were scored based on the contents of main FAs using principal coordinate analysis (PCO). The results showed that the total oil content in the seeds varied significantly, and ranged from 6.68 to 38.53% dry weight. α‐Linolenic (18:3ω3, 1.69 – 53.56%), linoleic (18:2ω6, 13.04 – 60.64%), oleic (18:1ω9, 6.15 – 27.06%), palmitic (16:0, 3.77 – 9.27%), and stearic (18:0, 1.78 – 3.05%) acid were identified as five major FAs in the oils. The amount of ω‐3 and ω‐6 FAs ranged between 1.90 – 53.80% and 13.46 – 60.83% of total FAs in the seed oils, respectively. The results confirmed that FA profiles were distinctive among the species and that they can be used as chemotaxonomic markers. The discrimination of Salvia species according to their botanical classification at intersectional level was supported. In general, seed oils of Salvia species were rich sources of polyunsaturated FAs, except in linoleic and α‐linolenic acid, and may be valuable for food and pharmaceutical industries.     

羊奶果种子脂肪酸组成和矿质元素分析

测定了羊奶果(Elaeagnus conferta Roxb.)种子脂肪酸组成以及矿质元素含量。结果表明:脂肪酸含量为1.98%,主要是油酸(C18:1)34.15%、亚油酸(C18:2)31.51%、软脂酸(C16:0)13.83%、硬脂酸(C18:0)2.88%。饱和脂肪酸:单不饱和脂肪酸:多不饱和脂肪酸含量比为1:2.23:2.75。矿质元素K高达7837.69mgkg-1,Fe为30.99mgkg-1、Zn为10.13mgkg-1,Na为259.5mgkg-1。     

Physicochemical properties of cold pressed sunflower,peanut, rapeseed,mustard and olive oils grown in the Eastern Mediterranean region

Fatty acid composition and stability of vegetable oils have taken more attention as an essential source of biologically active compounds in a good balanced diet. The purpose of the study was to determine peroxide value, free fatty acids, unsaponifiable matter, total carotenoid content, iodine value and fatty acid composition of sunflower, rapeseed, mustard, peanut and olive oils. Rapeseed and peanut oils had the highest peroxide values, while sunflower oil had the lowest peroxide values. The free fatty acid value of the tested oils varied between 0.43 and 1.36% oleic. The peanut oil had the highest free acid value and the mustard oil had the lowest one. Total carotenoid contents of mustard and rape seed oil were higher than those of the other oils tested. Palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) were the common main fatty acid components of the vegetable oils tested. Followed by linoleic acid, the amount of oleic acid was the highest among other fatty acid components. Mustard oil had the highest erucic acid (C22:1) with the amount of 11.38%, indicating that it cannot be used for human consumption. Among the oils investigated, sunflower and mustard oils were more stable than rapeseed, peanut and olive oils.     

Successful high‐level accumulation of fish oil omega‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in a transgenic oilseed crop

Omega‐3 (also called n‐3) long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (≥C20; LC‐PUFAs) are of considerable interest, based on clear evidence of dietary health benefits and the concurrent decline of global sources (fish oils). Generating alternative transgenic plant sources of omega‐3 LC‐PUFAs, i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n‐3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n‐3, DHA) has previously proved problematic. Here we describe a set of heterologous genes capable of efficiently directing synthesis of these fatty acids in the seed oil of the crop Camelina sativa, while simultaneously avoiding accumulation of undesirable intermediate fatty acids. We describe two iterations: RRes_EPA in which seeds contain EPA levels of up to 31% (mean 24%), and RRes_DHA, in which seeds accumulate up to 12% EPA and 14% DHA (mean 11% EPA and 8% DHA). These omega‐3 LC‐PUFA levels are equivalent to those in fish oils, and represent a sustainable, terrestrial source of these fatty acids. We also describe the distribution of these non‐native fatty acids within C. sativa seed lipids, and consider these data in the context of our current understanding of acyl exchange during seed oil synthesis.     

Evaluation of some biological parameters of Opuntia ficus indica. 1. Influence of a seed oil supplemented diet on rats

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) is native to Tunisia and the fruit is consumed exclusively as fresh fruit. The seed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids but the nutritive value of the oil is unknown. The objective of our research was to determine the fatty acid content of cactus pear seed oil and to evaluate the effect of an oil supplemented diet on rats. The main fatty acids of prickly pear seed oil were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 with an exceptional level of linoleic acid, up to 700 g kg(-1), and a total content of unsaturated fatty acids of 884.8 g kg(-1). Feed intake and body weight of rats were measured every two days during the nine weeks of treatment. Digestibility, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were determined. No difference in digestibility was noted for the oil enriched diet. The results indicated a significant decrease in serum glucose concentration (22%) over the control group. However, an increase in the concentration of glycogen was noted in liver and muscle. Blood cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol decreased in the treated group. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration remained unaltered during the treatment. These findings support the nutritional value of cactus pear as a natural source of edible oil containing essential fatty acids and reinforce the possibility of cactus pear as a new crop for Tunisia especially in semi-arid regions, where conventional crops are difficult to establish.     

Nonsymbiotic hemoglobin-2 leads to an elevated energy state and to a combined increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids and total oil content when overexpressed in developing seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis plants

Nonsymbiotic hemoglobins are ubiquitously expressed in plants and divided into two different classes based on gene expression pattern and oxygen-binding properties. Most of the published research has been on the function of class 1 hemoglobins. To investigate the role of class 2 hemoglobins, transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants were generated overexpressing Arabidopsis hemoglobin-2 (AHb2) under the control of a seed-specific promoter. Overexpression of AHb2 led to a 40% increase in the total fatty acid content of developing and mature seeds in three subsequent generations. This was mainly due to an increase in the polyunsaturated C18:2 (ω-6) linoleic and C18:3 (ω-3) α-linolenic acids. Moreover, AHb2 overexpression led to an increase in the C18:2/C18:1 and C18:3/C18:2 ratios as well as in the C18:3 content in mol % of total fatty acids and in the unsaturation/saturation index of total seed lipids. The increase in fatty acid content was mainly due to a stimulation of the rate of triacylglycerol synthesis, which was attributable to a 3-fold higher energy state and a 2-fold higher sucrose content of the seeds. Under low external oxygen, AHb2 overexpression maintained an up to 5-fold higher energy state and prevented fermentation. This is consistent with AHb2 overexpression results in improved oxygen availability within developing seeds. In contrast to this, overexpression of class 1 hemoglobin did not lead to any significant increase in the metabolic performance of the seeds. These results provide evidence for a specific function of class 2 hemoglobin in seed oil production and in promoting the accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by facilitating oxygen supply in developing seeds.     

Characteristics and composition of Parkia biglobbossa and Jatropha curcas oils and cakes

Parkia biglobbossa (PKBS) and Jatropha curcas (JTC) seeds were analysed for their proximate composition. The seeds oils were analysed for fatty acid, lipid classes, sterols and physicochemical characteristics. Proximate analysis revealed that the percentage crude protein, crude fat and moisture in PKBS were 32.40%, 26.525% and 10.18% respectively and 24.60%, 47.25% and 5.54% in JTC. Campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, Delta5-avenasterol and Delta7-stigmasterol were identified in the seed oils, but beta-sitosterol was most abundant, constituting 71.9% in JTC and 39.5% in PKBS. JTC oil had 72.7% unsaturated fatty acids with oleic acid predominating, while PKBS had 62% unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Results of lipid classes showed triglyceride as the dominant lipid species in the seed oils. Physicochemical analysis of the seed oils showed that they could be classified as semi drying oils and that they could be found applicable in alkyd resin and soap manufacture.     

Metabolic engineering of fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.): assembling tools to develop nutritionally desirable sesame seed oil

Vegetable oils are an essential component of human diet, in terms of their health beneficial roles. Despite their importance, the fatty acid profile of most commonly used edible oil seed crop plants are imbalanced; this skewed ratio of fatty acids in the diet has been shown to be a major reason for the occurrence of cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Until recently, it was not possible to exert significant control over the fatty acid composition of vegetable oils derived from different plants. However, the advent of metabolic engineering, knowledge of the genetic networks and regulatory hierarchies in plants have offered novel opportunities to tailor-made the composition of vegetable oils for their optimization in regard to food functionality and dietary requirements. Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the ancient oilseed crop in Indian subcontinent but its seed oil is devoid of balanced proportion of ω-6:ω-3 fatty acids. A recent study by our group has shed new lights on metabolic engineering strategies for the purpose of nutritional improvement of sesame seed oil to divert the carbon flux from the production of linoleic acid (C18:2) to α-linolenic acid (C18:3). Apart from that, this review evaluates current understanding of regulation of fatty acid biosynthetic pathways in sesame and attempts to identify the major options of metabolic engineering to produce superior sesame seed oil.     

Genetic possibilities for altering sunflower oil quality to obtain novel oils

The sunflower is one of the four most important oilseed crops in the world, and the nutritional quality of its edible oil ranks among the best vegetable oils in cultivation. Typically up to 90% of the fatty acids in conventional sunflower oil are unsaturated, namely oleic (C 18:1, 16%-19%) and linoleic (C 18:2, 68%-72%) fatty acids. Palmitic (C 16:0, 6%), stearic (C 18:0, 5%), and minor amounts of myristic (C 14:0), myristoleic (C 14:1), palmitoleic (C 16:1), arachidic (C 20:0), behenic (C 22:0), and other fatty acids account for the remaining 10%. Advances in modern genetics, most importantly induced mutations, have altered the fatty acid composition of sunflower oil to a significant extent. Treating sunflower seeds with gamma- and X-rays has produced mutants with 25%-30% palmitic acid. Sunflower seed treatment with X-rays has also resulted in mutants having 30% palmitoleic acid, while treatments with mutagenic sodium azide have produced seeds containing 35% stearic acid. The most important mutations have been obtained by treatment with dimethyl sulfate, which produced genotypes with more than 90% oleic acid. Mutants have also been obtained that have a high linoleic acid content (>80%) by treating seeds with X-rays and ethyl methanesulfonate. Of the vitamin E family of compounds, sunflower oil is known to predominantly contain alpha-tocopherol (>90%). Spontaneous mutations controlled by recessive genes have been discovered that significantly alter tocopherol forms and levels. The genes in question are tph(1) (50% alpha- and 50% beta-tocopherol), tph(2) (0%-5% alpha- and 95%-100% gamma-tocopherol), and tph(1)tph(2) (8%-40% alpha-, 0%-25% beta-, 25%-84% gamma-, and 8%-50% delta-tocopherol). The existence of (mutant) genes for increased levels of individual fatty acids and for different forms and levels of tocopherol enables the development of sunflower hybrids with different oil quality. The greatest progress has been made in developing high-oleic hybrids (>90% oleic acid). There has been considerable work done recently on the development of high-oleic hybrids with altered tocopherol levels, the oil of which will have 10-20 times greater oxidative stability than that of conventional sunflower oil. While sunflower breeders work on developing hybrids with altered oil quality, medical scientists in general and nutritionists in particular will determine the parameters for the use of these novel types of oil that can improve human nutrition and be used in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.     

Chemical composition and nutritional value of para-rubber seed and its products for chickens

Para-rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed and its products were subjected to different methods of processing such as decortication, oil extraction, autoclaving and fermentation and assayed for their chemical composition and nutritional value. Peanut oil meal and yellow maize were also assayed similarly for comparison.

Decortication reduced the crude fibre content, with proportionate increases in other nutrients and energy value. Autoclaving and fermentation failed to improve the nutritional value of undecorticated rubber seed oil meal.

Crude protein content of rubber seed and its products ranged from 11.5% in rubber seeds to 27.4% in commercial decorticated rubber seed oil meal. The oil content of the rubber seeds and kernels was 24.0 and 40.1%, respectively. The available carbohydrate content of rubber seed and its products ranged from 6.3% in rubber seeds to 15.9% in commercial decorticated rubber seed oil meal; these values may be compared with the value of 59.0% for yellow maize.

Both undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oil meals appeared to be deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids and lysine. The gross protein value of undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oil meals and peanut oil meal was estimated to be 43.6, 47.0 and 49.7, respectively.

Both undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oils were rich in oleic and stearic acids, but relatively poor in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, compared with peanut oil.

Determined apparent ME (AME) values were (kcal/g dry matter): rubber seeds, 2.91; kernels, 4.70; undecorticated rubber seed oil meal, 2.00; and decorticated rubber seed oil meal, 2.80. The true ME (TME) values were 3.24, 5.16, 2.22 and 3.00 kcal/g dry matter, respectively. In general, TME values were about 10% higher than the AME values.     

Vernonia DGATs can complement the disrupted oil and protein metabolism in epoxygenase-expressing soybean seeds

Plant oils can be useful chemical feedstocks such as a source of epoxy fatty acids. High seed-specific expression of a Stokesia laevis epoxygenase (SlEPX) in soybeans only results in 3-7% epoxide levels. SlEPX-transgenic soybean seeds also exhibited other phenotypic alterations, such as altered seed fatty acid profiles, reduced oil accumulation, and variable protein levels. SlEPX-transgenic seeds showed a 2-5% reduction in total oil content and protein levels of 30.9-51.4%. To address these pleiotrophic effects of SlEPX expression on other traits, transgenic soybeans were developed to co-express SlEPX and DGAT (diacylglycerol acyltransferase) genes (VgDGAT1 & 2) isolated from Vernonia galamensis, a high accumulator of epoxy fatty acids. These side effects of SlEPX expression were largely overcome in the DGAT co-expressing soybeans. Total oil and protein contents were restored to the levels in non-transgenic soybeans, indicating that both VgDGAT1 and VgDGAT2 could complement the disrupted phenotypes caused by over-expression of an epoxygenase in soybean seeds.     

超临界CO_2萃取韭菜籽油成分的GC-MS分析

以索氏提取法为对照,采用超临界二氧化碳(SC-CO_2)萃取韭菜籽油,气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)对韭菜籽油成分进行分析,NIST 02质谱数据库对其进行分析和鉴定.结果表明,SC-CO_2萃取压力为22.25 MPa、温度为40.40℃条件下萃取86.7 min时,萃取得率为17.52%,共分离鉴定出17种物质,其中,饱和脂肪酸以棕榈酸(6.25%)为主,占脂肪酸总量的 9.05%;不饱和脂肪酸主要是亚油酸(69.71%)和油酸(19.53%),占脂肪酸总量的90.50%.采用索氏提取得率为16.50%,共鉴定出10种物质,饱和脂肪酸以棕榈酸(7.22%)为主,占总脂肪酸量的9.84%;不饱和脂肪酸主要是亚油酸(69.34%)和油酸(20.12%),不饱和脂肪酸占脂肪酸总量的90.16%.另外SC-CO_2萃取韭菜籽油还检出单不饱和脂肪酸7-棕榈烯酸、角鲨烯和β-谷甾醇.     

Effect of Fatty Acids Isolated from Edible Oils Like Mustard,Linseed or Coconut on Astrocytes Maturation

The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) has been previously shown to facilitate some of the vital functions of astrocytes. Since some dietary oils contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3), which is a precursor of DHA, we examined their effect on astrocyte development. Fatty acids (FAs) were isolated from commonly used oils and their compositions were determined by GLC. FAs from three oils, viz. coconut, mustard and linseed were studied for their effect on astrocyte morphology. Parallel studies were conducted with FAs from the same oils after heating for 72 h. Unlike coconut oil, FAs from mustard and linseed, both heated and raw, caused significant morphogenesis of astrocytes in culture. ss-AR binding was also substantially increased in astrocytes treated with FAs from raw mustard and linseed oils as compared to astrocytes grown in normal medium. The expression profile of the isoforms of GFAP showed that astrocyte maturation by FAs of mustard and linseed oil was associated with appearance of acidic variants of GFAP and disappearance of some neutral isoforms similar to that observed in cultures grown in serum containing medium or in the presence of DHA. Taken together, the study highlights the contribution of specific dietary oils in facilitating astrocyte development that can have potential impact on human health.