Study of the biofunctional properties of cedar pine oil with the use of in vitro testing cultures

Abstract

Cedar pine (Pinus sibirica) nuts are an environmentally friendly natural product that contains a unique set of useful biologically active substances. Due to its composition, pine nuts and their derivative products are widely used in a comprehensive therapy and prevention program for a lot of diseases. The objects of the study were cedar oil and oil emulsions (the cedar oil concentration was 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0%). The antimicrobial properties were determined using the diffusion method and by measuring the optical density. The prebiotic properties were estimated according to the ability to stimulate the bifidobacteria growth. The antioxidant activity was determined using the fluorescent ORAC method. The antihypertensive activity was estimated according to the ability to inhibit the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme. All the studied experimental oil emulsion samples, regardless of a pressing method (cold or heat), showed high antimicrobial characteristics without suppressing only Candida albicans EMTC 34 and Proteus vulgaris ATCC 63 from the studied 10 strains of the main testing cultures. The prebiotic properties of the emulsions obtained with the addition of cedar oil have been determined. The number of cells of the bifidobacteria cultivated in nutrient media with the addition of cedar oil (with the concentration from 5.0%) is almost 3 times as large as the amount when cultivated without it. Antioxidant cedar oil properties have been revealed. The hypotensive characteristics of cedar oil can be observed even at a concentration of 5.0%, the percentage of inhibition of the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme is up to 69%. With an increase in the concentration of cedar oil to 10.0% inhibition increases to 70%. The carried out studies of the functional properties of experimental cedar oil samples have confirmed its high quality and an opportunity to use it as the basis of biologically active food supplements and dietary, medical-preventive and sports nutrition.