Impact of hydrothermal processing on squalene, α-tocopherol, and fatty acid content in Job's tears grain milled fractions: evaluation of their storage stability

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Job's tears possess an exceptionally high amount of fat and the unsaponifiable fraction is a potential source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydrothermal processing on squalene, α-tocopherol, and fatty acids in the whole-grain, milled fractions, and their storage stability. RESULTS: The highest level of squalene content was found in the bran fractions of native and processed Job's tears (11.54–12.75 mg 100 g−1). A remarkably high amount of α-tocopherol was also found in the bran (59.75 ± 0.47 mg 100 g−1) and germ (67.05 ± 0.94 mg 100 g−1) of the processed grain fractions. The storage stability evaluation of these bioactive compounds in the polished grains revealed no significant difference between 0 and 15 days of storage under elevated temprature of 37 °C and 92% relative humidity (accelarated storage conidition) and retained the bioactive compounds longer in the processed grains. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the processed Job's tears milled fractions with high bioactive compounds and improved shelf life can be used as food ingredients in product development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.