Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils

The appropriate use of food industry by-products such as watermelon seeds could reduce the problem of food waste, following the “zero waste” concept. Research in recent years suggests that these unused waste products could be a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Accordingly, the present st...

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Main Authors: Marta Siol, Beata Witkowska, Diana Mańko-Jurkowska, Sina Makouie, Joanna Bryś
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/830
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author Marta Siol
Beata Witkowska
Diana Mańko-Jurkowska
Sina Makouie
Joanna Bryś
author_facet Marta Siol
Beata Witkowska
Diana Mańko-Jurkowska
Sina Makouie
Joanna Bryś
author_sort Marta Siol
collection DOAJ
description The appropriate use of food industry by-products such as watermelon seeds could reduce the problem of food waste, following the “zero waste” concept. Research in recent years suggests that these unused waste products could be a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential and selected quality parameters of watermelon seed oils. Four commercial oils (three unrefined cold-pressed and one refined pressed) and one self-extracted oil were considered. The oils were analyzed over three months of storage after opening/extraction to determine their fatty acid (FA) composition and distribution, hydrolytic and oxidative stability, and selected health indices. Linoleic acid was the predominant FA, ranging from 52.9% (refined oil) to 62.2% (self-extracted oil). Refined oil demonstrated superior oxidative stability, with the lowest acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV) throughout the storage period, adhering to the Codex Alimentarius standards. Unrefined oils, particularly WO<sub>3</sub>, showed significantly higher AVs and PVs after storage, indicating greater susceptibility to hydrolytic and oxidative changes. Health indices were favorable for all oils, with self-extracted oil exhibiting the highest health-promoting index (7.07) and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (7.18). Oxidative stability showed that self-extracted oil had significantly higher stability (76.6 min) than other tested oils, despite having the highest PUFA content. In turn, refinement has a significant effect on the AVs and PVs and the oxidative stability of oil, achieving the lowest PUFA level (53.61%). These results emphasize the potential of watermelon seed oil as a health-promoting product and emphasize the role of production and storage conditions in maintaining its quality.
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spelling doaj-art-e38aff89e53c41dd99be48eca3f9fc912025-01-24T13:20:59ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115283010.3390/app15020830Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed OilsMarta Siol0Beata Witkowska1Diana Mańko-Jurkowska2Sina Makouie3Joanna Bryś4Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Food Technology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandThe appropriate use of food industry by-products such as watermelon seeds could reduce the problem of food waste, following the “zero waste” concept. Research in recent years suggests that these unused waste products could be a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential and selected quality parameters of watermelon seed oils. Four commercial oils (three unrefined cold-pressed and one refined pressed) and one self-extracted oil were considered. The oils were analyzed over three months of storage after opening/extraction to determine their fatty acid (FA) composition and distribution, hydrolytic and oxidative stability, and selected health indices. Linoleic acid was the predominant FA, ranging from 52.9% (refined oil) to 62.2% (self-extracted oil). Refined oil demonstrated superior oxidative stability, with the lowest acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV) throughout the storage period, adhering to the Codex Alimentarius standards. Unrefined oils, particularly WO<sub>3</sub>, showed significantly higher AVs and PVs after storage, indicating greater susceptibility to hydrolytic and oxidative changes. Health indices were favorable for all oils, with self-extracted oil exhibiting the highest health-promoting index (7.07) and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (7.18). Oxidative stability showed that self-extracted oil had significantly higher stability (76.6 min) than other tested oils, despite having the highest PUFA content. In turn, refinement has a significant effect on the AVs and PVs and the oxidative stability of oil, achieving the lowest PUFA level (53.61%). These results emphasize the potential of watermelon seed oil as a health-promoting product and emphasize the role of production and storage conditions in maintaining its quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/830watermelon seed oilfatty acid profilefatty acid distributionhydrolytic stabilityhealth indicesoxidative stability
spellingShingle Marta Siol
Beata Witkowska
Diana Mańko-Jurkowska
Sina Makouie
Joanna Bryś
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
Applied Sciences
watermelon seed oil
fatty acid profile
fatty acid distribution
hydrolytic stability
health indices
oxidative stability
title Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
title_full Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
title_fullStr Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
title_short Comprehensive Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Stored Watermelon Seed Oils
title_sort comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional quality of stored watermelon seed oils
topic watermelon seed oil
fatty acid profile
fatty acid distribution
hydrolytic stability
health indices
oxidative stability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/830
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AT sinamakouie comprehensiveevaluationofthenutritionalqualityofstoredwatermelonseedoils
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