Damián M. Maestri

Seed composition of soybean cultivars evaluated in different environmental regions

In Argentina, the soybean growing area comprises an extensive ecological region with great variations in environmental conditions. The purpose of the work was to study the influence of environment on some chemical parameters of soybeans grown in four geographic locations. Protein and oil contents ranged from 329 to 436 g kg−1 and from 198 to 267 g kg−1, respectively. Saturated fatty acids were relatively constant over regions, while significant variation was observed among environments for the unsaturated acids. There were significant varietal differences, but no important interaction of genotypes and environmental factors was observed. The results obtained are important for Argentinean farmers and will be used in soybean breeding programmes to obtain new genotypes with improved oil quality.

Effect of ω-3 and ω-9 fatty acid rich oils on lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases enzymes and on the growth of a mammary adenocarcinoma model

BackgroundNutritional factors play a major role in cancer initiation and development. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have the ability to induce modifications in the activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that affect tumour growth. We studied the effect of two diets enriched in 6% Walnut and Peanut oils that are rich in ω-3 and ω9 PUFAs respectively on a murine mammary gland adenocarcinoma as compared with the control (C) that received commercial diet.ResultsPeanut oil enriched diet induced an increase in membrane arachidonic acid (AA) content and the cyclooxygenase enzyme derived 12-HHT (p < 0.05) and simultaneously showed decrease in 12-LOX, 15-LOX-2, 15-LOX-1 and PGE activities (p < 0.05) that corresponded to higher apoptosis and lower mitosis seen in this group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Peanut oil group showed lower T-cell infiltration (p < 0.05), number of metastasis (p < 0.05) and tumour volume (p < 0.05) and longer survival rate compared to other groups.ConclusionsThe results of the present study showed that Peanut oil-enriched diet protects against mammary cancer development by modulating tumour membrane fatty acids composition and LOX and COX enzyme activities.

Proximate, Fatty Acid and Sterol Compositions of Aboriginal Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) Seeds from Bolivia

Oil, protein, ash, carbohydrate, iodine value, fatty acid and sterol compositions were studied in 46 aboriginal Arachis hypogaea cultivars originating from Bolivia. The oil and protein contents varied between 440 and 547 g kg -1 and 242 and 547 g kg -1 , respectively. Results showed a lower protein content in the variety hypogaea (264.4g kg -1 ) than in the varieties fastigiata (299.7 g kg-1) and peruviana (294 g kg -1 ). The carbohydrate content ranged between 86 and 216 g kg -1 . The principal fatty acids were oleic (358-536 g kg -1 ) and linoleic (250-462 g kg -1 ). The variety hypogaea exhibited higher concentrations of oleic acid (449.0 g kg -1 ). The sterol composition showed higher concentration of β-sitosterol (554-632 g kg -1 ) following by campesterol (139-180 g kg -1 ), stigma-sterol (82-130 g kg -1 ) and Δ 5 -avenasterol (86-138 g kg -1 ).

Essential oil variability of Minthostachys verticillata

Abstract The leaf volatile constituents of Minthostachys verticillata from various phytogeographic areas of Argentina were steam distilled and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The composition of the oil was extremely variable from one population to another, leading to the conclusion that there are several chemotypes in this species. Thymol and carvacrol, which were absent in the oils of another populations previously reported, were the major components (> 10.0%) in the oils of Potrero and Sebastian populations (Catamarca). Pulegone was found in oils from Cordoba, San Luis, Catamarca (Balcosna population) and Tucuman (Potrero de las Tablas population) in high amounts (> 21.1%). A high percentage of carvone (35.2%) was found in the oil obtained from Rancho de la Cascade plants.

Alkane distribution in epicuticular wax of some Solanaceae species

Abstract Alkane distribution patterns were determined in the epicuticular wax of 20 species of Solanaceae. Most species are characterized by the predominance of tritriacontane and hentriacontane. Their use as possible taxonomic markers is also discussed.

Variability in almond oil chemical traits from traditional cultivars and native genetic resources from Argentina

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb) genetic resources (Marcona, Guara, Non Pareil, IXL, AI, Martinelli C, Emilito INTA, Cáceres Clara Chica, Javier INTA) were studied during two consecutive crop years in order to evaluate variations in kernel oil yield and composition, and oil oxidative parameters. Total oil, oleic acid, α-tocopherol and squalene contents were found to range between 48.0% and 57.5%, 65% and 77.5%, 370 and 675 μg/g oil, and 37.9 and 114.2 μg/g oil, respectively. The genotype was the main variability source for all these chemical traits. The α-tocopherol content seems to be the most important contributor to both the radical scavenging capacity and the oxidative stability of almond oils analysed. Results obtained from the local genotypes namely Martinelli C, Emilito INTA and Javier INTA may be of interest for almond breeding focused to improve kernel oil yield and composition.

Composition of the essential oil of Baccharis crispa Spreng. and Baccharis salicifolia Pers. grown in Cordoba (Argentina)

Samples of the essential oil from Baccharis salicifolia Pers. and Baccharis crispa Spreng. collected in the province of Cordoba (Argentina) were analysed by GC and GC–MS. The major constituents were B. salicifolia α-cadinol (9.4%), germacrene-D (8.8%) and B. crispa trans-nerolidol (27.0%).

Composition of the Inflorescence Oils of Some Tagetes Species from Argentina

ABSTRACT Essential oils from the inflorescences of Tagetes argentina Cabr., T. terniflora H.B.K., T. laxa Cabr. and T. filifolia Lag. from Argentina were studied by GC/MS. The oils of T. argentina and T. laxa were found to be rich in (E)- and (Z)-tagetenone (<60.0%), while T. terniflora oil contained (Z)-tagetone (<68.2%) as major constituent. The oil of T. filifolia possessed a characteristic compoisition where (E)-anethole and methyl chavicol together accounted for more than 97% of the oil.

Fatty acid variation of runner peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) among geographic localities from Córdoba (Argentina)

Fatty acid compositions of runner peanuts were determined among fifteen geographic localities from Córdoba, Argentina. Significant differences were found within these fatty acid profiles. Samples from the Reducción zone had the best oleic-to-linoleic ratio and iodine value.

Seed components and taxonomy of some Acacia species.

Abstract Ten Acacia species belonging to the subgenera Acacia and Aculeiferum were examined for their seed proximate compositions and fatty acid profiles. The fatty acids were determined by GC and GC–MS. Some of the taxa analysed were found to contain hexacosanoic acid as well as other common fatty acids. A numerical analysis suggested a partial separation among the taxa belonging to subgenera Acacia and Aculeiferum . Acacia emilioana appears related with species of subgenus Aculeiferum .