Fatty acid profiles, antioxidant compounds and antiradical properties of Pinus halepensis Mill. cones and seeds.
BACKGROUND
Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) is a widespread tree that can be found in both natural and urban environments. A discrimination study based on the antioxidant compounds, antioxidant capacity and fatty acid (FA) profile of P. halepensis cones (PHC) and seeds (PHS) was performed.


RESULTS
The total amount of phenols was about 72-fold higher in PHC extract than in PHS extract (P < 0.001). Anthocyanin and carotenoid contents were 10- and 12-fold higher respectively in PHC extract. PHC and PHS extracts at a concentration of 1 mg mL(-1) differed significantly in free radical-scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(•)) (86.65 vs 16.97%). PHC had higher antioxidant ability on 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothialozine-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS(•+)) than PHS (EC(50) 0.368 vs 2.345 mg mL(-1)). The FA profile of PHC oil revealed its richness in saturated FAs (41.5%) and high levels of trans FA isomers, with a predominance of trans,trans-linoleic acid (4.74%). However, polyunsaturated FAs in PHS oil represented more than 64% of total FAs.


CONCLUSIONS
PHC showed important antioxidant activities as well as high levels of bioactive compounds. Thus PHC is a potential source of natural antioxidants that may afford several health benefits. However, the lipid extract of PHS seems to have more nutritional value as a polyunsaturated oil than that of PHC, which is high in saturated and trans FAs.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, UR Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia.
Madiha
M
Dhibi
Beligh
B
Mechri
Faten
F
Brahmi
Fathia
F
Skhiri
Mohammed A
MA
Alsaif
Mohamed
M
Hammami
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000737:chemistry; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010851:Picrates; D010938:Plant Oils; D059808:Polyphenols; D002338:Carotenoids; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl