Antioxidant effects of the monoterpenes carvacrol, thymol and sabinene hydrate on chemical and sensory stability of roasted sunflower seeds.
BACKGROUND
Oxidation products and rancid flavors decrease the sensory quality of food products, making them unacceptable to consumers. Synthetic antioxidants are used in many foods to prevent rancidity, though their safety is questioned. Monoterpenes are obtained from essential oils and many of them have shown antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of sensory and chemical parameters in roasted sunflower seeds supplemented with carvacrol, thymol and sabinene hydrate monoterpenes.


RESULTS
Five samples were prepared: control roasted sunflower seeds (RS-C) and sunflower seeds treated with carvacrol (RS-Car), sabinene hydrate (RS-S), thymol (RS-T) and butylated hydroxytoluene (RS-BHT). The three monoterpenes (carvacrol, sabinene hydrate and thymol) provided protection to this food product, inhibiting the formation of oxidative deterioration compounds such as peroxides and hexanal and undesirable off-flavors such as oxidized and cardboard flavors. Sabinene hydrate had greater effect preventing peroxide formation during storage than the other monoterpenes.


CONCLUSIONS
Carvacrol, sabinene hydrate and thymol could be used as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants for preserving the quality of roasted sunflower seeds.
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV, CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Av. Valparaiso s/n, CC 509, X5016GCA, Córdoba, Argentina.
Patricia R
PR
Quiroga
Claudia M
CM
Asensio
Valeria
V
Nepote
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D003296:Cooking; D000081007:Cymenes; D005519:Food Preservation; D005520:Food Preservatives; D061353:Food Storage; D006368:Helianthus; D006801:Humans; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010545:Peroxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012639:Seeds; D013649:Taste; D013943:Thymol
D000975:Antioxidants; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D000081007:Cymenes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010545:Peroxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013943:Thymol; C035127:sabinene; C073316:carvacrol
antioxidant; lipids; monoterpenes; sunflower