title: Analysis of pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) unsaponifiable fraction. Effect of ripening stage on phytosterols and phytostanols composition.
abstract: Changes in 4-desmethylsterol, 4-monomethylsterol, 4,4-dimethylsterol and phytostanol composition were quantitatively and qualitatively investigated during the ripening of three varieties of Tunisian-grown pecan nuts (Mahan, Moore and Burkett). These components have many health benefits, especially in lowering LDL-cholesterol and preventing heart disease. The phytosterol composition of whole pecan kernel was quantified by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) and identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifteen phytosterols and one phytostanol were quantified. The greatest amount of phytosterols (2852.5mg/100g of oil) was detected in Mahan variety at 20 weeks after the flowering date (WAFD). Moore had the highest level of phytostanols (7.3mg/100g of oil) at 20 WAFD. Phytosterol and phytostanol contents showed a steep decrease during pecan nut development. Results from the quantitative characterisation of pecan nut oils revealed that β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and campesterol were the most abundant phytosterol compounds at all ripening stages.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biochimie des Lipides et des protéines, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092 El Manar II, Tunisia. Electronic address: bouali.intidhar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Intidhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouali
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biochimie des Lipides et des protéines, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092 El Manar II, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trabelsi
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biochimie des Lipides et des protéines, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092 El Manar II, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herchi
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR 6265 CNRS, UMR 1324 INRA, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martine
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Forestière, Institut Nationale des recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, 2080 Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albouchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Forestière, Institut Nationale des recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, 2080 Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ghaith
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouzaien
authors.affiliation: Office National de l'Huile, Centre Régional du Nord, 1001 Av Mohamed V, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sifi
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biochimie des Lipides et des protéines, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092 El Manar II, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sadok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boukhchina
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR 6265 CNRS, UMR 1324 INRA, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Berdeaux
mesh_terms: D031325:Carya / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005410:Flame Ionization; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D010938:Plant Oils; C003535:campestanol
keywords: 4,4-Dimethylsterols; 4-Desmethylsterols; 4-Monomethylsterols; Pecan nuts; Ripening stage; Stanols