Determination of vitamin E active compounds as biological antioxidants occurring in rapeseeds of the selected varieties

Tom XXIV Rośliny Oleiste 2003 Małgorzata Nogala-Kałucka, Marek Gogolewski, Eleonora Lampart-Szczapa, Marcin Jaworek, Aleksander Siger, Aleksandra Szulczewska Akademia Rolnicza w Poznaniu, Katedra Biochemii i Analizy Żywności Determination of vitamin E active compounds as biological antioxidants occurring in rapeseeds of the selected varieties Oznaczanie zawartości związków witamino-e aktywnych jako biologicznych antyoksydantów w nasionach wybranych odmian rzepaku Key words: Słowa kluczowe: rapeseed, tocopherols, HPLC, alpha-t equivalent rzepak, tokoferole, HPLC, ekwiwalent alfa-t The aim of the study was the determination of the homologous tocopherol level in seeds of oilseed rape varieties cultivated in some plantations in Wielkopolska region during three years (2000 2002). The following selected varieties of rapeseeds were investigated: Silvia (the year of harvesting 2000); Silvia, Lisek, Marita and Bermuda (the year of harvesting 2001) as well as Lisek, Lirajet, Buffalo, Wotan and Kaszub harvested in year 2002. The high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) Waters 600 Asc. Milford with Millenium 32 program was applied for a qualitative and quantitative identification of tocopherols. Separation was carried out on the LiChrosorb Si 60 column and mixture of n- hexane and 1.4-dioxane (97:3, v/v) with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min was used as a mobile phase. The fluorimetric detector (Water 474) worked at excitation λ=290 nm and emission λ=330 nm. The biological activity of the rapeseeds was estimated. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using the computer program Statistica. Investigations showed presence of four tocopherol homologues in each of the studied varieties. Total tocopherol content was to 25 mg/100g dm. There was more gammathan alpha- tocopherol in all of the varieties. Among the remaining tocopherols, beta- Celem badań było oznaczenie poziomu zawartości homologicznych tokoferoli w nasionach odmian rzepaku uprawianych na terenie Wielkopolski w trzech kolejnych latach (2000 2002). Badano następujące wybrane odmiany rzepaku: Silvia (zbiór 2000), Silvia, Lisek, Marita i Bermuda (zbiór 2001) oraz Lisek, Lirajet, Buffalo, Wotan i Kaszub ze zbioru w roku 2002. Do identyfikacji jakościowej i oznaczeń ilościowych tokoferoli stosowano chromatografię cieczową HPLC. Rozdziału tokoferoli dokonywano na kolumnie LiChrosorb Si 60 stosując mieszaninę n-heksanu i 1,4-dioksanu (97:3, v/v) jako fazę ruchomą o szybkości przepływu 1,5 ml/min. Detektor fluorymetryczny (Waters 474) pracował przy wzbudzeniu λ=290 nm i emisji λ=330 nm. Otrzymane wyniki analizowano statystycznie wykorzystując do obliczeń program Statistica. Badania wykazały obecność czterech homologów tokoferoli we wszystkich badanych odmianach. Ich sumaryczna zawartość kształtuje się na poziomie 25 mg/100 g s.m, przy czym w badanych odmianach występowało więcej homologu gammatokoferolu niż alfa. Z pozostałych form tokoferoli, w śladowych ilościach, w zależności od odmiany, występował beta-tokoferol, natomiast delta-tokoferol oznaczano w ilościach około 1% w zależności od odmiany i roku zbioru. Naj-

578 Małgorzata Nogala-Kałucka... tocopherol was present in trace amounts depending on the variety, whereas quantity of delta-tocopherol was determined as ca. 1% depending on the variety and year of harvesting. The smallest tocopherol amount characterized the Buffalo variety with low fat content. Lisek and Silvia were the richest in tocopherols. Also the highest biological activity, expressed as the alphatocopherol equivalent, was stated in these varieties and the lowest one in Buffalo. Evaluation of the biological activity of the rapeseeds seems to be a characteristic significantly differentiating individual varieties. mniejszą zawartością tokoferoli charakteryzowała się odmiana Buffalo. Najlepszymi pod względem zawartości tokoferoli okazały się Lisek i Silvia. Najwyższą wartość biologiczną wyrażoną w ekwiwalentach alfa-tokoferolu stwierdzono również dla tych odmian, natomiast najmniejszą dla odmiany Buffalo. Określanie wartości biologicznej dla nasion rzepaku wydaje się być cechą charakterystyczną znacząco różniącą poszczególne odmiany. Introduction Tocopherols belong to a group of compounds generally present in oilseeds but their presence was also noticed in other parts of green plants such as stems, leaves, buds, flowers, pods, roots and tubers (Osuna-Garcia et al. 1998, Grusak and DellaPenna 1999, Nogala-Kałucka et al. 2002). Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-t) is a predominant homologue identified in different parts of a plant, whereas all four tocochromanols are present in seeds and fruits. Tocopherols as natural antioxidants protect lipids against free radicals, some type of reactive oxygen, hydroxylic group and peroxides (Fig. 1) (Stuchlik and Zak 2002). During reactions alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals and other oxidation products, such as alpha-tocopherol hydroperoxydienone, alpha-tocopherol quinone or alpha-tocopherol quinol, are formed (Munne-Bosch and Alegre 2002). During oxidation tocopherol radicals may be regenerated, for example, by procyanidins (Carini et al. 1998). The recent findings open a new field in which other roles of tocochromanols in plant cells are investigated. The level of tocopherols in oilseeds, e.g. in oilseed rape, can be a quality determining factor. Oil obtained from double low oilseed rape presently cultivated is one of the most valuable edible oils (Trautwein and Erbersdobler 1998, Grusak and DellaPenna 1999). Together with tocopherols other components polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), sterols as well as glucosinolates bring completely new meaning to the oilseeds rape healthy value. According to literature, glucosinolates, if present in appropriate quantities and qualities, like tocochromanols, can show anticancerogenic activity (Steinmetz and Potter 1993). Rapeseeds composition is important for its healthy effect, as well as in fat and food industries. Genotype as well as agroclimatic conditions influence composition of PUFA in triacylglycerols of oils obtained from double low rapeseed varieties.

Determination of vitamin E active compounds... 579 R1 R2 Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) R1 Alkyl radical R2 1 O 2 H R1 Conjugated diene R2 HO O 2 H 3 C O 3 R1 O O R2 α-tocopherol Recycling Lipid peroxy radical Alkyl radical PUFA O O 3 R1 O OH Hydroperoxide R2 H 3 C α-tocopheroxyl RADICAL Reduction Oxidation Alcohols Other compounds (e.g., n-hexanal, jasmonic acid, traumatic acid) Other oxidation products Fig. 1. Lipid peroxidation, and scavenging of lipid peroxy radicals by alpha-tocopherol in plants Utlenianie tłuszczów i zmiatanie rodników nadtlenkowych przez alfa-tokoferol u roślin (Munne-Bosch i Alegre 2002) Chemical composition of the oil is the main factor influencing the stability as well as nutritional and healthy values (Jerzewska and Ptasznik 1999). Increased intake of the essential unsaturated fatty acids (susceptible to oxidation) should be accompanied by the increased intake of vitamin E which prevents quick oxidation of double bonds in the unsaturated acids (Ziemiański, Budzyńska-Topolowska 1991). In the present work we investigated quality and quantity changes in tocopherols content in seeds coming from selected plantations of rapeseed varieties cultivated in Wielkopolska region during the last tree years (2000 2002). Biological activity was expressed as alpha-tocopherol equivalent for individual rape varieties, as it is done for seeds of different species of the crucifereous (Brassicaceae) plants seeds. The rapeseeds can be the potential material for the production of sprouts, which are products with functional food properties, more and more widely accepted not only by vegetarians but also by the rest of consumers.

580 Małgorzata Nogala-Kałucka... Materials and methods Seeds from the selected plantations of rapeseed varieties were investigated: Silvia (year of harvesting 2000); Silvia, Lisek, Marita and Bermuda (year of harvesting 2001) as well as those of five varieties harvested in year 2002 Lisek, Lirajet, Buffalo, Wotan and Kaszub. All studied varieties were cultivated in Wielkopolska region. Directly after harvesting the seeds were delivered for analyses. To determine the tocopherol content, the samples (3 g) of rapeseeds were ground and then saponified using 60% KOH. Then the samples were extracted using the peroxide free diethyl ether (Dunphy et al. 1966). After extraction ether was distilled off and in the residue (unsaponifiable matter) tocopherols were qualitatively and quantitatively determined using HPLC (Gogolewski et al. 2000, Nogala-Kalucka et al. 2002). The HPLC (Waters 600 Asc. Milford) equipment consisted of the gradient pump Waters Model 600, column, fluorimetric detector and Waters Millenium 32 data acquisition system. The residue was dissolved in n-hexane and 20 µl samples were injected on the LiChrosorb Si 60 column (200 mm, 5 µm, Merck), and the mixture of n-hexane and 1.4 dioxane (97 : 3 v/v) was used as a mobile phase. The flow rate of mohle phase was 1.5 ml/min. The fluorimetric detector (Waters 474) worked by excitation λ=290 nm and emission λ=330 nm. The concentrations were calculated from calibration curves made for individual tocopherols. Standards of alpha-, beta- gamma- and delta-tocopherol (99.9%, Merck Darmstadt, Germany) were used. Biological activity of all rapeseeds samples was calculated according to the formula: 1 mg equivalent α-t = α-t + 0.5β-T + 0.25γ-T + 0.01δ-T (Elmadfa and Bosse 1985) The results were evaluated with statistical analysis. Chemical analyses were carried out in three replicates chromatographic analysis of each of them was repeated twice. Statistical analysis was performed using the computer program Statistica, version 6, StatSoft Inc. (2001). Results and discussion Wielkopolska is a region where different varieties of winter rape are cultivated. The choice of varieties for cultivation requires considering the sowing soil and agroclimatic conditions (e.g. ability of plants to regenerate after winter damages) together with a term of maturation (organization and schedule of field works) as well as the crop of seeds obtained from hectare (Wałkowski et al. 2002). For this reason very often a few varieties are cultivated simultaneously after selecting from the Register those which are characterized by high fat content, medium early

Determination of vitamin E active compounds... 581 maturation and high crop of seeds. Only the Kaszub variety was the early one, then Bermuda, Buffalo, Lisek, Marita and Silvia were medium-early, Lirajet and Wotan belonged to medium-late. During the last three years of harvesting (2000 2002) on the same plantations from Wielkopolska region, many varieties were cultivated alternatively. As a matter of fact, we were not able to investigate changes in homologues of the tocopherols content due to the diversity of varieties during three years of investigations. Changes in tocopherols content present in investigated seeds samples are presented in figures 2 and 3. The total content of homologous tocopherols is between 20.8 (Buffalo 2002) and 27.6 mg/100 g dry mass (Lisek 2002). Lirajet and Wotan belong to the medium-late and average or lowered fat content varieties (Wałkowski et al. 2002) and that is why the amount of tocopherols is about 25.0 mg/100 g d.m. Wotan variety with the results of total tocopherols content 21,8 mg/100 g d.m. differs statistically, which can be explained by lower content of fat (ca 41%). The remaining varieties belong to medium early ones among which Silvia shows higher content of fat (above 42%), together with tocopherols amount of 27.0 mg/100 g d.m. in year 2000 and 25.5 mg/100 g d.m. in year 2001. Buffalo is the poorest variety in tocopherols (about 21.0 mg/100 g d.m.) also with lowered fat content (41%). Data concerning the fat content was presented in an earlier publication about determination of some indicators of rapeseeds quality e.g. fat content (Nogala-Kałucka et al. 2002a). Among the studied seeds of different winter rapeseeds varieties statistically significant differences (p 0.05) of tocopherol homologues content were revealed (Fig. 2, 3). These varieties are characterized by the highest level of gammatocopherol, up to 56.4 %, and also that of alpha-tocopherol up to 50.5% for Silvia (2001). The remaining homologues of beta-tocopherol are present in trace amounts while delta-tocopherol up to some percentage 1.84% (Lisek 2001). These results confirm literature data referring to percentage of individual tocopherol homologues content in rapeseed where alpha-tocopherol amounted to 42%, gamma-tocopherol 57% and delta-tocopherol 0.9% (Goffman et al. 1999). Leckband and coworkers (2002) determined the tocopherol content in different rapeseed varieties in the project NAPUS 2000 quoting from 35.9 to 38.2% for alpha-tocopherol, and 59.3 62% for gamma-tocopherol. Similar results were obtained also during biosynthesis of tocochromanols studied in seeds of double low variety of spring oilseed rape Star (Nogala-Kałucka et al. 2002). Buffalo and Wotan contained alpha-tocopherol statistically not differing from year 2001, which is also observed in the case of gamma-tocopherol. Differences in tocopherol quantities in individual varieties may be due to climatic and soil conditions, agrotechnical processing as well as technological maturation of rapeseeds.

582 Małgorzata Nogala-Kałucka... alpha-t gamma-t delta-t 2000 2001 Oilseed rape varieties Fig. 2. Tocopherol content in rapeseed varieties cultivated in Wielkopolska region (crop 2000/2001) Zawartość tokoferoli w odmianach rzepaku uprawianych na terenie Wielkopolski (zbiór 2000/2001) alpha-t gamma-t delta-t Oilseed rape varieties Fig. 3. Tocopherol content in rapeseed varieties cultivated in Wielkopolska region (crop 2002) Zawartość tokoferoli w odmianach rzepaku uprawianych na terenie Wielkopolski (zbiór 2002)

fig 4 poziomy Determination of vitamin E active compounds... 583

584 Małgorzata Nogala-Kałucka... Alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, predominant homologues in rapeseeds, show essential biological functions not only in plant world. Alpha-tocopherol possessing the highest biological activity is named vitamin E and it is an indispensable exogenic compound necessary for proper metabolism in humans and animals (Brigelius-Flohe and Traber 1999). Hence determination of the biological activity refers to calculation of the content of individual homologues with different vitamin activity, and their effectiveness is defined as alpha-tocopherol equivalents (Elmadfa and Muskat 1999). The demand depends on the amount of the consumed PUFA. In view of increasing popularity of sprouts rich in phyto compounds (Kozłowska et al. 2002) alpha-tocopherol equivalents in the investigated varieties were determined. (Fig. 4). Alpha-tocopherol equivalents in rapeseeds of all studied varieties differ from 12 to almost 17 mg. In the investigated rapeseed varieties we noticed statistically significant differences in alpha-tocopherol equivalent depending on a variety but also on a year of harvesting e.g. Lisek and Silvia. It is only possible to compare this value with wheat sprouts, where higher alpha-tocopherol activity, reaching 28 mg, was two times higher (Piironen et al. 1986). Conclusions In all investigated winter rapeseed varieties alpha- and gamma-tocopherol were predominant homologues, followed by delta-tocopherol, while betatocopherol was present in trace amounts. In the investigated rapeseeds varieties we noticed statistically significant differences in alpha-tocopherol equivalent depending on a variety but also on a year of harvesting. Considering biological activity of vitamin E the determining of alphatocopherol equivalent can be a significant criterion in assessing the quality of rapeseeds. Wnioski Dominującymi homologami we wszystkich badanych odmianach rzepaku ozimego był alfa- i gamma-tokoferol, w dalszej kolejności delta-tokoferol, podczas gdy beta-tokoferol występował w ilościach śladowych. Stwierdzono statystycznie istotne różnice dotyczące zawartości ekwiwalentu alfa-tokoferolu pomiędzy poszczególnymi odmianami, także w kolejnych latach zbioru. Z uwagi na aktywność biologiczną witaminy E, określenie ekwiwalentu alfatokoferolu może być istotnym wyróżnikiem jakości nasion rzepaku.

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G F C D C B F E A C 2000 2001 2002 Oilseed rape varieties Data presents mean values from three replicates; mean values followed by different letters are statistically significant at p 0.05 Dane przedstawiają średnią z trzech powtórzeń; średnie oznaczone różnymi literami różnią się statystycznie istotnie przy p 0,05 Fig. 4. Biological activity calculated as mg alpha-t equivalent Aktywność biologiczna przeliczona na ekwiwalent mg alfa-t Biological activity was calculated according to the formula Aktywność biologiczną wyliczono według wzoru: 1 mg equivalent α-t = α-t + 0.5β-T + 0.25γ-T + 0.01δ-T (Elmadfa and Bosse 1985)