Functional Properties, Nutritional Value, and Industrial Applications of Niger Oilseeds (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

Abstract

Non-conventional seeds are being considered as novel food because their constituents have unique chemical properties and may augment the supply of nutritional and functional products. Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed and its crude oil have been widely used in traditional nutritional and medicinal applications. Consequently, niger seed has been extensively studied for its nutritional value, biological activities, and antioxidative properties. In consideration of their potential utilization, detailed knowledge on the composition of niger oilseeds is of major importance. The diversity of applications to which niger seed can be put gives this oilseed great industrial importance. This review summarizes the nutritional value, functional properties, and industrical applications of niger seeds.

Keywords:

• Niger seed
• Guizotia abyssinica Cass.
• crude seed oil
• fatty acids
• bioactive lipids
• antioxidant compounds
• radical scavenging activity

Notes

^aRamadan and Moersel (2002a; 2002b; 2006)

^bDutta et al. (1994)

^cMarini et al. (2003)

^aMarini et al. (2003)

^ag/100 g of total neutral lipids, MAG, monoacylglycerols; DAG, diacylglycerols; FFA, free fatty acids; STE, sterol esters, the rest of neutral lipids includes mainly triacylaglycerols.

^bg/100 g of total glycolipids, ASG, acylated steryl glucoside; and CER, cerebrosides.

^cg/100 g of total phospholipids, PS, phosphatidylserine; PI, phosphatidylinositol; PC, phosphatidylcholine; PE, phosphatidylethanolamine.

^aMarini et al. (2003)

^bDutta et al. (1994)

^cRamadan and Moersel (2002a; 2002b; 2006)