Chemical and fatty acid composition of Cyperus esculentus

Abstract

The physical and chemical properties of chufa tubers are given in Table 1. The nuts were found to be rich in oil (21.57%), fiber (22.13%), and protein (8.11%). Previous studied reported 932.8 g/kg dry matter, 245 g/kg crude lipid, 256.8 g/kg starch, 14.3 g/kg ash, 50.5 g/kg protein, 89.1 g/kg crude fibre, and 154.3 g/kg total sugar [3]. The fatty acid composition of chufa tuber was determined by gas chromotography (Table 2). Oleic acid (72.7%) was present in the highest concentration, followed by palmitic (14.8%), linoleic (11.4%), arachidic (0.6%), and linolenic (0.5%) acids. The fatty acid composition of chufa oil comprised 689.2–732.9 g/kg oleic acid, 125.5–141.2 g/kg palmitic acid, and 99.6–154.6 g/kg linoleic acids [3]. The mineral contents of chufa tuber were determined by ICP-AES (Table 3). Chufa tubers were found to be rich in some minerals such as Al (709.1 mg/kg), Ca (739.1 mg/kg), Fe (412.5 mg/kg), K (9821.7 mg/kg), Mg (1190.5 mg/kg), Na (2407.4 mg/kg), and P (3012.6 mg/kg). Caglarirmak reported 280–380 mg/100 g P, 230–340 mg/100 g K, 81–99 mg/100 g Mg, and 67–105.5 mg/100 g Ca in fresh walnut kernels [10]. This work attempts to contribute to knowledge of the nutritional properties of these tubers. The physical-chemical properties and fatty acid composition were analyzed according to AOAC [11]. The methyl esters of the fatty acids (1 L) were analyzed in a gas chromotograph (Shimadzu GC-2010) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and a fused silica capillary column (60 m 0.25 mm i.d.; film thickness 0.20 m).

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Chufa (Cyperus esculentus L. Tuber), a member of the
Cyperaceae family, is one of the finest nuts from the tropics to
the temperate regions [13]. It is also known by various other
names such as chufa flatsedge, Nut-grass, Teki,  Tiger
Nut, Earth Nut,  rush nut, and edible galingale [4, 5]. It
is considered to be a superior oil that compares favorably with
olive oil. The tubers contain up to 30% of a nondrying oil and
are used in cooking and in making soap. It does not solidify at
0°C [6, 7]. The tubers are said to be aphrodisiac, carminative,
diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonic [8, 9]. The aim of
this study is to establish the physical properties, fatty acid
composition, and mineral contents of chufa tuber harvested
from the east mediterranean region in November 2005.
The physical and chemical properties of chufa tubers are
given in Table 1. The nuts were found to be rich in oil (21.57%),
fiber (22.13%), and protein (8.11%). Previous studied reported
932.8 g/kg dry matter, 245 g/kg crude lipid, 256.8 g/kg starch,
14.3 g/kg ash, 50.5 g/kg protein, 89.1 g/kg crude fibre, and
154.3 g/kg total sugar [3]. The fatty acid composition of chufa
tuber was determined by gas chromotography (Table 2). Oleic
acid (72.7%) was present in the highest concentration, followed
by palmitic (14.8%), linoleic (11.4%), arachidic (0.6%), and
linolenic (0.5%) acids. The fatty acid composition of chufa oil
comprised 689.2732.9 g/kg oleic acid, 125.5141.2 g/kg
palmitic acid, and 99.6154.6 g/kg linoleic acids [3]. The mineral
contents of chufa tuber were determined by ICP-AES (Table 3).
Chufa tubers were found to be rich in some minerals such as
Al (709.1 mg/kg), Ca (739.1 mg/kg), Fe (412.5 mg/kg),
K (9821.7 mg/kg), Mg (1190.5 mg/kg), Na (2407.4 mg/kg), and
P (3012.6 mg/kg). Caglarirmak reported 280380 mg/100 g P,
230340 mg/100 g K, 8199 mg/100 g Mg, and 67105.5 mg/100 g
Ca in fresh walnut kernels [10]. This work attempts to contribute
to knowledge of the nutritional properties of these tubers.
The physical-chemical properties and fatty acid
composition were analyzed according to AOAC [11]. The
methyl esters of the fatty acids (1 µL) were analyzed in a gas
chromotograph (Shimadzu GC-2010) equipped with a flame
ionization detector (FID) and a fused silica capillary column
(60 m × 0.25 mm i.d.; film thickness 0.20 µm).
UDC 547.915
CHEMICAL AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF Cyperus esculentus
M. M. Ozcan
1*
, A. Gumuscu
2
, F. Er
2
, D. Arslan
1
, B. Ozkalp
3
1) Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Selcuk, 42031 Konya,
Turkey, fax:+90.332 2410108, e-mail: mozcan@selcuk.edu.tr
2) Vocational High College, University of Selcuk, Cumra-Konya, Turkey
3) Department of Medicinal Laboratory, College of Health Care University of Selcuk, 42031 Konya, Turkey
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Ïîñòóïèëî â ðåäàêöèþ 16.09.08
TABLE 1. Physical and Chemical Properties of Chufa Tubers
Properties, % Values Properties, % Values
Moisture
Weight
Crude oil
Crude protein*
Crude fibre
Ash
35.0
±
0.62
0.32±0.04
21.6±0.42
8.11±0.63
22.13±1.14
2.34±0.03
Total sugar
Starch
Ascorbic acid, mg/kg
Alcohol-soluble extract
Water-soluble extract
10.0
±
1.13
18.6±2.1
78.0±3.4
9.81±1.42
18.98±1.24
*Nx6.25.
TABLE 2. Fatty Acid Composition of Chufa Tuber Oil
Properties Values, % Properties Values, %
Palmitic
Oleic
Linoleic
14.8±1.1
72.7
±
2.3
11.4
±
0.17
Linolenic
Arachidic
0.5±0.01
0.6
±
0.01
TABLE 3. Mineral Contents of Chufa Tubers*
Minerals,
mg/kg
Values
Minerals,
mg/kg
Values
Ag
Al
B
Ba
Ca
Cd
Co
Cr
Cu
Fe
Ga
0.487±0.144
709.15±61.904
28.21±48.598
3.67±0.486
739.09±173.371
0.14±0.108
0.19±0.261
23.13±33.223
5.77±0.727
412.54±13.586
0.59±1.051
K
Li
Mg
Mn
Na
Ni
P
Sr
V
Zn
9821.7±4218.012
0.75±0.047
1190.50±58.238
2.36±1.829
2407.38±228.446
10.52±0.596
3012.56±360.008
5.90±0.292
0.64±0.067
11.67±0.291
*Dry matter.