Novel products were developed by combining freeze dried and conventionally dried broccoli sprouts powder with the commercially available cheese powder. Quality assessment of the blended products during the development process and of the final product was done by sensory analysis and estimation of total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenolics, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids. Freeze drying was more efficient in preserving the original nutritional and sensory characteristics of the dried broccoli sprouts. Blending of the samples including the blend with a least weight proportion of broccoli sprouts powder showed an improved content of healthy compounds. Based on chemical data and sensory analysis, it was concluded that the blended cheese powder containing up to 20% freeze dried broccoli powder was an acceptable product.

This study investigated the levels of c-linolenic (GLA, 18:3n-6) and stearidonic acid (SDA, in various parts of the borage plant (Borago officinalis L.) to elucidate D6-desaturase activity. Lipid class and fatty acid (FA) composition during germination of the seeds and FA composition of various borage parts were determined as well as FA compositions of neutral lipids (NL), polar lipids (PL), glycolipids (GL) and monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) of borage leaves. When seeds were germinated for 12 days in the dark then exposed to light for 8 h, an overall decrease in oil content was seen with a significant increase in PL from 0.2 to 39.1%. An increase in SDA (from 0.2 to 0.6 g/100 g oil) indicated minor FA synthesis during germination and therefore, D6-desaturase activity with the most marked increase after light exposure. The FA compositions of developing and mature seeds were similar, suggesting oil/FA synthesis takes place at the initial stage of seed development. Among all the borage parts, the leaves had the highest amounts of a-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) (36.2%), indicating D15-desaturase activity, and SDA (25.2%), indicating D6-desaturase activity. In leaves, the GL and especially, MGDG fractions had the highest amounts of SDA (31.8 and 39.8%, respectively), indicating that D6-desaturase is most active in chloroplasts. Leaves and developing seeds appear to be the major sources of D6-desaturase in borage, associated with different organelles in the different tissues.