Comparison of the antioxidant properties of emu oil with other avian oils

Abstract

The antioxidant properties of emu oil were compared with oils derived from the fat of other avian species. We first examined their free radical scavenging activity against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydracyl radical. The concentration of emu oil in the test solution that caused 50% neutralisation (IC50) was variable (24.5 ± 5.9 mg/mL, range 5.3–55.4 mg/mL), but similar to values obtained for other ratites (10.7 ± 5.9 mg/mL). In contrast, the IC50 values for duck and chicken oil were much higher (118.0 ± 8.1 mg/mL). The variability in the radical scavenging activity of emu oil preparations may reflect variations in the diets of the birds, the processing protocol and/or the storage age of the oil. We also evaluated some of the ratite oils for their inhibitory capacity on human erythrocyte membrane oxidation, by measuring the reduction of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBAR) production. Emu oil had a greater effect in decreasing TBAR production than either the ostrich or rhea oil, suggesting that it offers more protection than the other ratite oils against oxidative damage. In conclusion, we demonstrated that emu oil has both antioxidant properties in vitro and a protective role against oxidative damage in a model biological membrane system. The antioxidant or radical scavenging properties of emu oil appear to be due to minor constituents in the non-triglyceride fraction of the oil, while its high ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids (UFA : SFA) offers protection against oxidative damage.

Emu Oil Reduces Small Intestinal Inflammation in the Absence of Clinical Improvement in a Rat Model of Indomethacin-Induced Enteropathy

“…This was further supported by a study in which Fish Oil in combination with Indomethacin decreased the severity of liver steatosis in a mouse model of familial hypercholesterolemia [38]. Based upon the n-3 PUFAs present in Emu Oil and its reported antioxidant activity [47], liver steatosis seems less likely in the current study. However, a high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio has been implicated in nonalcoholic FA liver disease [48] and therefore it would be beneficial to determine the effects of FA ratio and n-9 FA levels on liver function in future studies.…”

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Emu Oil in Indomethacin Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Rats

“…In the present study, the increased level of MDA was restored upon treatment with emu oil. Similar findings were reported by Bennett et al [30].…”

Rapid separation and characterisation of triacylglycerols in ostrich oil by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

“…Emu oils have been claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties (Snowden & Whitehouse, 1997;Yoganathan et al, 2003), which are associated with causing a decrease in the production of proinflammatory cytokines (Whitehouse & Butters, 2003). It has also been reported that emu oil possesses the antioxidant and radical scavenging properties (Bennett, Code, Godin, & Cheng, 2008). Ostrich oils, in addition to being exported as such benefits of emu oils, are also currently used in cosmetic formulations and food chemistry.…”