Effects of gamma and electron beam irradiations on the triacylglycerol profile of fresh and stored Castanea sativa Miller samples

Abstract

The present chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) commercialization dynamics, including distribution to novel markets, demands suitable conservation technologies. Irradiation has been considered a promising alternative to chemical fumigation (legally forbidden and harmful for human health and environment) or heat treatments (technological difficulties and low efficiency). Following previous studies on the effects of irradiation in different chemical parameters, the present work aims to perform an evaluation of the effects of electron beam and γ-irradiation on the triacylglycerol profiles of fresh and stored chestnuts. An analysis of variance with type III sums of squares was performed using the general linear model procedure. As classification technique, a linear discriminant analysis using the stepwise procedure was also applied. Independently of irradiation type, samples irradiated with higher doses showed higher modifications in triacylglycerol profiles. In fact, samples irradiated with 1 and 3 kGy were clearly separated from the remaining groups in the linear discriminant analysis. The obtained results highlight the potential of triacylglycerol profiles as indicators of chestnuts irradiation. However, irradiation might be recommended as a suitable method for chestnuts preservation.

Validation of Gamma and Electron Beam Irradiation as Alternative Conservation Technology for European Chestnuts

“…In addition, total organic acids tended to be higher in irradiated samples. The obtained profiles are also similar to previously reported results (despite being expressed in different units) assessing the effect of EB and storage time (Carocho et al 2013). …”

“…Organic acids were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) as described previously by the authors (Carocho et al 2013). The analysis was performed using a Shimadzu 20A series (Shimadzu Coperation, Kyoto, Japan).…”

“…The effects of electron beam and gamma irradiation were previously assayed by us using different doses (0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 kGy) as well as their interaction with storage time (Antonio et al 2011;Barreira et al 2013;Carocho et al 2012a;Carocho et al 2012b;Carocho et al 2013;Fernandes et al 2011a;Fernandes et al 2011b). With no exception, storage time caused higher changes than irradiation treatment, and we were able to accurately define its true effect.…”

“…The antioxidant activity of chestnuts and chestnuts skin was also evaluated by our research group for both gamma and electron beam, with a slight preservation of antioxidants at specific doses, and a reduction at increasing storage times (Antonio et al 2011;Carocho et al 2012b). The impact of irradiation in specific groups of molecules like organic acids and triacylglycerol has also been investigated (Barreira et al 2013;Carocho et al 2013). Finally, in order to gather all the information regarding gamma irradiation and its influence on various parameters of chestnuts and its pests, a state of the art review was published (Antonio et al 2012).…”

Triacylglycerols profiling as a chemical tool to identify mushrooms submitted to gamma or electron beam irradiation

“…Photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) methods were also employed to monitor radiation-induced markers in gamma ray and electron beam irradiated wheat after different processing treatments (Kim, Akram, Ahn, & Kwon, 2012). Triacylglycerols (TAG) profile is specific of each natural matrix and it has been used for detecting adulteration of fats and oils, crystallization and recognition of oil origins, being one of the prime determinants in the study of oil oxidation (Zeb, 2012;Barreira et al 2013). It can also act as a quality marker in roasted coffee (Toci, Neto, Torres, & Farah, 2013) and was also pointed out as a chemical taxonomical marker for mushrooms (Barreira, Ferreira, Oliveira, & 2012).…”