Triglyceride, fatty acid profile and antioxidant characteristics of low melting point fractions of Buffalo Milk fat

BackgroundAmong the dietary lipids, milk fat is most complicated as it contains more than one hundred types of fatty acids and several triglycerides. Huge versatility in triglyceride and fatty composition makes it possible to convert milk fat into various fractions on the basis of melting characteristics. Functional properties of milk fat can be increased by converting it into different fractions. After cow milk, buffalo milk is the second largest source of milk and chemical characteristics of buffalo milk fat has been studied in a limited fashion. The main mandate was determination of triglyceride, fatty acid profile and antioxidant characteristics of low melting point fractions of buffalo milk fat for increased industrial applications.MethodsBuffalo milk fat (cream) was fractionated at three different temperatures i.e. 25, 15 and 10 degrees C by dry fractionation technique and packaged in 250ml amber glass bottles and stored at ambient temperature for 90days. The fraction of milk fat harvested at 25, 15 and 10 degrees C were declared as LMPF-25, LMPF-15 and LMPF-10. Unmodified milk fat was used as control (PBMF). Low melting point fractions were analyzed for triglyceride composition, fatty acid profile, total phenolic contents, DPPH free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power, free fatty acids, peroxide value, iodine value and conjugated dienes at 0, 45 and 90days of storage.ResultsIn LMPF-10, concentrations of C-36, C-38, C-40, and C-42 were 2.58, 3.68, 6.49 and 3.85% lower than PBMF. In LMPF-25, concentrations of C-44, C-46, C-48, C-50, C-52 and C-54 were 0.71, 1.15, 2.53, 4.8, 0.39 and 2.39% higher than PBMF. In LMPF-15, concentrations of C-44, C-46, C-48, C-50, C-52 and C-54 were 2.45, 4.2, 3.47, 5.92, 2.38 and 3.16% higher than PBMF. In LMPF-10, concentrations of C-44, C-46, C-48, C-50, C-52 and C-54 were 2.8, 5.6, 5.37, 7.81, 3.81 and 4.45% higher than PBMF. LMPF-25, LMPF-15 and LMPF-10 had higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids as compared PBMF. Total phenolic contents of buffalo milk fat and its fractions were in the order of LMPF-10>LMPF-15, LMPF-25>PBMF. Storage period of 45days had a non-significant effect on total flavonoid content. 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity of LMP-25, LMPF-15 and LMPF-10 were 4.8, 13.11 and 25.79% higher than PBMF. Reducing power of PBMF, LMPF-25, LMPF-15 and LMPF-10 were 22.81, 28.47, 37.51 and 48.14, respectively. Estimation of free fatty acids after the 90days of storage duration, no significant difference was found in content of free fatty acids in unmodified milk fat and low melting point fractions. Testing of peroxide value in 90days old samples showed that peroxide value of PBMF, LMPF-25, LMPF-15 and LMPF-10 was 0.54, 0.98, 1.46 and 2.22 (MeqO(2)/kg), respectively. Storage period up to 45days had a non-significant effect on anisidine value, iodine value and conjugated dienes.ConclusionLow melting point fractions of buffalo milk fat had higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids and more antioxidant capacity than unmodified milk fat with reasonable storage stability.