Oxidation of Crude Corn Oil with and without Elevated Tocotrienols

Kernels and oil from corn with increased concentrations of tocotrienols (T3) due to the transgenic expression of a homogentisic acid geranylgeranyl transferase (HGGT) gene from two growing years were characterized for tocol and fatty acid compositions. The crude extracted oil was analyzed for oxidative properties and compared to non-transformed material derived from the plants grown at the same location and during the same year. No significant difference was observed in composition of major fatty acids. Both the seed (kernel) and extracted crude oil from the HGGT expressing corn had a 18-fold increase in tocotrienol content from 300 to 5,400 ppm in oil. There was a concurrent 18% decrease in tocopherol content, 1,150 ppm total tocopherols in control oil declining to 940 ppm in HGGT oil. Although tocopherols and tocotrienols are generally considered antioxidants, they may exhibit prooxidant effects at higher concentrations and they should be tested. Crude oil was extracted from control and transformed corn produced during 2005 and 2006 yielding four oil samples that were evaluated for their oxidative properties. The formation of lipid hydroperoxides, a primary oxidation product, was evaluated at 60 A degrees C over 9 days by measuring the peroxide value (PV). Resistance to oxidation or induction period (IP) was measured using an Oxidative Stability Instrument. There was a slight decrease in hydroperoxide formation in the HGGT oil compared to the corresponding control but was less than the year to year differences. The induction period was the same for the 2005 oils, with or without the increased tocotrienol content, but the crude oil with enhanced tocotrienol had a longer IP than the control crude oil in the 2006 samples.