Fatty acids and tocopherol content in sunflower seeds affected by accelerated ageing and priming with antioxidant solutions

Abstract

Effects of accelerated ageing on the contents of both, fatty acids and tocopherol in sunflower seeds, and the influence of priming with antioxidant solutions on the tocopherol content were observed in the present study. Accelerated ageing did not affect contents of linoleic (C18:2), oleic (C18:1), stearic C18:0) and palmitic (C16:0) acids. It was determined that the contents of alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol decreased in seeds subjected to accelerated ageing and in seeds primed prior to accelerated ageing. Priming with antioxidant solutions prior to accelerated ageing differently affected the contents of alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol in seeds. Furthermore, seeds primed with a solution of a lower concentration of tocopherol and simultaneously primed with a solution of all three antioxidant substances (ascorbic acid, tocopherol and glutathione) had a higher content of alpha-tocopherol after accelerated ageing in relation to seeds which were not primed. Seeds primed with solutions of ascorbic acid, tocopherol (higher concentration) and glutathione had a lower content of alpha-tocopherol than seeds which were not primed prior to accelerated ageing. The total content of beta- and gamma-tocopherol in primed seeds were significantly lower (p >= 0.05) than in seeds which were not primed prior to accelerated ageing, except in seeds simultaneously primed with the solution of all three antioxidant substances.