Selenium and Aflatoxin levels in raw Brazil nuts from the Amazon Basin.

Whereas selenium (Se) is an important antioxidant in human metabolism to prevent cancer; aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic. Brazil nuts from Eastern and Western Amazon regions were evaluated to find any relationship between Se and aflatoxins levels. A total of 80 (in-shell and shelled) nuts samples were collected directly from different forest sites and analyzed for […]

Elemental composition and chemical characteristics of five edible nuts (almond; Brazil; pecan; macadamia and walnut) consumed in Southern Africa.

The total elemental concentrations and proximate chemical composition of five different tree nuts; almond (Prunus dulcus); Brazil (Bertholletia excelsa); pecan (Carya pecan); macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) and walnut (Juglans nigra) that are consumed in South African households were investigated. In addition; six physicochemical properties of the extracted nut oils; namely acid value; iodine value; saponification value; […]

Effect of lipid extraction methods on total dietary fiber and nonstarch polysaccharide contents of selected nuts and seeds

Three extraction methods were used to remove lipid materials from 8 edible nuts and seeds before analysis for their total dietary fiber (TDF) and nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) contents. Portions of ground materials were extracted by: n-hexane; followed by 80% methanol; n-hexane-acetic acid (95 + 5; v/v); and supercritical carbon dioxide. Defatted samples were gelatinized in […]