Preparação de ácidos graxos conjugados a partir do óleo de linhaça (Linum usitatissimum L.) e avaliação de sua atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana

Abstract

Flaxseed is the seed of the Linum usitatissimum L., an oleaginous plant belonging to the Linaceae family, a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. These fatty acids can pass through stages of isomerization to produce conjugated fatty acids, forming respectively conjugated alpha-linolenic acid (CLNA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The objective of this study was to optimize CLNA production through the alkaline isomerization of linseed oil and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro of mixtures formed of CLA and CLNA. Alkaline isomerization is an effective method for CLNA production. From the flax oil, ethyl esters were prepared and subsequently passed through the isomerization stage, using an experimental design composed of 4 factorial points, 4 repetitions of the central point and 4 axial points. The assays were performed at random. Methyl esters were obtained for analysis by gas chromatography. Fatty acid quantification was performed using methyl heptadecanoate (17:0) as an internal standard. The degree of isomerization (GI) was determined by the ratio of the fatty acid content isomerized by the initial fatty acid content in non-isomerized linseed oil. The confirmation of the isomerization of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids of linseed oil was carried out by means of spectroscopic analyzes in the ultraviolet and infrared regions. The antioxidant activity was verified by the ABTS method. The antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 14458), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 06539) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536) by the serial microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration. The results of infrared spectroscopy showed several bands characteristic of conjugated double bonds. Comparison of the UV spectra between isomerized and flaxseed samples confirmed the formation of conjugated fatty acids. The mixtures of isomers formed showed antioxidant activity, the highest result being obtained by an axial point, with a trolox equivalent of 10.33 μmol per gram of sample. In relation to the bactericidal activity, some samples presented activity, mainly for the gram-positive ones. The isomerization of linseed oil represents an alternative for the preparation of mixtures of conjugated isomers of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, since it uses a reaction system and a methodology of isomerization that are relatively simple and inexpensive.