Effect of Different Thermal Techniques on Anti-Nutritional Compunds With Special Refefence to Hydrogen Cyanide in Linum usitatissimum

Abstract

Flax is one of the world’s primordial crops with proceedings of human cultivation extending back to thousands of years. Objective: To observe the comparative effectiveness of different thermal treatments on hydrogen cyanide (HCN) contents in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Methods: For the purpose, flaxseed was procured from local market, Faisalabad-Pakistan. Then, it was characterized for nutritional composition and mineral profiling through respective methods. In addition, dietary fiber, fatty acids, lignans and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) content were assessed through Enzymatic-gravimetric methods, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and alkaline titration, respectively. Moreover, different heat treatments i.e. autoclaving, microwave roasting, oven heating and water boiling were applied to mitigate the hydrogen cyanide contents. Results: Results of alkaline titration before heat treatment showed that hydrogen cyanide content was 376.0 mg/kg in flaxseed. The effect of heat treatments on hydrogen cyanide content of flaxseed was found to be highly significant. Hydrogen cyanide content was reduced to 22.33 mg/kg, 62.792 mg/kg, 204.33 mg/kg and 300.048 mg/kg by water boiling, microwave roasting, autoclaving and oven heating, respectively. Conclusion: Water boiling is most effectual technique (98% reduction) while oven heating is the slightest one (20.2% reduction).