Biochemical, compositional, and spectral analyses of İsot (Urfa pepper) seed oil and evaluation of its functional characteristics

Abstract

In this study, the physicochemical, functional, and antimicrobial properties of pepper seed oil (PSO) were determined. PSO was subjected to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), fatty acid composition, carotenoid, capsaicin, and tocopherol analyses. LC-ESI-MS/MS and NMR were used to characterize and quantify phytochemicals. Resveratrol, luteolin, and 4-hydroxycinnamic acid were the principal phenolics in PSO. A high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (85.3%), especially linoleic acid (73.7%) is present in PSO. Capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, zeaxanthin, and capsanthin were determined in PSO at concentrations of 762.92, 725.73, 62.40, 643.23, 29.51, 16.83 ppm, respectively. PSO displayed inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase rather than α-amylase. The antimicrobial activity of PSO was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial potential of PSO was expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibition zone (IZ) diameter. Polyunsaturated fatty acid, capsaicin, carotenoid, tocopherol, resveratrol contents; the antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of PSO indicated its nutritional value and health promoting nature for the well-being of humans.