Wednesday, 13 July 2011

CARDIOPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF RAPESEED - MUSTARD (SEED & OIL)


INTRODUCTION  :-



In Ayurvedic texts , Saŕshapa & Rājikā are mentioned separately. Saŕshapa is further described of 2 types :–
      (1). Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha / Siddhārtha  gaur  saŕshapa  
              (Dhanvantari Nighantu) 

      (2). Rakta saŕshapa / Siddhārtha rakta  saŕshapa (Dhanvantari    
              Nighantu).
As per Ayurvedic texts , Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha is regarded BEST  for medicinal purposes. Kashyap Samhita mentions a separate cahapter on it’s formulations - namely KATUTAIL-KALPADHYAY - reflecting it’s medicinal importance esp in childhood & adolescent ages. 

But now a days whatever is available in market is the blend / mix of many species & sub-species / varieties, chiefly the following three :-

Sl. No.
Ayurvedic name
English name (British English)
Botanical name
1.
Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha
Yellow mustard
Brassica compestris Linn. var. Sarson Prain
2.
Rakta saŕshapa
Brown mustard
Brassica compestris Linn. var. Sarson Prain

3.
Rājikā
Indian mustard
Brassica juncea Czern & Coss.


In western it is reffered as rapeseed-mustard oil. RAPESEED is formed of 2 words “RAPE & SEED” in which “Rape” (Latin) meaning  “turnip” - reflecting the TAXONOMIC FAMILY from which it belongs to.  MUSTARD  is also composed of two Latin words “must / mustum” (means expressed juice of grapes) and “ardens” (means hot and burning).

Mustard is world's 3rd most important edible oilseed crops after soybean and oil palm. It is  world's 2nd leading source of protein meal  (only one-fifth of the production of the soy meal).
CANOLA is a specific variety of rapeseed having a low erucic acid content developed in Canada . Its name is a combination of "Canada" and "Oil" (Canadian Oil Low Acid, more precisely).
In northern India, it is widely used as a TABLE TOP OIL in almost every kitchen.



            Figure : - 1 - CLASSICAL ZONES OF MUSTARD OIL


AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES OF MUSTARD OIL :-

      गुण - स्निग्ध, तीक्ष्ण, लघु
      रस - कटु, तीक्ष्ण
     विपाक - क‍टु
      वीर्य - उष्ण
      दोषकर्म - वात
                           कफ   
                           पित्त
      प्रभाव विशेष - प्लीहनाशनम् परम् 

BIOCHEMICAL  ANALYSIS :-

Following tables displays NUTRITIONAL VALUE per 100 g (3.5 oz) of MUSTARD SEED, (Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database) :-

Gross nutrients :-

Energy
 1,964 kJ (469 kcal)
Carbohydrates
34.94 g
Sugars
6.89 g
Dietary fiber
14.7 g
Fat (Total)
 28.76 g
saturated
1.46 g
monounsaturated
19.83 g
polyunsaturated
5.39 g
Protein
 24.94 g
Water
6.86 g

Vitamins :-

Vitamin A equiv.
3 μg
0%             of average daily requirement
Thiamine (Vit. B1)
0.543 mg
42%         of average daily requirement
Riboflavin (Vit. B2)
0.381 mg
25%          of average daily requirement
Niacin (Vit. B3)
7.890 mg
53%          of average daily requirement
Vitamin B6 
0.43 mg
33%          of average daily requirement
Folate (Vit. B9)
76 μg
19%          of average daily requirement
Vitamin B12 
0 μg
0%            of average daily requirement
Vitamin C
3 mg
5%          of average daily requirement
Vitamin E
2.89 mg
19%        of average daily requirement
Vitamin K
5.4 μg
5%            of average daily requirement

Minerals :-


Calcium
521 mg
52%           of average daily requirement
Iron
9.98 mg
80%           of average daily requirement
Magnesium
298 mg
81%           of average daily requirement
Phosphorus
841 mg
120%       of average daily requirement
Potassium
682 mg
15%           of average daily requirement
Sodium
5 mg
0%           of average daily requirement
Zinc
5.7 mg
57%         of average daily requirement

Mustard seeds having high levels of omega-3 fatty acid (6–11%). It is a common, cheap, mass-produced , plant-based (i.e.vegetarian) source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Mustard oil having following composition of fatty acids :-
      60% monounsaturated fatty acids
      42% erucic acid
      12% oleic acid.
       21% polyunsaturated fatty acids
      6% is the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
      15% omega-6 linoleic acid.
      19% saturated fats.

FLAX (LINSEED) OIL has 55% plant-based omega-3 fatty acid but  it is uncommon as a table or cooking oil.

CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS  :-

FATTY ACIDS are of mainly 2 types
·        SATURATED FATTY ACIDS (SFA)
·        UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Unsaturated fatty acids again are of two types, namely MONOUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (MUFA) & POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (PUFA). PUFA are also known as ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS ( EFA ) because the human body can’t synthesize them. Like essential amino acids & vitamins they must me supplied along with one’s diet in adequate amount. 

EFA are essential for 

      Normal foetal & infant growth,
      For brain development & growth and
      For visual acuity  etc.

              Figure :- 2 - CLASSIFICATION OF FATTY ACIDS


The human body can synthesize the SATURATED FATTY ACIDS (SFA) from other substrates like carbohydrates & amino acids by various chemical transformations. Body can also synthesize long chain MONOUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (MUFA) by chain elongation & polymerization mechanisms up to some extent.

Moreover, SFA increases LDL - a bad cholesterol responsible for atherosclerotic changes & coronary artery diseases. On the other hand  MUFA raises HDL which is certainly a good cholesterol prevents the deleterious changes caused by LDL.

PUFAs / EFAs are again of 2 distinct groups   LINOLEIC ACID &  α -LINOLENIC ACID   groups commonly known as Omega-6 ( Ω-6 )   & Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) fatty acid groups respectively.   Omega-6 fatty acids are abundant in nature especially in vegetable sources. But omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in vegetable sources except a few like mustard.

As already said OMEGA-3 fatty acids  can’t  be synthesized in human body , it must be supplied with diet . Two important Omega-3 fatty acids are :-

      Eicosa-pent-enoic acid (EPEA ; C-20)
      Docosa-hex-enoic acid (DHEA ; C-22)

DHEA  is important for proper  brain function  as 65% of the GREY MATTER of BRAIN is composed of lipids - having an important role of DHEA. EPEA  is cardioprotective in nature. It protects HEART & CORONARY ARTERIES from the oxydative damage.  Deficiency of  thease long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) may lead to CO-MORBID conditions like - dyslexia, dysparexia , hyperactivity etc.


Not only the absolute amount of PUFA is essential but the proper ratio of Omega-6 ( Ω-6 )  &  Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) is also essential. For the beneficial effects omega-6 to omega-3 ratio must be less than 5 : 1. 

Comparative properties of common cooking fats 
             (For their FATTY ACID contents )
Sl. No.
       FAT / OIL
SFA (%)
MUFA (%)
               PUFA (%)
Ω - 6
Ω - 3
1
COCONUT
92
06
1.6
O.4
2
CORN
13
25
61
01
3
GROUNDNUT
18
49
33
00
4
MUSTARD
19
60
15
06 - 11
5
OLIVE
14
77
08
01
6
SUNFLOWER
11
20
69
00
7
SAFFLOWER
10
13
77
00
8
PALMOLEIN
40
48
11
01
9
HVO
76
19
03
02

                           SFA = SATURATED FATTY ACID 
                           HVO = HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (e.g DALDA)
                          MUFA = MONO UNSATURATED FATTY ACID                    
                          PUFA = POLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACID

SOYBEAN OIL has  6% omega-3 fatty acid & over 50% omega-6 fatty acid ― that competes with the omega-3 function.
High omega-6 & low omega-3 content as in GROUNDNUT, SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER & CORN OILS (56:1) can predispose to following conditions :-

      free radical diseases
      angiotoxicity,
      impaired immune function,
      reduced glucose tolerance,
      increased platelet aggregation,
      albuminurea  etc.

COCONUT OIL has proper Omega-6 ( Ω-6 )  &  Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) ratio. But unfortunately the overall content of PUFA in coconut oil is too low to meet ones daily requirement.

CONTROVERSIES  / MALAWARENESS :-

Erucic acid :-

Mustard oil was once considered unsuitable for human consumption in the United States, Canada, and the European Union due to the high content of erucic acid. This is because of early studies in rats. Subsequent studies on rats have showed that rats are less able to digest vegetable fats (whether they contain erucic acid or not) than humans and pigs.

Epidemic Dropsy :-

Epidemic dropsy is a form of oedema of extremities due to intoxication with Argemone mexicana (Mexican prickly poppy /“Satyanashi” ). In Northern India, epidemic dropsy occurs as a food adulterant disease where use of mustard oil as cooking medium is common. When mustard oil is adulterated deliberately (as in most cases) or accidental contamination (more RARE) with argemone oil may results in epidemic dropsy.Mustard oil itself never causes epidemic dropsy.

FINAL WORDS :-

So the RAPESEED-MUSTARD OIL in one’s kitchen may spark some pungent smell or may cause some tearing but CERTAINLY OFFERS the above HEALTH BENEFITS.


G.O.I. INSTRUCTION :-


As per Govt. of India instruction a person advised to use at least two different COOCKING OIL alternately. But don’t mix two different coocking oils at a time because their physical properties e.g. boiling point, fuming point etc may be quite different which may affect the effect adversely.


Bibiliography / References :-

S.N
Writer / Editor
      Book / Text
   Edition
       Publisher
1.
H.K.Bakharu
Vitamines That Heal : Natural immunity For Better Health
1 ed,
8 reprint
Orient Paperbacks, ND
2.
K.E.Elizabeth
Nutrition & Child Development
4 ed
Paras Publishing, Hyderabad
3.
L.K.Mahan & S.E.Stump
Krause’s Food & Nutrition Therapy
12 ed
Saunders Elsevier
4.
F.P.Antia & P.Abraham
Clinical Dietetics & Nutrition
4 ed
Oxford Universiy Press, ND
5.
O.P.Ghai, P.Gupta & V.K.Paul
Ghai Essential Pediatrics
6 ed
CPS P.&D., ND
6.
S.Gupte
The Short Textbook Of Pediatrics
11 ed
JAYPEE Bro. Med. Pub. (P) Ltd., ND
7.
Vriddh Jeevaka
Kashyap Samhita
8 ed
Chaukhamba Sansk. Sansthan, Varanasi
8.
P.V.Sharma
Classical Uses Of Medicinal Plants
Rep.yr. 2004
Chaukhamba Visvabharati, Varranasi
9.
R.K.Murrey et.al.
Harper’s Biochemistry
25 ed
Mc Graw Hill International
10.
Libby et. al. Braunwald's Heart Disease : Atextbook Of Cardiovascular Medicine 08 ed Saunders & Else
11.




12.




13.




14.




15.




16.




17




Web references  / Magazenes
1.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.
PubMed PMID: 9310278
3.
www.Sundropheart.com
4.
Aviskar; NRDC; July 2010; pp 17-19; Rasoi aur khadya tel; by Satish Chandra Saxena


NOTE :-
  • The above article was published in "सृजन चिकित्सा" ( year - 7, Issue-37, Jan.-Feb.-2011, Page no.-35 to 37) from Pune - Maharastra - India.



  • Relate topic presented by the author in following seminars :-
Sl.
No.
Name  Of  Topic Presented
Name  Of  Seminar
Organised / Held By
Place
Date
1.
Role Of Rapeseed-Mustard Oil In Preventive Cardiology
International Seminar Of Preventive Cardiology
International Academy Of Ayurveda & BGA India
Sangamner
Mahastrara
02/01/11
2.
Therapeautic & Prophylactic Uses Of Rapeseed-Mustard Oil In Cardiovascular & Haemopoietic Systems
“Raktavaha Srotas” Concept  To  Clinical
Vaidya Vilas Nanal Research Foundation Pune & VMP Nanal Ayurveda Foundation Pune
Pune
Maharastra
20/02/11
3.
Cardioprotective Role Of Rapeseed –Mustard Oil (i.e. सर्षप तैल)
NIACON – 2011
(Abstract published in Souvenir & Abstract Book at page no. 33 & 263-264)
National Institute Of Ayurveda Jaipur
Jaipur
Rajasthan
15/03/11

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