The antioxidant activity and composition of the seed oil of mulberry cultivars

Mulberry is a traditional crop that has been grown in China for thousands of years. While leaves and fruits of the mulberry have been consumed, mulberry seed use has been less extensive. The goal of this study was to investigate the value of the seeds. Seven cultivars of mulberry were investigated. Oil was extracted from seeds, and the oil content was determined. The primary components of the oils were analyzed using gas chromatography. It was found that all the mulberry cultivars contained high linoleic acid contents, suggesting that mulberry seed may be a potential resource of linoleic acid. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also compared among different mulberry seed oils. The physical and chemical parameters, as well as the antioxidant activity of the mulberry seed, were determined. Principal component analysis indicated that the ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) of mulberry seed oil may be due to high phenolic compounds and linoleic acid. The cultivars Dongsheng, Fengtian, and Guisang had the highest antioxidant activities (FRAP, DPPH), and it was proposed that these cultivars would produce the highest quality oil for use as an ingredient for healthcare or functional food use.