Minor components and oxidative stability of cold-pressed oil from rapeseed cultivars in China

The contents of the minor components and induction period (IP) of cold-pressed oils from 203 rapeseed varieties from the Yangtze River Valley in China were determined. The average contents of total phenolics, phytosterols, tocopherols, β-carotene, lutein and chlorophyll of the samples were 36 mg/100 g, 826 mg/100 g, 378 mg/kg, 2.4 mg/kg, 104 mg/kg and 8.2 mg/kg, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0.0001) among the varieties in the content of these minor components. Correlation analysis revealed there was a positive correlation between the IP and content of total polyphenols (r = 0.303, p < 0.0001), lutein (r = 0.250, p < 0.0001) and total tocopherols (r = 0.225, p = 0.001). Additionally, the IP negatively correlated with total phytosterols and chlorophyll content. Principal component analysis differentiated the rapeseed oils based on their IP and total phenolic, tocopherol, β-carotene, lutein and chlorophyll content.