Evaluation of Anti-oxidant Activity, Food Efficacy and Health Aspects of Canola
Padu Krishnan, South Dakota State University - $29,000

Evaluation of the anti-oxidative activity of canola is an important factor in increasing the value of canola crop. Comparison of canola crops from different regions in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota may high-light an additional value-added factor that might be exploited commercially.

Health benefits attributable to canola meal and oil constituents can be established using experimentally sound small animal studies. Cause-effect relationships can be between feed and disease rates as evidenced by clinical indicators (tumors, chemical markers, etc).

The proposed study will employ two newly acquired state-of- the-art Mass Spectrometers to fingerprint, identify, and reliably measure oil and canola meal constituents. These tools will then be used to monitor success in developing valuable fractions from a variety of milling techniques.

Objectives:
1. Determine the content & composition of phenolic and other bioactive compounds that will increase the food and economic value of canola.
2. Develop functionally enriched canola fractions and to demonstrate their effectiveness in food systems and for use in nutraceutical products.
3. Assess the potential cancer preventive effects of canola meal flour and oil in experimental animals.