complaining of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain thus making it difficult to
incorporate into the diet.
4.1.8.8 Peanut Oil
Peanut oil is produced through a cold press and subjected to further refinement.
Peanut oil is highly aromatic and has a mild peanut flavor (Hathorn and Sanders
2012). It is mainly used in Chinese, American, and Southeast Asian foods. Unrefined
peanut oil is used as a dressing or as a condiment, whereas refined peanut oil can be
used to make fried goods in large scale since it is cost-effective (Wang 2016). Peanut
oil was one of the first oils to be used to produce biodiesel (Gunstone 2011; Jazie
et al. 2012).
4.1.8.9 Antioxidant Extracts
Antioxidant extracts from peanuts are a healthy alternative to synthetic preservatives
that are added to cooking oil to prevent oxidation. Cooking oils when oxidized turn
rancid and have an altered flavor: therefore they are unfit for consumption. On an
industrial level, artificial preservatives are added to prevent oxidation of cooking
oils. A healthy alternate to artificial antioxidants are natural ones extracted from
various foods. Craft et al. through the process of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which yielded 80% v/v extracts of p-coumarin and p-coumarin
derivatives (antioxidants) (Craft et al. 2010). Antioxidant extracts from peanuts offer
a healthy alternate to synthetic preservatives. Peanut antioxidants, due to their
thermal stability, are an ideal choice (Taghvaei and Jafari 2015).
4.1.9 Biomedical Applications
Protein extracts from peanuts were initially used to develop biofilms, which act as a
support matrix for attachment of animal cells, e.g., fibroblasts. Peanut proteins are
extracted from peanut meal and subjected to compression molding. This gave rise to
thermoplastic protein films. These films have potential applications in biomedical
devices or as attachment media for cells to grow (Reddy et al. 2013). However, they
had a lower tensile strength, so the peanut protein biofilm mesh was cross-linked
with biocompatible citric acid. This additional treatment solved the issue of tensile
and wet strength; however it behaved poorly as a device for attachment to animal
cells (such as fibroblasts). In conclusion, these peanut protein films did not support
the attachment and growth of mouse fibroblast cells suggesting that peanut proteins
were cytotoxic (Reddy et al. 2012). Further research is needed to curb the toxicity of
peanut protein-based biofilms, as the material is quite cost-effective to produce.
Another study developed and characterized oral disintegrating films based on gelatin
4 Groundnut (Peanut) (Arachis hypogaea)
113
incorporate into the diet.
4.1.8.8 Peanut Oil
Peanut oil is produced through a cold press and subjected to further refinement.
Peanut oil is highly aromatic and has a mild peanut flavor (Hathorn and Sanders
2012). It is mainly used in Chinese, American, and Southeast Asian foods. Unrefined
peanut oil is used as a dressing or as a condiment, whereas refined peanut oil can be
used to make fried goods in large scale since it is cost-effective (Wang 2016). Peanut
oil was one of the first oils to be used to produce biodiesel (Gunstone 2011; Jazie
et al. 2012).
4.1.8.9 Antioxidant Extracts
Antioxidant extracts from peanuts are a healthy alternative to synthetic preservatives
that are added to cooking oil to prevent oxidation. Cooking oils when oxidized turn
rancid and have an altered flavor: therefore they are unfit for consumption. On an
industrial level, artificial preservatives are added to prevent oxidation of cooking
oils. A healthy alternate to artificial antioxidants are natural ones extracted from
various foods. Craft et al. through the process of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which yielded 80% v/v extracts of p-coumarin and p-coumarin
derivatives (antioxidants) (Craft et al. 2010). Antioxidant extracts from peanuts offer
a healthy alternate to synthetic preservatives. Peanut antioxidants, due to their
thermal stability, are an ideal choice (Taghvaei and Jafari 2015).
4.1.9 Biomedical Applications
Protein extracts from peanuts were initially used to develop biofilms, which act as a
support matrix for attachment of animal cells, e.g., fibroblasts. Peanut proteins are
extracted from peanut meal and subjected to compression molding. This gave rise to
thermoplastic protein films. These films have potential applications in biomedical
devices or as attachment media for cells to grow (Reddy et al. 2013). However, they
had a lower tensile strength, so the peanut protein biofilm mesh was cross-linked
with biocompatible citric acid. This additional treatment solved the issue of tensile
and wet strength; however it behaved poorly as a device for attachment to animal
cells (such as fibroblasts). In conclusion, these peanut protein films did not support
the attachment and growth of mouse fibroblast cells suggesting that peanut proteins
were cytotoxic (Reddy et al. 2012). Further research is needed to curb the toxicity of
peanut protein-based biofilms, as the material is quite cost-effective to produce.
Another study developed and characterized oral disintegrating films based on gelatin
4 Groundnut (Peanut) (Arachis hypogaea)
113