canola meal offers the possibility to be used as an emulsifier, gelling agents, absorbent,
stabilizer, thicker, oleogelator, texturizer, etc. in a variety of food products. However,
long-term human studies are required to claim the health benefits of canola protein.
Keywords Canola (Brassica napus) · Rapeseed · Glucosinolates · Erucic acid ·
Oleogels · Organogels · Hypercholesterolemia · Canola protein
2.1 History and Introduction
Canola, previously known as rapeseed (Brassica napus), is one of the most common
agriculture crops produced worldwide. Rapeseed is believed to be originated in India
over 3000 years ago (Shahidi 1990). Later on, it was introduced into China and
Japan. It is reported that the seeds of rapeseed were carried out to Europe for the first
time in the thirteenth century. Afterward, in 1936, rapeseed was introduced in
Canada from a traveler from Poland, where it grew well due to adaptable agroclimatic conditions. Though its cultivation was continued, its industrial use was not
exploited until the World War II (1939–1945), where it was used as lubricant oil for
the steam marine engines. Rapeseed oil adheres well to the metal surfaces washed
with water and steam in highly heated engines.
Initially, rapeseed oil was utilized for the illumination as well as lubrication
purposes. However, it was adopted as edible oil after the end of World War II,
when shortage for cooking and edible oils was experienced. Initially, the food
applications of rapeseed oil were very limited due to the presence of high amount
(22–60%) of erucic acid (C22:1: ω-9). Erucic acid has been reported to have adverse
effects such as cardiac injury and fatty deposits in heart muscles and adrenals in
rodents along with impaired growth in animals (Gunstone 2004). Another major
problem with rapeseed was the presence of goitrogenic glucosinolates (sulfurcontaining glucosides) in rapeseed meal (80 μmol/g) which interferes with the
absorption of iodine by thyroid gland and affects normal growth and development
(Gunstone 2004). After the World War II, shortage of edible oil suggested to grow
such oilseed crops suitable for human consumption. Therefore, in Canada, plantbreeding programs were initiated to reduce the level of erucic acid and
glucosinolates in rapeseed oil and meal, respectively. In 1968, the first low erucic
acid cultivar of Brassica napus containing less than 5% erucic acid and named as
low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil variety was produced in Canada. Such varieties
were also known as “single-low” or “zero-low” rapeseed varieties. Through further
improvements these “single-low” varieties were converted into “double-low” or
“double-zero” varieties using genetic modifications, which contained low erucic
acid (<5%) in oil and low glucosinolates in rapeseed meal. In 1979, the term
“canola” was adopted for all the rapeseed cultivars containing lower amount of
erucic acid (<5%) in oil and glucosinolates (3 mg/g) in air-dried defatted meal. Later
on, in 1986, the definition of canola was amended by Canola Council of Canada,
which referred “canola” to all those rapeseed cultivars having <2% erucic acid in oil
and <30 μmol glucosinolates per gram of rapeseed meal. Canola was also granted
48
A. Goyal et al.
stabilizer, thicker, oleogelator, texturizer, etc. in a variety of food products. However,
long-term human studies are required to claim the health benefits of canola protein.
Keywords Canola (Brassica napus) · Rapeseed · Glucosinolates · Erucic acid ·
Oleogels · Organogels · Hypercholesterolemia · Canola protein
2.1 History and Introduction
Canola, previously known as rapeseed (Brassica napus), is one of the most common
agriculture crops produced worldwide. Rapeseed is believed to be originated in India
over 3000 years ago (Shahidi 1990). Later on, it was introduced into China and
Japan. It is reported that the seeds of rapeseed were carried out to Europe for the first
time in the thirteenth century. Afterward, in 1936, rapeseed was introduced in
Canada from a traveler from Poland, where it grew well due to adaptable agroclimatic conditions. Though its cultivation was continued, its industrial use was not
exploited until the World War II (1939–1945), where it was used as lubricant oil for
the steam marine engines. Rapeseed oil adheres well to the metal surfaces washed
with water and steam in highly heated engines.
Initially, rapeseed oil was utilized for the illumination as well as lubrication
purposes. However, it was adopted as edible oil after the end of World War II,
when shortage for cooking and edible oils was experienced. Initially, the food
applications of rapeseed oil were very limited due to the presence of high amount
(22–60%) of erucic acid (C22:1: ω-9). Erucic acid has been reported to have adverse
effects such as cardiac injury and fatty deposits in heart muscles and adrenals in
rodents along with impaired growth in animals (Gunstone 2004). Another major
problem with rapeseed was the presence of goitrogenic glucosinolates (sulfurcontaining glucosides) in rapeseed meal (80 μmol/g) which interferes with the
absorption of iodine by thyroid gland and affects normal growth and development
(Gunstone 2004). After the World War II, shortage of edible oil suggested to grow
such oilseed crops suitable for human consumption. Therefore, in Canada, plantbreeding programs were initiated to reduce the level of erucic acid and
glucosinolates in rapeseed oil and meal, respectively. In 1968, the first low erucic
acid cultivar of Brassica napus containing less than 5% erucic acid and named as
low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil variety was produced in Canada. Such varieties
were also known as “single-low” or “zero-low” rapeseed varieties. Through further
improvements these “single-low” varieties were converted into “double-low” or
“double-zero” varieties using genetic modifications, which contained low erucic
acid (<5%) in oil and low glucosinolates in rapeseed meal. In 1979, the term
“canola” was adopted for all the rapeseed cultivars containing lower amount of
erucic acid (<5%) in oil and glucosinolates (3 mg/g) in air-dried defatted meal. Later
on, in 1986, the definition of canola was amended by Canola Council of Canada,
which referred “canola” to all those rapeseed cultivars having <2% erucic acid in oil
and <30 μmol glucosinolates per gram of rapeseed meal. Canola was also granted
48
A. Goyal et al.