food applications. Oil content in different cultivars of canola ranges from 30.60% to
50.40% on dry weight basis (Assadi et al. 2011; Matthaus et al. 2016). Canola oil is
rich in oleic acid (C18:1), a monounsaturated fatty acid, which has been associated
with several positive health effects, which will be discussed in further sections. Apart
from that, canola oil has a well-balanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid
(2:1) unlike other vegetable oils such as soybean and sunflower oil (5:1). Moreover,
α-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3) rich varieties were also developed through plantbreeding techniques for the enhanced health benefits. The fatty acid profile of canola
oil and other vegetable oils is shown in Table 2.2. Recently, Matthaus et al. (2016)
estimated the oil content and fatty acid profile of 14 varieties of rapeseed and canola
in Turkey. It was observed that the oil content was comparatively higher
(41.8–48.3%) in rapeseed varieties (Orlan, Forza, Mavi, Hyola) than that of canola
cultivars (30.6–36.2%) such as Forte, Juna, Ras-5, and Ras-6 (Matthaus et al. 2016).
Efforts have also been done to enhance the level of oleic acid (MUFA) from normal
60% to 85% through genetic engineering to enhance the oxidative stability and shelf
life of the oil.
Table 2.1 Proximate composition of whole canola seed (rapeseed)
Parameter
Range
(g/100 g)
Reference/s
Moisture
content
3.75–4.72
Cakmakli and Ünal (1988)
Lipids
30.60–50.40 Cakmakli and Ünal (1988), Carré et al. (2016), Assadi et al. (2011),
Matthaus et al. (2016)
Crude
protein
19.50–28.17 Cakmakli and Ünal (1988), Assadi et al. (2011), Carré et al. (2016)
Crude fiber 15.72
a
Carré et al. (2016)
Ash
5.69–6.93
a
Carré et al. (2016)
a On dry matter basis
Table 2.2 Major fatty acid profile of rape seed oil [HEAR and LEAR (canola)] and other
commonly used edible oils
Fatty acid (% of total
fatty acids)
Rape seed oil
Soybean oil
Sunflower
oil
Peanut oil
HEAR
oil
LEAR oil
(canola)
Oleic acid (C18:1)
15.0
56.80–64.92
23.80–24.00 20.40–28.00 47.10–71.1
Linoleic acid (C18:2)
(ω-6)
14.0
17.11–20.92
53.30–54.00 62.20–68.80 18.20–33.6
α-Linolenic acid (C18:3)
(ω-3)
9.0
2.63–12.99
7.10–8.00
0–0.16
N.D.
Erucic acid (C22:1)
45.0
0.08–1.63
N.D.
N.D.
N.D.
HEAR high erucic acid rapeseed, LEAR low erucic acid rapeseed (Shahidi 1990; Daun et al. 2015;
Orsavova et al. 2015)
N.D. Not detected
2 Rapeseed/Canola (Brassica napus) Seed
51
50.40% on dry weight basis (Assadi et al. 2011; Matthaus et al. 2016). Canola oil is
rich in oleic acid (C18:1), a monounsaturated fatty acid, which has been associated
with several positive health effects, which will be discussed in further sections. Apart
from that, canola oil has a well-balanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid
(2:1) unlike other vegetable oils such as soybean and sunflower oil (5:1). Moreover,
α-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3) rich varieties were also developed through plantbreeding techniques for the enhanced health benefits. The fatty acid profile of canola
oil and other vegetable oils is shown in Table 2.2. Recently, Matthaus et al. (2016)
estimated the oil content and fatty acid profile of 14 varieties of rapeseed and canola
in Turkey. It was observed that the oil content was comparatively higher
(41.8–48.3%) in rapeseed varieties (Orlan, Forza, Mavi, Hyola) than that of canola
cultivars (30.6–36.2%) such as Forte, Juna, Ras-5, and Ras-6 (Matthaus et al. 2016).
Efforts have also been done to enhance the level of oleic acid (MUFA) from normal
60% to 85% through genetic engineering to enhance the oxidative stability and shelf
life of the oil.
Table 2.1 Proximate composition of whole canola seed (rapeseed)
Parameter
Range
(g/100 g)
Reference/s
Moisture
content
3.75–4.72
Cakmakli and Ünal (1988)
Lipids
30.60–50.40 Cakmakli and Ünal (1988), Carré et al. (2016), Assadi et al. (2011),
Matthaus et al. (2016)
Crude
protein
19.50–28.17 Cakmakli and Ünal (1988), Assadi et al. (2011), Carré et al. (2016)
Crude fiber 15.72
a
Carré et al. (2016)
Ash
5.69–6.93
a
Carré et al. (2016)
a On dry matter basis
Table 2.2 Major fatty acid profile of rape seed oil [HEAR and LEAR (canola)] and other
commonly used edible oils
Fatty acid (% of total
fatty acids)
Rape seed oil
Soybean oil
Sunflower
oil
Peanut oil
HEAR
oil
LEAR oil
(canola)
Oleic acid (C18:1)
15.0
56.80–64.92
23.80–24.00 20.40–28.00 47.10–71.1
Linoleic acid (C18:2)
(ω-6)
14.0
17.11–20.92
53.30–54.00 62.20–68.80 18.20–33.6
α-Linolenic acid (C18:3)
(ω-3)
9.0
2.63–12.99
7.10–8.00
0–0.16
N.D.
Erucic acid (C22:1)
45.0
0.08–1.63
N.D.
N.D.
N.D.
HEAR high erucic acid rapeseed, LEAR low erucic acid rapeseed (Shahidi 1990; Daun et al. 2015;
Orsavova et al. 2015)
N.D. Not detected
2 Rapeseed/Canola (Brassica napus) Seed
51