Characterization of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Seed and By-Products from Argentina

JULIO L.; GUIOTTO E.N.; CAPITANI M.I.; IXTAINA V.Y.; TOMÁS M.C.; NOLASCO S.M.

Salvia hispanica L. Properties, Applications and Health

NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS

Lugar: Hauppauge; Año: 2016; p. 87 - 106

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an annualherbaceous plant native from the southwest region of United States, Mexico andGuatemala. Nowadays, it is grown commercially in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia,Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. In Argentina, the production islimited to the northwest area and its expansion may contribute to thediversification of agricultural production, with the consequent impact on theregional economy. This context has encouraged farmers to opt in favor of thisalternative crop, which is also associated with the possibility to exhibitadded value of origin and offers good economic prospects. Chia seeds are a goodsource of oil with high α-linolenic content (w-3), dietary fiber, protein and bioactive compounds,which could be multifunctional ingredients with excellent properties for theformulation of functional foods. This chapter describes differentcharacteristics of chia seeds harvested in Argentina and their by-products(residual meal, oil, mucilage), and technological processes to obtain productswith improved specific quality (oil with a proper balance of w-6/w-3 from a health viewpoint ? oil blends- or with a moreprotection against autoxidation ?addition of natural antioxidants-, fiber- andprotein-rich flour fractions) as well as alternative systems. Also, strategiesto incorporate them into different food matrices or functional foods(emulsions, microencapsulation) were discussed.