STUDY OF COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF PINON KERNEL OF SIBERIAN PINE

The problem of rational use of natural resources and raw materials, and providing the population with nutritious foods is particularly important in regions that are characterized by bad environment. In this regard, unconventional plant material, in particular pinons of Pinus sibirica for the needs of the food industry will not only solve the problem of rational usage of natural resources and the creation of an additional amount of raw food, but also contribute to the extension of the range of general and functional food products. The purpose of study was to investigate protein, lipid, and mineral-vitamin complexes of pinon kernels. Molecular weight distribution of peptides and proteins was assessed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with Laemmli method. The quantitative content of water-soluble vitamins was determined using capillary electrophoresis system with the device Kapel-105", fat soluble vitamins - by high-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography, mass fraction of macro- and microelements - by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The relative content of individual fractions in the lipid complex was as follows: phospholipids - 7.9% mono- and diacylglycerols - 6.1%, respectively, sterols 2.7% - carotenoids - 0.9%, triterpene alcohols - 1.8%, free fatty acids - 1.1%, triacylglycerols - 71.2%. Proteins of pinon kernels are heterogeneous in composition, contain seventeen fractions, which have molecular weight ranging from 66.85 to 13.33 kDa. Carbohydrate complex consists essentially of digestible carbohydrates and has a high content of hydrolysable sugars from 4.6 to 5.0%, starch - 4.7 ± 0.2%, pentosans - 1.8 ± 0.2%, and fiber - 2.3 ± 0.1%. In the mineral complex phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper are the predominant elements. The structure of vitamin complex includes tocopherols from 30.5 to 32.0 mg, vitamin A - 0.02 mg, and carotenoids - 0.8 mg per 100 g of lipids. The degree of meeting the daily need of human body in vitamins and minerals, when taking pinon kernels in food, is calculated. Research results allow us to recommend pinon kernels as poly-functional food raw materials with high content of technologically important components for the production of original premium products.