Determining antioxidant potential of rubus nubigenus seeds

北美悬钩子原产于安第斯山脉海拔较高的地区(2,600-3,400米)。它的手杖、叶子和花与黑莓相似，而其浅红色水果在外观上与树莓相似，在味道上与罗甘莓相似。虽然所有的黑莓都含有种子，但与其核仁大小相比，努比格纳黑莓的种子相对较大和众多，因此被认为是相当“肮脏”的。因此，预计消费者对消费的吸引力将相当有限。根据美国农业部进行的一项研究，收集的Nubigenus样本显示，平均种子重量显著高于欧洲和北美的黑莓和树莓品种。 鉴于人们对含有更高水平的抗氧化剂和必需脂肪酸的食品的消费兴趣日益浓厚，有可能向加拿大消费者推出一种营养补充剂。该项目的中心目标是在田间采集红豆杉的新鲜浆果，并使用现有的种子油分析方法来评估种子油的特性，关于可能具有潜在有价值的商业特性的某些特定化合物。 虽然主要作物在10月、11月和12月成熟，但Nubigenus的成熟期是连续的，并贯穿全年。该项目预计将在这几个月安排一次植物和种子采集探险。这次种子收集探险将由不列颠哥伦比亚大学附属的一名研究人员和行业合作伙伴贝沃农业公司的一名或多名代表领导。该项目将需要与当地大学或商业实验室合作，这些大学或商业实验室拥有足够的基础设施和专门知识来进行种子油测试和随后的分析。这项研究将主要在南美洲进行，涉及一名首席研究员，来自UBC的一名教授。

Rubus nubigenus ("R. Nubigenus") is native to the higher elevations of the Andes (2,600 - 3,400 m). Its canes, leaves and flowers resemble those of blackberries while its light red fruits resemble raspberries in appearance and loganberries in taste. Although all blackberries contain seeds, the R. Nubigenus has relatively large and numerous seeds in relation to its drupelet size and therefore, is considered to be rather "seedy". Consequently, it is anticipated that consumer appeal for consumption would be rather limited. According to a study performed by the US Department of Agriculture, collected samples of the R. Nubigenus exhibited an average seed weights that were significantly higher than European and North American blackberry and raspberry species. Given the increasing interest in the consumption of foods that contain higher levels of antioxidants and essential fatty acids, an opportunity exists to potentially introduce a nutritional supplement to Canadian consumers. The central objective of this project is to collect fresh berries of R. Nubigenus in the field and to use the existing seed oil analysis methodologies to assess seed oil properties, with regard to certain specific compounds that may have potentially valuable commercial properties. The ripening season of the R. Nubigenus is continuous and extends through the entire year, although the principal crop matures in October, November and December. This project expects to schedule a plant and seed collection expedition during these months. This seed collection expedition will be led by a researcher affiliated with the University of British Columbia and one or more representatives of Bevo Agro Inc., the industry partner. This project will require collaboration with a local university or commercial laboratory that possesses sufficient infrastructure and know-how to perform seed oil testing and subsequent analyses. The research will primarily be conducted in South America, involving a single principal investigator, a professor from UBC.