Colloid and Surface Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Organic Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
29
Scopus Publications
855
Scholar Citations
14
Scholar h-index
17
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Exploring diversity of oleaginous plants to find potential new sources of oil bodies adapted to climate change Nathalie Barouh, Eric Lacroux, Romain Valentin, Claire Bourlieu-Lacanal, Jean-François Fabre Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2025 Global social welfare faces increasing threats from population growth and climate change, particularly impacting food security and economic development, especially for vulnerable groups. Agronomic practices, like crop selection, are essential in addressing these challenges. Agroforestry, for example, offers a promising solution by both mitigating soil degradation and contributing to sustainable incomes for the local population. Plants adapted to tropical or extreme climatic conditions can make a major contribution to achieving various sustainable development goals. A key factor in their resilience is the presence of oil bodies (OB), lipid storage organelles. Thanks to their unique structure (spherical droplet with a membrane structured with phospholipid monolayer and proteins), composition (triacylglycerols and minor compounds) and physico-chemical properties (pH stability ranges, thermal behavior) can play their lipid storage and protective role in their environment and have attracted considerable research attention. An overview of the OB composition of major crops compared with that of crops grown in non-temperate climates provides a better understanding of the interactions between climate, OB composition, with a particular focus on chia seeds. A wide variety of fatty acid compositions are found in seed or fruit oil from non-temperate climates. Exploring the OB structure that shelters them could explain their adaptation to different climates and the levers that could be used to benefit from them sustainably, considering the exploitation of these lesser-known source plants in virtuous agricultural/agroforestry schemes. Such interest would contribute to the development of larger-scale supply chains to improve the resilience of developing and advanced countries to climate change. • Climate change prompts research of resilient oil bodies (OB). • OB structure and variability can adapt plants to diverse climatic conditions. • OB exploration around the world opens the way of multiple sustainable benefits. • Seeds from non-tempered climates offer a wide variety of valuable fatty acids. • A wide diversity of plants rich in OB is a key to food security.
Impact of chia seed germination on its lipid composition and on its processability in water by an integrated process designed for the release of oil bodies Éric Lacroux, Muriel Cerny, Jean-François Fabre, Romain Valentin, Othmane Merah Lwt, 2025 Chia seeds, source of w3, w6 w9 and mucilage for food ingredients, are important for cardiovascular diseases prevention. A process for releasing the mucilage to recover the oil bodies from seeds has already been developed. The aim of this study was investigation the ability of seeds to be degummed, obtain a native lipid emulsion and examine the effect of germination, before or after degumming, on the reserves’ composition. Proximate and lipid composition were determined at three times during germination (1, 24 and 48h). Results confirmed that degumming has no-effect on the seeds germination ability. The oil bodies release remains effective regardless of the germination stage, demonstrating the robustness of the process for recovering lipids. Degumming has no-effect on the fractionation of chia seeds whatever the timing of application. The mobilization of lipid reserves increased as germination progressed. The lipid content of germinated seeds declined, the proportion of triglycerides falled and higher proportions of partial glycerides and free fatty acids are formed. Lipids became more prevalent in the pellet, reducing oil bodies yield released into the upper emulsified phase after 48h of germination. This is the first report on the impact of germination on the integrated lipid release process in chia. • Use of aqueous integrated process at any stage of germination to release chia oleosomes. • Seed degumming has little impact on germination capacity. • Germination shows a priming effect on protein and mineral diffusion during degumming. • Oil-bodies composition highlights reserves mobilization during seed germination.
Development of an eco-fractionation process for Ricinodendron heudelotii oil to obtain α-eleostearic acid and β-eleostearic acid Éric Lacroux, Diakaridja Nikiema, Muriel Cerny, Jean-François Fabre, Zéphirin Mouloungui, Koua Oi Koua, Christine Raynaud, Ané Adjou, Othmane Merah, Romain Valentin European Food Research and Technology, 2025 The present article studies the transformations and fractionation of the reserve lipids of Ricinodendron heudelotii. The native triglycerides of this oil are composed mainly of conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular α-eleostearic acid C18:3 n– 5 (9c, 11t, 13t) at 60%. This particular fatty acid of CLnA family exerts many activities potentially beneficial for health: anti-inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-ulcer and anti-diabetic. A process for transforming this acid into its isomers β-eleostearic acid and catalpic acid was explored with the aim of obtaining fractions enriched in β-eleostearic acid C18:3 n– 5 (9t, 11t, 13t). The β-eleostearic acid is a fatty acid of great interest because it is even more reactive and more efficient as antioxidant than α-eleostearic acid due to its higher trans content. Isomerization reaction of α-eleostearic acid in oil was carried out using artificial solar radiation treatment. The enrichment of concentrates in β-eleostearic acid was therefore tested using an eco-fractionation process. This process was carried out in two stages. The first step was the Candida rugosa lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of triglycerides from native or isomerized Ricinodendron heudelotii oil. The second step was fractionation of the reaction medium obtained after hydrolysis. Triglyceride hydrolysis was complete, with a yield of free fatty acids of over 95% after 2 h of reaction. Treatment of the reaction media yielded 3 lipid concentrates with new chemical compositions of polyunsaturated fatty acids: a first concentrate, derived from hydrolysis of the native oil, composed of 60% α-eleostearic acid and 22% linoleic acid, and two other concentrates derived from fractionation of the hydrolysate of the oil isomerized by radiation. One was composed of 34% linoleic acid, 21% β-eleostearic acid, 11% α-eleostearic acid and 6% catalpic acid, and the last concentrate was composed of over 80% β-eleostearic acid. In addition to offering nutritional benefits similar to those of α-eleostearic acid, β-eleostearic acid also offers an interesting physical property: a very high melting point of 72 °C. Such a polyunsaturated fatty acid, which is solid at room temperature, could prove to be a raw material of choice, particularly in the world of food formulation, where manufacturers are looking for replacements with physical properties close to those of palm oil (the melting point of palmitic acid is 62 °C). Ricinodendron heudelotii oil has thus demonstrated its major role as a source of the triptych of α-eleostearic, β-eleostearic and linoleic fatty acids.
Overview of the establishment and uses of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Euphorbiaceae): focus on the central and southern regions of Ivory Coast Diakaridja Nikiema, Zéphirin Mouloungui, Koua Oi Koua, Bertrand Sandjon, Christine Raynaud, Muriel Cerny, Jean-François Fabre, Othmane Merah, Éric Lacroux, Ané Adjou, Romain Valentin OCL Oilseeds and Fats Crops and Lipids, 2024 Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex Heckel is a plant species present in the high-biodiversity areas of Central, West and East Africa. It has a considerable potential for development as a non-timber forest product (NTFP). The crushed seeds of this species have traditionally been used by local populations and those of certain large African cities as a spice or thickening agent for foods. In the face of strong and potentially growing demand, not only for nutritional purposes but also for new outlets, efforts are being made in Ivory Coast to domesticate this species with a view to increasing production. A number of actions are underway for the development of R. heudelotii: improvement of its availability; development of seed and kernel production; creation of markets for the seeds and their proteins and oil; development of industrial uses of this oil. This study carried out an inventory of R. heudelotii cultivation in Ivory Coast, and highlighted the levers available for promoting its integration into the economy of the country. The development of outlets for the kernels, oil and proteins of R. heudelotii, the improvement and control of product quality, and the modernization of seed crushing and oil extraction methods are essential conditions for increasing production and for the structuring and expansion of the market. This contributes to both the economic development of this crop and those involved in its cultivation — local communities, and women in particular — and the preservation of the environment through the development of an activity favoring regeneration and sustainable forest protection.
Edible Oils and Oleochemistry Zéphirin Mouloungui, Romain Valentin, Laure Candy, Jean-François Fabre, Eric Lacroux, Othmane Merah, Muriel Cerny, Géraldine Giacinti, Sophie Thiebaud-Roux, Pascale de Caro Green Chemistry and Agro Food Industry Towards A Sustainable Bioeconomy, 2024
Effect of year of cultivation on the oil content and fatty acid composition of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) grown in France Gwendoline Gravé, Zephirin Mouloungui, Muriel Cerny, Éric Lacroux, Jean-François Fabre, Romain Valentin, Othmane Merah Biotechnology Agronomy Society and Environment, 2023 Description of the subject. Spanish sage or chia (Salvia hispanica) has attracted increasing interest over the last decade due to the composition of its seeds. It is now cultivated in several European countries. Objectives. The aims of this study were to investigate the oil content and composition of seeds from chia cultivated over a three-year period in South-West France. Method. The cultivar Oruro (Panam, France) was used for this study. It was cultivated in 2014, 2015 and 2017 at Villemur-sur-Tarn (South-West France). Oil, ash and protein contents (Kjeldahl) was assessed, fatty acids (GC-FID), sterols (GC), tocopherols (HPLC) composition was determined on seeds. Results. Cultivation year affected oil, protein and ash contents, and the content and composition of fatty acid, sterols and tocopherols. Oil (range of 30.6-34.7%) and ash (4.8-5.2%) contents were higher in 2014 and 2015 (higher rainfall than 2017). Protein content was higher in 2017 (21.7%) than in the other two years (17.5-19.9%). This trend was expected, given the negative correlation between oil and protein contents. Polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated, and their levels were highest in 2015 and lowest in 2017. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid levels followed the opposite pattern (lowest in 2015 and highest in 2017). Sterols and tocopherols accumulated to higher levels in the seeds in 2014 than in 2017. Conclusions. All the seed quality traits of chia cultivated in France were affected by the climatic conditions of the year of cultivation.
Oil body extraction from oleo-proteaginous seeds and conservation of valuable native compounds Jean-François Fabre, Eric Lacroux, Muriel Cerny, Guadalupe Vaca-Medina, Audrey Cassen, Othmane Merah, Romain Valentin, Zéphirin Mouloungui OCL Oilseeds and Fats Crops and Lipids, 2023 Oil bodies, also called oleosomes have been the object of an increased interest since the last decade. Different processes of extraction and purification involve an aqueous crushing with methods to soften the cell membranes. An integrated process was used on different oilseeds to compare the different oil-body dispersions obtained. Once extracted with an aqueous crushing, oil bodies are dispersed in a creamy phase containing also an important protein content. Their stability depends on membranous proteins but also surrounding, extraneous ones. To eliminate these non-membranous proteins, the emulsion can be washed with different compounds allowing a good protein solubilization. If the fatty acid, phytosterol, tocopherol contents and distribution are compared between seeds and dispersions of oil bodies, there appears to be little significant change. These valuable compounds are hence preserved in the oil bodies. However, aqueous crushing releases phospholipase partly explaining the lower phospholipid content and the higher relative concentration of phosphatidic acid. To preserve these emulsions, it is possible to dry them either through freeze-drying or spray-drying. Spray-drying allows a better recovery of the physical structure of the emulsion after rehydration but cryo-protectants as Tris or Glycerol can limit emulsion degradation provoked by hard mechanical constraints of a freeze-drying process.
Extraction and Physicochemical Composition of Irvingia gabonensis Almond Oil: A Potential Healthy Source of Lauric-Myristic Oil Sidrine Kerthy Koumba Ibinga, Muriel Cerny, Eric Lacroux, Jean-François Fabre, Romain Valentin, Othmane Merah, Raphaël Bikanga, Zéphirin Mouloungui Separations, 2022 Irvingia gabonensis is a non-timber forest product, whose fruit contains an edible fat-rich kernel. This fat can be used not only in human food but also as a source of raw materials in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. This work aimed to provide a physicochemical description of components present in the almonds and butter of I. gabonensis. Oil was extracted by soxhlet and hot-pressing from almonds. Cryo-MEB analyses allowed the observation of oleosomes in which the triglycerides of almonds are located. The triglyceride profile and the fatty acids profile of the butter were determined by gas chromatography, and a statistical analysis was performed. The thermal properties of oil were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that oil bodies have sizes ranging from 30 to 60 µm. With a 63.8 ± 0.2% fat content, I. gabonensis is composed of 98.4% triglycerides. The hot-pressing yield is 47.9%. The main triglycerides are essentially made up of lauric (38.5 ± 0.1%) and myristic (51.9 ± 0.2%) acids. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the butter melted at 43.4 °C and decomposed at 415.2 °C. These results show that I. gabonensis butter may be proposed as a good source of lauric acid for food and nutrition.
Exploring diversity of oleaginous plants to find potential new sources of oil bodies adapted to climate change N Barouh, E Lacroux, R Valentin, C Bourlieu-Lacanal, JF Fabre Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 22, 102013 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Impact of chia seed germination on its lipid composition and on its processability in water by an integrated process designed for the release of oil bodies É Lacroux, M Cerny, JF Fabre, R Valentin, O Merah LWT 223, 117802 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Development of an eco-fractionation process for Ricinodendron heudelotii oil to obtain α-eleostearic acid and β-eleostearic acid É Lacroux, D Nikiema, M Cerny, JF Fabre, Z Mouloungui, K Oi Koua, ... European Food Research and Technology 251 (1), 87-98 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Edible Oils and Oleochemistry Z Mouloungui, R Valentin, L Candy, JF Fabre, E Lacroux, O Merah, ... Green Chemistry and Agro-food Industry: Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy, 47-84 , 2024 2024
Extraction of C-PC from Arthrospira platensis : use of ultrasounds, organic solvents and deep eutectic solvents JF Fabre, NUF Niangoran, C Gaignard, D Buso, Z Mouloungui, R Valentin European Food Research and Technology 250 (4), 1149-1161 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
Overview of the establishment and uses of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Euphorbiaceae): focus on the central and southern regions of Ivory Coast D Nikiema, Z Mouloungui, KO Koua, B Sandjon, C Raynaud, M Cerny, ... OCL 31, 12 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Influence of the germination stage on processability in aqueous phase of chia seeds for the release of oil bodies R Valentin, É Lacroux, JF Fabre, M Cerny, O Merah 19th Euro Fed Lipid Congress and Expo , 2023 2023
Comparison of integrative processes of extraction of oil bodies from sunflower, oleic sunflower seeds and rapeseeds including or not dry fractionation steps L Eric, J Claudel, T De Lise-Braga, N Barouh, R Mélina, CA Assor, ... 3rd International Conference on Lipid Droplets & Oleosomes , 2023 2023
Alternative process of oleic sunflower or rapeseed oleosomes extraction including dry fractionation steps do not lead to chemical, enzymatic nor microbiological deterioration … J Claudel, N Barouh, É Lacroux, M Robert, CA Assor, V Lullien-Pellerin, ... 3rd International Conference on Lipid Droplets & Oleosomes , 2023 2023
Oil body extraction from oleo-proteaginous seeds and conservation of valuable native compounds JF Fabre, E Lacroux, M Cerny, G Vaca-Medina, A Cassen, O Merah, ... OCL 30, 26 , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
Effect of year of cultivation on the oil content and fatty acid composition of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) grown in France G Gravé, Z Mouloungui, M Cerny, É Lacroux, JF Fabre, R Valentin, ... BASE , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Study of the stability of Ricinodendron heudelotii oil: Effects of solar radiation on the chemical composition of the oil D Nikiema, É Lacroux, Z Mouloungui, KK Oi, C Raynaud, M Cerny, ... Industrial Crops and Products 188, 115552 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Extraction and Physicochemical Composition of Irvingia gabonensis Almond Oil: A Potential Healthy Source of Lauric-Myristic Oil SK Koumba Ibinga, M Cerny, E Lacroux, JF Fabre, R Valentin, O Merah, ... Separations 9 (8), 207 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Exploring plant biodiversity to extract oil bodies for sustainable food applications N Barouh, C Berton-Carabin, T Chardot, S D’andrea, JF Fabre, Y Gohon, ... AOCS Annual Meeting , 2022 2022
Extraction, purification and stability of C-phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis JF Fabre, U Niangoran, C Caignard, D Buso, Z Mouloungui, R Valentin European Food Research and Technology, 1583-1599 , 2022 2022 Citations: 59
Aqueous integrated process for the recovery of oil bodies or fatty acid emulsions from sunflower seeds A Cassen, JF Fabre, E Lacroux, M Cerny, G Vaca-Medina, Z Mouloungui, ... Biomolecules 12 (2), 149 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Oil content, fatty acid and phytosterol compositions of chia seeds cultivated under organic conditions in France G Gravé, Z Mouloungui, M Cerny, E Lacroux, R Valentin, JF Fabre, ... OCL 29, 32 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Puiser dans la biodiversité des graines pour en extraire des oléosomes aux fonctionnalités contrastées et adaptées aux systèmes alimentaires durables CA Assor, N Barouh, C Berton-Carabin, C Bourlieu-Lacanal, T Chardot, ... Colloque GRAINE , 2021 2021
Storming through plant biodiversity to extract oleosomes for sustainable food applications CA Assor, N Barouh, C Berton-Carabin, C Bourlieu-Lacanal, T Chardot, ... 16. GERLI Congress , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO 2 /treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on V oc and I sc values W Rahmalia, IH Silalahi, T Usman, JF Fabre, Z Mouloungui, G Zissis Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy 10 (2), 10 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Interfacial properties of oleosins and phospholipids from rapeseed for the stability of oil bodies in aqueous medium M Deleu, G Vaca-Medina, JF Fabre, J Roïz, R Valentin, Z Mouloungui Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 80 (2), 125-132 , 2010 2010 Citations: 155
Effects of cyclohexane/acetone ratio on bixin extraction yield by accelerated solvent extraction method W Rahmalia, JF Fabre, Z Mouloungui Procedia Chemistry 14, 455-464 , 2015 2015 Citations: 118
Ultrasonication as a highly efficient method of flaxseed mucilage extraction JF Fabre, E Lacroux, R Valentin, Z Mouloungui Industrial Crops and Products 65, 354-360 , 2015 2015 Citations: 97
Aprotic solvents effect on the UV–visible absorption spectra of bixin W Rahmalia, JF Fabre, T Usman, Z Mouloungui Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 131, 455-460 , 2014 2014 Citations: 80
Extraction, purification and stability of C-phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis JF Fabre, U Niangoran, C Caignard, D Buso, Z Mouloungui, R Valentin European Food Research and Technology, 1583-1599 , 2022 2022 Citations: 59
Atypical reaction media and organized systems for the synthesis of low-substitution sugar esters SK Koumba Ibinga, JF Fabre, R Bikanga, Z Mouloungui Frontiers in Chemistry 7, 587 , 2019 2019 Citations: 38
From chemical platform molecules to new biosolvents: Design engineering as a substitution methodology M Bergez‐Lacoste, S Thiebaud‐Roux, P De Caro, JF Fabre, V Gerbaud, ... Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 8 (3), 438-451 , 2014 2014 Citations: 35
Distribution of free amino acids, polyphenols and sugars of Ziziphus jujuba pulps harvested from plants grown in Tunisia M Elaloui, A Laamouri, J Fabre, C Mathieu, G Vilarem, B Hasnaoui Natural product research 29 (1), 94-97 , 2015 2015 Citations: 33
Coloured metallic shine associated to lustre decoration of glazed ceramics: a theoretical analysis of the optical properties O Bobin, M Schvoerer, JL Miane, JF Fabre Journal of non-crystalline solids 332 (1-3), 28-34 , 2003 2003 Citations: 31
Adsorption Characteristics of Bixin on Acid‐and Alkali‐Treated Kaolinite in Aprotic Solvents W Rahmalia, JF Fabre, T Usman, Z Mouloungui Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications 2018 (1), 3805654 , 2018 2018 Citations: 29
Extraction of camelina mucilage with ultrasound and high flow rate fluid circulation JF Fabre, E Lacroux, G Grave, Z Mouloungui Industrial Crops and Products 144, 112057 , 2020 2020 Citations: 28
Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO 2 /treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on V oc and I sc values W Rahmalia, IH Silalahi, T Usman, JF Fabre, Z Mouloungui, G Zissis Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy 10 (2), 10 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
Barriers to the release of flaxseed oil bodies and ways of overcoming them JF Fabre, E Lacroux, M Cerny, Z Mouloungui OCL Oilseeds and fats crops and lipids 22 (6), D607 , 2015 2015 Citations: 17
Oil body extraction from oleo-proteaginous seeds and conservation of valuable native compounds JF Fabre, E Lacroux, M Cerny, G Vaca-Medina, A Cassen, O Merah, ... OCL 30, 26 , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
Aqueous integrated process for the recovery of oil bodies or fatty acid emulsions from sunflower seeds A Cassen, JF Fabre, E Lacroux, M Cerny, G Vaca-Medina, Z Mouloungui, ... Biomolecules 12 (2), 149 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Oil content, fatty acid and phytosterol compositions of chia seeds cultivated under organic conditions in France G Gravé, Z Mouloungui, M Cerny, E Lacroux, R Valentin, JF Fabre, ... OCL 29, 32 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Self-assembling behavior of glycerol monoundecenoate in water G Nyame Mendendy Boussambe, R Valentin, JF Fabre, L Navailles, ... Langmuir 33 (13), 3223-3233 , 2017 2017 Citations: 10
Extraction of C-PC from Arthrospira platensis : use of ultrasounds, organic solvents and deep eutectic solvents JF Fabre, NUF Niangoran, C Gaignard, D Buso, Z Mouloungui, R Valentin European Food Research and Technology 250 (4), 1149-1161 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
Study of the stability of Ricinodendron heudelotii oil: Effects of solar radiation on the chemical composition of the oil D Nikiema, É Lacroux, Z Mouloungui, KK Oi, C Raynaud, M Cerny, ... Industrial Crops and Products 188, 115552 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Extraction and Physicochemical Composition of Irvingia gabonensis Almond Oil: A Potential Healthy Source of Lauric-Myristic Oil SK Koumba Ibinga, M Cerny, E Lacroux, JF Fabre, R Valentin, O Merah, ... Separations 9 (8), 207 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7