Question:

Animals fed with cotton seed meal show higher amount of which of the following fatty acids in ghee from cotton tract area ?
(A) Caprylic acid
(B) Caproic acid
(C) Capric acid
(D) Lauric acid
Choose the correct options from the options given below :

Show Hint

Cotton tract ghee has a higher melting point because cottonseed inhibits fatty acid desaturation in the mammary gland. This leads to higher levels of saturated fatty acids (like capric and lauric) and lower levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
  • (B) and (C) only.
  • (B) and (D) only.
  • (C) and (D) only.
  • (A) and (B) only.
Show Solution
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The diet of dairy animals directly affects the fatty acid profile of their milk fat (ghee).
Cottonseed feeding is common in the "cotton tract" regions of India, resulting in ghee with distinct chemical properties.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Cottonseed contains cyclopropenoid fatty acids (such as sterculic and malvalic acids).
When cows or buffaloes consume cottonseed, these compounds inhibit the \(\Delta^9\)-desaturase enzyme in the mammary gland.
This enzyme is responsible for converting saturated fatty acids (like stearic acid) into monounsaturated fatty acids (like oleic acid).
Inhibiting this enzyme leads to a significant increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids in the milk fat.
Specifically, research on cotton tract ghee shows an increase in medium-chain and long-chain saturated fatty acids, including Capric acid (C10:0) (C) and Lauric acid (C12:0) (D), alongside palmitic and stearic acids.
Conversely, the levels of short-chain volatile fatty acids like butyric, caproic (B), and caprylic (A) acids are typically reduced.
This increase in saturated fatty acids raises the melting point of cotton tract ghee, giving it a firmer, more granular texture at room temperature.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct option is (C), which includes (C) and (D) only.
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