Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk

Phospholipids (PLs) are a group of biomolecules found in the milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs). Recently, MFGM phospholipids have attracted increasing amounts of attention due to their unique composition, stability, and potential health benefits, including protective effects against Alzheimer’s dis...

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Main Authors: Marika Di Paolo, Valeria Pelizzola, Lucia De Luca, Loriana Casalino, Giulia Polizzi, Milena Povolo, Raffaele Marrone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2756
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author Marika Di Paolo
Valeria Pelizzola
Lucia De Luca
Loriana Casalino
Giulia Polizzi
Milena Povolo
Raffaele Marrone
author_facet Marika Di Paolo
Valeria Pelizzola
Lucia De Luca
Loriana Casalino
Giulia Polizzi
Milena Povolo
Raffaele Marrone
author_sort Marika Di Paolo
collection DOAJ
description Phospholipids (PLs) are a group of biomolecules found in the milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs). Recently, MFGM phospholipids have attracted increasing amounts of attention due to their unique composition, stability, and potential health benefits, including protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease, hypercholesterolemia, and certain types of cancer. Although buffalo milk is the second most commonly produced milk and has high nutritional value, few studies have focused on the properties of buffalo MFGM. This study investigates the PLs composition of buffalo milk and related dairy by-products (whey and buttermilk). Milk and whey were collected from two dairy farms (A—small and B—big) to produce mozzarella buffalo cheese (high-pasteurization milk for GDO production and low for local); while buttermilk was obtained from a butter-making farm. Phospholipids were purified by a solid-phase extraction method and then identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC/ELSD). Five classes of phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and sphingomyelin (SM)] were identified. The thermal process of milk did not significantly affect the PLs milk. However, local whey showed a higher concentration of total PLs than GDO, which was mainly represented by PE followed by PC content. Farm A exhibited higher PL content than B, particularly with a greater concentration of SM. Buttermilk showed the lowest PLs content. These findings offer valuable insights for the dairy industry and related applications, contributing to the valorization of buffalo dairy products.
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spelling doaj-art-034095a564564ac49e20beecfbc10d9c2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-08-011415275610.3390/foods14152756Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and ButtermilkMarika Di Paolo0Valeria Pelizzola1Lucia De Luca2Loriana Casalino3Giulia Polizzi4Milena Povolo5Raffaele Marrone6Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, ItalyResearch Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture (CREA-ZA), Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Economic and Legal Sciences, Universitas Mercatorum, 00186 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyResearch Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture (CREA-ZA), Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, ItalyPhospholipids (PLs) are a group of biomolecules found in the milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs). Recently, MFGM phospholipids have attracted increasing amounts of attention due to their unique composition, stability, and potential health benefits, including protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease, hypercholesterolemia, and certain types of cancer. Although buffalo milk is the second most commonly produced milk and has high nutritional value, few studies have focused on the properties of buffalo MFGM. This study investigates the PLs composition of buffalo milk and related dairy by-products (whey and buttermilk). Milk and whey were collected from two dairy farms (A—small and B—big) to produce mozzarella buffalo cheese (high-pasteurization milk for GDO production and low for local); while buttermilk was obtained from a butter-making farm. Phospholipids were purified by a solid-phase extraction method and then identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC/ELSD). Five classes of phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and sphingomyelin (SM)] were identified. The thermal process of milk did not significantly affect the PLs milk. However, local whey showed a higher concentration of total PLs than GDO, which was mainly represented by PE followed by PC content. Farm A exhibited higher PL content than B, particularly with a greater concentration of SM. Buttermilk showed the lowest PLs content. These findings offer valuable insights for the dairy industry and related applications, contributing to the valorization of buffalo dairy products.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2756technological processingby-productsHPLC/ELSDthermal process
spellingShingle Marika Di Paolo
Valeria Pelizzola
Lucia De Luca
Loriana Casalino
Giulia Polizzi
Milena Povolo
Raffaele Marrone
Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
Foods
technological processing
by-products
HPLC/ELSD
thermal process
title Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
title_full Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
title_fullStr Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
title_short Effect of Technological Process and Temperature on Phospholipids in Buffalo Milk, Whey and Buttermilk
title_sort effect of technological process and temperature on phospholipids in buffalo milk whey and buttermilk
topic technological processing
by-products
HPLC/ELSD
thermal process
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2756
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