Study on some functional and compositional properties of yak butter lipid

The present experiment was performed to determine some functional properties of yak butter lipids such as lipid class composition; conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) composition, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis, tyrosinase inhibition activity and antioxidant property. Yak butter lipids composition contained 98% triacylglycerols, 0.9% free fatty acids, 0.32% free sterols and 0.27% phospholipids. The CLA content in yak butter was 2.5% and the major portion was of cis ‐9 and trans ‐11 (90%). The DSC analysis of yak butter lipids showed a similar path for transition temperature as cow butter lipids, although the enthalpy of yak lipid was higher (40.0 mJ/mg) compared to cow butter lipids (32.0 mJ/mg). Melting point of yak butter was observed at 41°C. Yak butter with lactic acid, NaCl, citric acid and ascorbic acid showed pronounced tyrosinase inhibition activity. Vegetable oils blended with yak butter have extended the oxidation induction time.