ISSN: 2574-187X
Authors: Adaora ES1*, Bamgboye AO2 and Ethelbert OC3
Seed oil has been used as an alternative cooking oil due to its bioactive components and nutritional properties, which benefit human health. The cocoplum, a genus of Chrysobalanus icaco L, is a seed rich in oil containing dietary fatty acids to prevent oxidative damage, blood lipid, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to provide information on the physicochemical parameters, percentage (%) composition of fatty acids present, functional groups assignment, and phytochemistry of cocoplum seed oil. The physicochemical analysis was investigated, and the result of parameters such as the density (0.9583 g/cm3), moisture content (7.4%), refractive index (1.479 at 40 oC), acid value (5.34 mg KOH/g), saponification value (194.1 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (ranging from 3.02 to 6.50, 5.02 to8.95 and 6.02 to 10.05 when the oil was exposed to contact air, temperature, and combination of contact air/temperature during the storage period) and iodine value (5.219 g) were obtained. The Origin Pro 2019 statistical software was used for data analysis. The oil sample extracted from the cocoplum has a golden yellow color with a pleasant odor. The oil sample has a pH of 7.23, which is safe for human consumption. The phytochemistry screening revealed that cocoplum seed oil contains flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, quinones, cardiac glycosides, and betacyanin, which improve the human heart and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The FTIR of the cocoplum seed oil indicated the presence of aldehydes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and esters. The GC-FID instrument determining the % composition of fatty acids revealed that seed oil has four primary abundant fatty acids. They include stearic (24.99%), oleic (20.5%), linoleic (13.1%), and palmitic (5.99%). These compounds are vital in preventing the human body from chronic diseases and other oxidative damage. Therefore, it can be concluded that cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco L) seed oil can be recommended as the best dietary oil due to its therapeutic properties, nutritional value, affordability, and safety.
Keywords: Cocoplum; Fatty Acid; Cholesterol; Chronic; Oxidative Damage
