Abstract
Increasing world population has markedly increased the demand for vegetable oils for domestic and industrial purposes. Plant-based vegetable oils have been identified as one of the oils with high nutritive value. Castor plant is one of the oilseed with rich oil content owing to its high monounsaturated fatty acid and bioactive compounds. Its fatty acid profile constitutes mainly of ricinoleic acid and other minor acids such as stearic, palmitic, and oleic acid. Ricinoleic acid of castor oil is unique among all other vegetable oils, making it attractive for a wide spectrum of applications. The predominant triglyceride component in the oil is triricinolein. Minor biological compounds including carotenoid, tocopherol, tocotrienol, phytosterol, phospholipid, phytochemical, and phenolic compounds are present in castor oil. These compounds offer oxidation stability, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties to the oil. The acid, anisidine, iodine, viscosity, and saponification values indicate that castor has good oil quality compared to other vegetable oils. Castor oil composition is influenced by the area of production and method of extraction adopted. The chemical structure of castor oil is centered on the ricinoleic acid and three major functional groups linked by glycerol moiety. More research on the oil’s component is being investigated nevertheless efficient and eco-friendly extraction methods are required. This review, therefore, summarizes the castor oil composition namely the triglyceride, various fatty acids and bioactive compounds, extraction methods, as well as its physicochemical properties.
Highlights
Ricinus communis is an annual oilseed crop commonly known as castor
Castor plant is one of the non-oilseed with high nutritional value owing to its rich amount of monounsaturated fatty acid (90%) and bioactive active compounds such as vitamin E component, phospholipids, phenolics among others (Said et al, 2016; Sbihi et al, 2018)
Phytosterols are important in human diet owing to their decreasing serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (Velasco et al, 2015). They are greatly recommended as elements for a broad range of fortified foods and, a better understanding of the individual phytosterols content in castor oil may contribute to its potential use in the food industry
Summary
Ricinus communis is an annual oilseed crop commonly known as castor. It is sometimes called castor bean, but it’s not a true bean in nature. Castor plant is one of the non-oilseed with high nutritional value owing to its rich amount of monounsaturated fatty acid (90%) and bioactive active compounds such as vitamin E component (tocopherols or tocotrienols), phospholipids, phenolics among others (Said et al, 2016; Sbihi et al, 2018). These compounds account for castor oils stability and flavor making it suitable for many purposes (Sedeek et al, 2012). This review compares the physicochemical properties and composition of castor oil with other vegetable oils
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