Abstract
This study assessed the effect of processing method on the carotenoid profile of oil from three varieties of Nigerian oil palm fruits (Elaise guinensis). Specific varieties of the Elaise guinensis, which are the dura, pesifera and tenera were obtained from National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) in Edo state, Nigeria. The samples were divided into two and processed using two different methods as commonly practiced in south-eastern Nigeria, the hot and cold processes. The oil extracted from each of the processes was then analyzed for oil characteristics using standard analytical methods while the carotenoid profile was analyzed using HPLC C-21 column. The results generated were subjected to the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of carotenoid constituent identified include: lutein, neurosporene (trans), neurosporene (cis), α-Zeacarotene(cis), α-Zeacarotene(trans), phytoene, phytofluene, β-zeacarotene, 13 and 13’ cis α-carotene, 13 cis β-carotene, trans α-carotene, 9 cis α-carotene, trans β-carotene, αcarotene a(cis), α-carotene b(cis), α-carotene (trans), γ-carotene (trans), γ-carotene b(cis), lycopene (cis) and lycopene (trans). The results of physicochemical characteristics of the oil samples extracted range from 0.922 ± 0.004 - 0.916 ± 0.001 for specific gravity (SG), 8.10 ± 0.17 - 4.88 ± 0.04 mg KOH/g for acid value, 4.29% ± 0.02% - 2.44% ± 0.02% for free fatty acid value (FFA), 6.00 ± 0.21 to 204.67 ± 0.98 mgKOH/g for saponification value and 9.53 ± 0.23 - 5.25 ± 0.33 mEq/kg; for peroxide value while the carotenoids values were between 53.735 ± 0.10 and 123.389 ± 0.20 mg/100g. From the result, we can observe that the main constituent of the palm oil carotenoid is the β-carotene which makes up to about 80% of the total carotene. Statistical analysis revealed that no significant difference exists between the mean of each of the processing methods on the carotenoid profile of the oil sample analyzed.
Highlights
The oil palm tree is one of the important economic crops in the tropics
This study assessed the effect of processing method on the carotenoid profile of oil from three varieties of Nigerian oil palm fruits (Elaise guinensis)
Specific varieties of the Elaise guinensis, which are the dura, pesifera and tenera were obtained from National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) in Edo state, Nigeria
Summary
The oil palm tree is one of the important economic crops in the tropics. It is a monocotyledon belonging to Genus of Elaeis. The genus Elaeis consists of two species, namely E. guinensis and E. oleifera. Carotenoids are made-up of a pigment family containing over 700 different species, consisting of a C-40 polyene backbone with conjugated double bonds. Their structure could be modified at one or both ends, that is, cyclization or the introduction of oxygen to yield different species. The carotenoids give the palm oil its characteristic colour [4] [5] These pigments have been used mainly in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The present work aims to assess the effects of processing methods on physicochemical properties and carotenoids’ profiles of oils from three varieties of Elaeis guinensis
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