Shea Nut Oil Research Articles

Oil produced from Ghana Shea Nut crop for prospective industrial applications

Though little research has been done, shea nut oil (Shea Butter), is a promising shea product with great potential for use in industrial shea product manufacture. To assess the oil obtained from the shea nuts for personal, commercial, and industrial use, this study focuses on the extraction process, the optimal solvent for extraction, thermodynamics and kinetic studies, and characterization of the oil. Using different solvents as well as extraction temperatures and times, the oil was extracted using the solvent extraction method. Moreover, models of thermodynamics and kinetics were used in examining the Shea nut oil extraction at different durations and temperatures. At the highest temperature of 333 K (at 130min), the highest oil yields of 70.2 % and 59.9 % for n-hexane and petroleum ether, respectively, were obtained, following first order kinetics. For both petroleum ether and n-hexane, the regression coefficient (R2) was 1. For the extraction with n-hexane and petroleum ether, the mass transfer coefficient (Km), activation energy (Ea), entropy change (ΔS), enthalpy change (ΔH), and Gibb's free energy (ΔG) were, respectively, (0.0098 ± 0.0061 and 0.0123 ± 0.0084) min−1, 74.59 kJ mol−1 and 88.65 kJ mol−1, (−236.15 ± 0.16 and −235.63 ± 0.17) J/mol K, (71.88 ± 0.06 and 85.94 ± 0.06) kJ/mol, and (148.75 ± 1.52 and 162.46 ± 1.52) kJ/mol. These values favor an irreversible, forward, endothermic, and spontaneous process. Gas chromatography analysis was used to identify the principal fatty acids in the oil, which include stearic acid (52 %), oleic acid (30 %), and linoleic acid (3 %), as well as various minor fatty acids. The oil's potential bonds and functional groups were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared analysis, and the physicochemical parameters such as the iodine value, peroxide value, acid and free fatty acid values were found to be within acceptable ranges for use in domestic, commercial, and industrial settings.

Shea Nut Oil Extracts Enhance the Intra-Articular Sodium Hyaluronate Effectiveness on Surgically Induced OA Progression in Rats.

Osteoarthritis (OA) progression is associated with joint pain and stiffness. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) injection in knee OA restores the viscoelasticity of the joint and prevents cartilage damage. Shea nut oil extract (SNO) was shown to provide chondroprotection on surgically-induced OA progression in rats. Here we aim to examine IAHA injection supplemented with SNO diet for a synergetic evaluation on the disease progression in OA rats. We employed an anterior cruciate ligament transection plus medial meniscectomy-induced knee OA rat model with up to 12 weeks of sign/behavior observation (knee width, weight-bearing) and histological assessments of joint damage. We found both IAHA and SNO alone significantly attenuated histological changes of cartilage degeneration and synovial reactions in these knee OA rats. Nonetheless, oral SNO alone mitigated OA pain and inflammation while IAHA alone had no significant impact on the weight-bearing test and knee joint swelling. Moreover, with IAHA-treated rats fed with oral SNO diet, additional anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects were found, which further enhanced and maintained IAHA protection. Given the differential phenotype of oral SNO vs. IAHA, a regimen of IAHA coupled with SNO supplement provides a long-term effect of IAHA treatment. Taken together, the SNO supplement can be safely used as an adjuvant diet for chronic symptomatic relief of OA coupled with IAHA management.

Oral shea nut oil triterpene concentrate supplement ameliorates pain and histological assessment of articular cartilage deterioration in an ACLT injured rat knee osteoarthritis model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial joint disease and a common disabling condition in the elderly population. The associated pain and pathohistological changes in cartilage are common features of OA in both humans and animal models. Shea nut oil extract (SheaFlex75) contains a high triterpenoid concentration and has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic effects in both human and animal studies. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential of SheaFlex75 to prevent articular cartilage deterioration in a rat model of chronic OA progression. By employing anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MMx)-induced OA, we found attenuation of both early and chronic onset OA pain and cartilage degeneration in ACLT+MMx rats receiving SheaFlex75 dietary supplementation. Under long-term oral administration, the rats with induced OA presented sustained protection of both pain and OA cartilage integrity compared to the OA-control rats. Moreover, rats subjected to long-term SheaFlex75 ingestion showed normal biochemical profiles (AST, BUN and total cholesterol) and presented relatively lower triglycerides (TGs) and body weights than the OA-control rats, which suggested the safety of prolonged use of this oil extract. Based on the present evidence, preventive management is advised to delay/prevent onset and progression in OA patients. Therefore, we suggest that SheaFlex75 may be an effective management strategy for symptom relief and cartilage protection in patients with both acute and chronic OA.

Comparative studies on the production of biodiesel from shea nut oil by acid catalyzed and supercritical transesterification processes

Shea nut oil has been confirmed as a feasible and sustainable biofuel source and may be used to improve the economics of biodiesel production. However, there is need to evaluate the best route for achieving optimum yield and best quality. Therefore, two processes were investigated in this study - acid catalyzed and supercritical transesterification processes. Shea nut seeds were collected, its oil mechanically extracted thereafter, and the physiochemical properties were analyzed. In the acid catalysed process, shea nut oil was transesterified into biodiesel using ethanol with sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) as a catalyst. This gave a conversion of between 55wt% and 90wt% for temperatures between 20 o C and 90 o C. The optimum ratio of ethanol/oil was found to be 30:1 at 80 o C for reaction time of 120 minutes. While for supercritical transesterification process (without acid), the conversion was between 55wt% and 82.5wt% at temperatures between 220 o C and 300 o C. However, the optimum condition here was 20:1 ethanol/oil molar ratio, at 240 o C and 24 minutes reaction time. The biodiesel properties produced were evaluated and most of these conformed to Biodiesel Standard, ASTM D- 6751 and the international standard, EN-14214. Also, the properties of Biodiesel produced by supercritical process seem better compared to that from the acid catalyzed process in line with the ASTM D – 6751 and EN-14214 standards, thus a better option for diesel engines making supercritical transesterification a preferred option for biodiesel production from shea nut oil. Keywords: Sheanut, biodiesel, transesterification, acid-catalysed, supercritical, conversion

Effect of Chemical Interesterification on the Physicochemical Characteristics and Fatty Acid Profile of Bakery Shortening Produced from Shea Butter and Fluted Pumpkin Seed Oil Blend

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of chemical interesterification, as a modification process on the physicochemical properties and fatty acid profile of bakery shortening produced from a blend of Shea stearin and fluted pumpkin seed oil. The Shea nut oil was fractionated, and the solid stearin fraction blended with fluted pumpkin seed oil in the following ratios: 30:70, 40:60, 50:50,and 60:40 (Shea stearin: fluted pump seed oil), The blends were stabilized with recommended additives such as; distilled monoglyceride (E471) and preservatives such as; citric acid (E330), BHT (E321), homogenized by continuous stirring and crystalized by cooling at 17°C, then tempered at 23 – 25°C for 48h, to attain a stable polymorphic form, used as non-interesterified blends (NIEBs). Another set of 30:70; 40:60; 50:50; and 60:40 (Shea stearin: fluted pumpkin seed oil), were chemically interesterified with sodium methoxide (CH3ONa) as catalyst, crystalized, stabilized, and used as chemically interesterified blends (CIEBs).The chemical properties, physical characteristics (including solid fat content), and the fatty acid profile of all the chemically interesterified (CIEB) and the non-interesterified (NIEB) samples were determined. There was no significant (p>0.05) change in the peroxide value, iodine value, and the refractive index of NIEBs and there corresponding CIEBs. The acid value, free fatty acids, slip melting point, density, and solid fat content were significantly (p<0.05) reduced after interesterification. Interesterification caused rearrangement of triacylglycerol species, resulting in increased unsaturated fraction and reduction in the saturated fraction. Interesterification gave fats with wide plastic range suitable for bakery fats, icing-shortening, filler fats, and all-purpose shortenings.

Determination of Physical Properties and Crystallization Kinetics of Oil From Allanblackia Seeds and Shea Nuts Under Different Thermal Conditions

In this study, the fatty acid content, melting and cooling profiles, crystallization properties at different cooling rates and kinetics of crystallization of Allanblackia seed oil (ASO) and shea nut oil (SNO) are investigated. The fatty acid content is determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The melting and cooling profiles, crystallization, and crystallization kinetics are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the fat morphology is investigated using polarized light microscopy. The GC/MS results showed that ASO contains a high amount of saturated fats as compared with SNO. The DSC analysis revealed that ASO has a high melting temperature of 35.3 ± 2.1 °C and crystallizes earlier (16.8 ± 0.3 °C) in the constant rate cooling experiments. The crystallization patterns of both oils are observed to be dependent on the cooling rate. Under isothermal conditions, it is observed that both ASO and SNO shows high and low melting peaks with the low melting peak disappearing as the crystallization progressed. The Avrami model is used to estimate the crystallization kinetics of the oils under the isothermal conditions and it is inferred that ASO has a faster nucleation and subsequent crystal growth as compared with SNO. At room temperature SNO formed overlapping fat crystal particles while ASO gave distinct crystallized fat fractions during the crystallization at room temperature, as shown by the polarized light microscopy.Practical Application: The high melting temperature, the rate and the nature of crystallization of Allanblackia seed oil gives it good material functionality and desired plasticity, properties associated with possible industrial application. Additionally, the presence of high stearic acid content makes the Allanblackia seed oil a healthy choice for food, hence, it can be used as a substitute for cocoa butter in the food industry.The appearance of fat crystals during the crystallization at isothermal conditions at 16 °C of the Allanblackia seed oil.

Shea Nut Oil Triterpene Concentrate Attenuates Knee Osteoarthritis Development in Rats: Evidence from Knee Joint Histology.

BackgroundShea nut oil triterpene concentrate is considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditionally, it has been used to treat arthritic conditions in humans. This study aimed to investigate the effect of attenuating osteoarthritis (OA)-induced pain and joint destruction in rats by administering shea nut oil triterpene concentrate (SheaFlex75, which is more than 50% triterpenes).MethodsAn anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MMx) was used to induce OA in male Wistar rats. Different doses of SheaFlex75 (111.6 mg/kg, 223.2 mg/kg, and 446.4 mg/kg) were then intragastrically administered daily for 12 weeks after surgery. Body weight and the width of the knee joint were measured weekly. Additionally, incapacitance tests were performed at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 to measure the weight bearing of the hind limbs, and the morphology and histopathology of the medial femoral condyles were examined and were evaluated using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring system.ResultsThis study showed that SheaFlex75 reduced the swelling of the knee joint with OA and rectified its weight bearing after ACLT plus MMx surgery in rats. Treatment with SheaFlex75 also decreased ACLT plus MMx surgery-induced knee joint matrix loss and cartilage degeneration.ConclusionSheaFlex75 relieves the symptoms of OA and protects cartilage from degeneration. SheaFlex75 thus has the potential to be an ideal nutraceutical supplement for joint protection, particularly for injured knee joints.

Fat Quality and Cold Saponification of Shea Nut (Vitellaria paradoxa) Fat Extract

Aims: To extract, carry out chemical analyses and saponify shea nut fat. Study Design: Triplicate Chemical analysis using standard procedures was employed. Place and Duration of Study: Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science & Technology, Aliero, Nigeria. Methodology: Shea nut fat was extracted in a soxhlet apparatus using analytical grade hexane (nhexane) as refluxing or extracting solvent for the work. At the completion of the extraction process the oil was recovered from the mixture by evaporating the residual extracting solvent in an oven set at 50°C and stored in the bottle. This process was repeated until a substantial quantity of oil was achieved. Each batch of extraction lasted for about 5 hours on the average. Standard reported procedures were used to carried out the chemical analyses. Results: The powdered seed gave 38.74% oil with density of 0.96g/ cm3. The oil is yellowish in color before it solidified to fat at room temperature. Chemical analysis of the oil reveals saponification value 166.10±0.84mgKOH/g, iodine value53.54±0.39g I2/100g, acid value of 14.26±0.33mgKOH/g and free fatty acid value of 4.20±0.04. A simple coldprocess alkali hydrolysis of the shea nut oil was used to produce a brown colored soap with a foam height of 31cm3. The chemical properties of the soap were 58.66 % total fatty matter , 0.57 % total alkali, 1.26 % percentage chloride, and pH of 10.7. Original Research Article Warra and Komo; JSRR, Article no. JSRR.2014.002 661 Conclusion: Due to the favorable chemical characteristics of the soap in comparison with literature reports, it can be used as cosmetic toilet soap especially when other ingredients such as sequesterants, silicates and glycerine are added.

Recent Advances towards Validating Efficacy and Safety of African Traditional Medicines

Recent Advances towards Validating Efficacy and Safety of African Traditional Medicines

Validating Efficacy of Shea Nut Oil Extract in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Objectives. To examine and investigate the efficacy of shea nut oil extract (SheaFlex75) in relation to knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Thirty-three patients (age 63.6 ± 5.8 years) with knee OA were recruited. Real-time ultrasound imaging and surface electromyography were used to objectively assess the morphological changes and the activity of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscles during a 16-week intervention of SheaFlex75. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to examine the reliability of the interscans. A paired-sample t-test was used to compare the findings in different stages. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the relevant variables of OA and percentage of thickness change of VMO at different contraction levels. Results. The baseline findings showed strong correlation, suggesting that the reliability of interscans at pretest was high. The ability to contract the muscles of the knee to a 30% contraction level showed significant change between the baseline and after 16-week testing, both in terms of morphological changes and muscle activity. Pain scale reported a significant decrease at the 16th week. Conclusion. The results suggest that SheaFlex75 can relieve the symptoms of knee OA and can result in improvement of muscle control of the knee.

Characterization of starch Pickering emulsions for potential applications in topical formulations

The aim of this work has been to characterize starch based Pickering emulsions as a first step to evaluate their possible use as vehicles for topical drug delivery. A minor phase study of emulsions with high oil content has been performed. Emulsion stability against coalescence over eight weeks and after mild centrifugation treatment has been studied. The particle size, rheological properties and in vitro skin penetration of emulsions containing three different oils (Miglyol, paraffin and sheanut oil) was investigated. It was shown that it is possible to produce oil in water starched stabilised Pickering emulsions with oil content as high as 56%. Furthermore, this emulsions show good stability during storage over eight weeks and towards mild centrifugation. The particle size of the systems are only dependent on the ratio between oil and starch and for liquid oils the type of oil do not affect the particle size. The type of oil also affects the cosmetic and rheological properties of the creams but did not affect the transdermal diffusion in in vitro tests. However, it seems as if the Pickering emulsions affected the transport over the skin, as the flux was twice that of what has been previously reported for solutions.

Investigation of the Quenching Properties of Selected Media on 6061 Aluminum Alloy

Specimens of 6061 Aluminum alloy were prepared and quenched in water, sheanut oil and palm oil at temperature of 400℃, 450℃ and 530℃ to determine the effect of variation in temperature and quenching media on some mechanical properties and the microstructure of the alloy. Standard specimens from the rapidly quenched alloys were subject to various tests to determine their ultimate tensile strength, hardness and impact strength. The results showed that the specimen heat-treated to 530℃ and quenched in water has the highest tensile strength of 109 N/mm2and yield strength of 70.89 N/mm2. The specimen heated at 530℃ and quenched in water gave the highest value of 35.50 in hardness (HRC). The toughness property of the alloy, as indicated by Charpy impact values, is better at 530℃ for specimen quenched in sheanut oil and least impact strength is observed in specimen quenched in water at 400℃.

A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Parallel Group Study Demonstrates Analgesic Effects of Sheanut Oil Extract [BSP-201] in Exercise Induced Muscle Tenderness

Objectives: Oral sheanut oil extract [BSP-201] is an active bio-complex obtained from a fraction of sheanut oil with approximately 50 to 70 percent unsaponifiables that reduced dose-dependently interleukin-6 production from the rat pristine-induced peritonitis exudates cells. The primary objective of this placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of BSP-201 on development of post-exercise muscle tenderness.Methods: Three grams of BSP-201 or placebo was given orally daily in 4 × 750 mg soft gel capsules for 22 days to 20 healthy men aged, 26 ± 0.61 years [mean ± standard deviation] in a double-blind, randomized control study. Subjects carried out an intensive eccentric exercise of the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the left hand on a standardized hand exerciser on the day 14. Muscle tenderness was tested on days 0, 14 [before exercise], 14 [immediately after exercise], 15 [one day after exercise], 16 [two days after exercise with maximal tenderness], and 22 [eight days after exercise] by pressure algometry.Results: Muscle tenderness on days 0 and 14 [before exercise] was not different in the two groups. Muscle tenderness was significantly reduced [24.3 ± 4.8 mm] in the group that consumed BSP-201 as compared to the placebo group [47.4 ± 6.5 mm] at day 14 [immediately after, P < 0.01] and at day 16 [P < 0.04] after the exercise. None of the participants reported any adverse effects.Conclusion: Oral administration of BSP-201 reduces muscle tenderness after eccentric exercise presumably by inhibiting the muscle inflammatory processes via a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6.

QUADRATIC MODEL TO ESTIMATE THE DOSES CAUSING THE HIGHEST CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATION AND THE SAME CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATION AS CONTROL GROUP

High plasma cholesterol (particularly high LDL-cholesterol) is a high risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), which causes a high CHD morbidity and mortality. Besides clinical drugs, more and more interest is focused on finding natural components in the diet that may have hypocholesterolemic effects. Plant sterols are natural components in human diets and found to have cholesterol-lowering effects in humans. Sheanut oil has a relatively high amolmt of plant sterols. Therefore, the two experiments were designed to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of sheanut oil in hamsters. The response was not monotonic. Low doses increased plasma cholesterol, but high doses decreased plasma cholesterol. Because there was partial dose repetition between the two experiments, the two were combined together to estimate the dose leading to the highest cholesterol concentration and the dose leading to the same cholesterol concentration as the control group. A quadratic model was selected to fit the combined data after appropriate transformation of exploratory and response variable. Nonparametric smoothing method was used to justify the quadratic model. The results of point estimation and confidence interval were compared by Delta, Fieller's and bootstrapping methods.

An assessment of the carcinogenic potential of shea oleine in the rat

Shea oleine, an oil fraction derived from the nut of the tree Butyrospermum parkii, is used as a frying oil. As part of a series of studies, this investigation examined the carcinogenic potential of 15% (w/w) shea oleine in comparison with 15% (w/w) sheanut oil, and palm oil following dietary administration to rats over 104 weeks. The assessment comprised an evaluation of mortality, clinical signs, body weight, food intake, clinical pathology, organ weights and macroscopic and histopathological examination plus tumour type and incidence evaluation. Results showed that shea oleine produced no adverse effects and no evidence of tumorigenic potential compared to other commercially available sheanut and palm oils in the rat. Notable differences were confined to reduced body weight gain and food intake, reduced cholesterol and increased alkaline phosphatase levels, reduced heart weight and an increased incidence of pulmonary lipidosis with shea oleine diets. The latter effect may reflect a naturally lower incidence of this finding with palm oil diets. Tumour findings, specific to shea oleine diets, were restricted to an increase in the number of hepatomas for females, pancreatic exocrine adenomas for males and skin keratoacanthomas for males fed shea oleine diets. The increase in the incidence of hepatomas with treatment was thought to be related to the high fat content of the diets. The incidence of these tumour findings was similar to that given in published data for the Wistar rat, or the ‘in house’ values for tumour incidence in rats fed high-fat diets. In conclusion, none of the findings in this study were considered to be adverse effects. In comparison with other commercially available edible oils, shea oleine showed no tumorigenic potential following dietary administration at 7.5 g/kg/day in the rat.

Effect of plant sterols from rice bran oil and triterpene alcohols from sheanut oil on serum lipoprotein concentrations in humans

Intake of unsaponifiable compounds from edible oils, such as plant sterols, can lower serum cholesterol concentrations in humans. However, little is known about effects of other chemically related unsaponifiables in edible oils, such as triterpene alcohols. We studied the effects of plant sterols from rice bran oil and triterpene alcohols from sheanut oil on cholesterol concentrations in healthy, normolipemic volunteers. Twenty-eight men and 32 women consumed 29 g/d of 3 margarines for 3 wk each on a crossover, double-blind basis. A margarine based on sunflower oil was used as the control. Concentrates of plant sterols from rice bran oil or triterpene alcohols from sheanut oil were added to make 2 experimental margarines with the same fatty acid composition as the control margarine. Intake of 2.1 g plant sterols/d from rice bran oil decreased total cholesterol by 0.19 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.31, -0.07 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol by 0.20 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.30, -0.10 mmol/L). HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations did not change significantly. Intake of 2.6 g triterpene alcohols/d from sheanut oil did not significantly affect lipoprotein concentrations in all subjects combined. We found that 2.1 g plant sterols/d from rice bran oil lowered serum total cholesterol by 5% and LDL cholesterol by 9% in normolipemic humans, whereas triterpene alcohols from sheanut oil did not significantly affect lipoprotein concentrations in all subjects combined. The effect of rice bran oil sterols is probably due to ss-sitosterol and other 4-desmethylsterols and not to 4,4'-dimethylsterols.

Effects of diets containing high or low amounts of stearic acid on plasma lipoprotein fractions and fecal fatty acid excretion of men

Ten middle-aged males participated in a crossover study to determine the cholesterolemic effect of high amounts of stearic acid in a natural diet. They consumed a 20-d stabilization diet followed by two 40-d intervention diets containing either 1.5% of energy as stearic (18:0) acid and 7.3% of energy as palmitic (16:0) acid (low stearate: LS) or 2.4% of energy as 16:0 and 7.3% of energy as 18:0 (high stearate: HS). The experimental diets also contained approximately 10% of energy each as saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and 7.2-8% of energy as polyunsaturated fatty acids. The primary source of 18:0 in the HS diet was sheanut oil (commercially referred to as shea butter) and palm oil and butter in the LS diet. Plasma total, low-density-lipoprotein, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower with the HS than with the LS diet. Total fecal fatty acid excretion was higher throughout the HS period. Apparent digestibility of the major dietary fatty acids showed that all of the selected fatty acids, except 18:0, were > or = 95% absorbed. These data demonstrate that feeding diets containing about two times the usual amount of stearic acid consumed in the United States, contributed to an increase in plasma lipoprotein concentrations at 40 d from an earlier decrease at 20 d. The time required to achieve stable cholesterol concentrations appears to vary depending on the kind of saturated fatty acids present in the diet.

Effects of diets containing high or low amounts of stearic acid on plasma lipoprotein fractions and fecal fatty acid excretion of men

Ten middle-aged males participated in a crossover study to determine the cholesterolemic effect of high amounts of stearic acid in a natural diet. They consumed a 20-d stabilization diet followed by two 40-d intervention diets containing either 1.5% of energy as stearic (18:0) acid and 7.3% of energy as palmitic (16:0) acid (low stearate: LS) or 2.4% of energy as 16:0 and 7.3% of energy as 18:0 (high stearate: HS). The experimental diets also contained approximately 10% of energy each as saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and 7.2-8% of energy as polyunsaturated fatty acids. The primary source of 18:0 in the HS diet was sheanut oil (commercially referred to as shea butter) and palm oil and butter in the LS diet. Plasma total, low-density-lipoprotein, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower with the HS than with the LS diet. Total fecal fatty acid excretion was higher throughout the HS period. Apparent digestibility of the major dietary fatty acids showed that all of the selected fatty acids, except 18:0, were ≥ or = 95% absorbed. These data demonstrate that feeding diets containing about two times the usual amount of stearic acid consumed in the United States, contributed to an increase in plasma lipoprotein concentrations at 40 d from an earlier decrease at 20 d. The time required to achieve stable cholesterol concentrations appears to vary depending on the kind of saturated fatty acids present in the diet.

The Fractionation of Shea Nut Oil Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide — A Feasibility Study for the Extraction of Oil from Gum

AbstractSupercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) successfully extracted triglycerides from crude Shea nut oil (Butyrospermum parkii) at temperatures of 40–80°C and pressures of 100–400 bar. Selective removal of free fatty acid, mono‐ and di‐glycerides, iron, triterpene acetates, triterpene cinnamates and polyisoprenoid gum from triglyceride was achieved by varying the solvent power of the SC‐CO2. Triglyceride so produced had a higher stability to oxidation than the crude oil. Polyisoprenoid gum was essentially insoluble in SC‐CO2. The extraction partially fractionated the triglycerides according to their carbon numbers.