Amazonian Buriti oil: chemical characterization and antioxidant potential

Abstract

SUMMARY:Buriti oil is an example of an Amazonian palm oil of economic importance. The local population uses this oil for the prevention and treatment of different diseases; however, there are few studies in the literature that evaluate its properties. In this study, detailed chemical and antioxidant properties of Buriti oil were determined. The predominant fatty acid was oleic acid (65.6%) and the main triacylglycerol classes were tri-unsaturated (50.0%) and di-unsaturated-mono-saturated (39.3%) triacylglycerols. The positional distribution of the classes of fatty acids on the triacylglycerol backbone indicated a saturated and unsaturated fatty acid relationship similar in the three-triacylglycerol positions. All tocopherol isomers were present, with a total content of 2364.1 mg·kg −1 . α-tocopherol constitutes 48% of the total tocopherol content, followed by γ-tocopherol (45%). Total phenolic (107.0 mg gallic acid equivalent·g −1 oil) and β-carotene (781.6 mg·kg −1 ) were particularly high in this oil. The highest antioxidant activity against the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was obtained at an oil concentration of 50 mg·mL −1 (73.15%). The antioxidant activity evaluated by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) was 95.3 μmol Trolox equivalent·g −1 oil. These results serve to present Buriti oil as an Amazonian resource for cosmetic, food and pharmaceuticals purposes. KEYWORDS: Fatty acid; Minor compound; Radical scavenging activity; Regio-specific distribution; TriacylglycerolRESUMEN: Aceite de buriti de la Amazonia: Caracterización química y potencial antioxidante. El aceite de Buriti es un ejemplo de aceite de palma amazónica de gran importancia económica. La población local utiliza este aceite para la prevención y el tratamiento de diferentes enfermedades; sin embargo, hay pocos estudios científicos que evalúen sus propiedades. En este estudio, se determinaron las propiedades antioxidantes del aceite de Buriti. El ácido graso predominante fue el oleico (65,6 %) y las principales clases de triglicéridos fueron tri-insaturadas (50,0 %) y Di-insaturados-mono-saturada (39,3 %). La distribución posicional de las clases de ácidos grasos en el esqueleto de triacilglicerol indicó una relación de ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados similar en las tres posiciones del triacilglicerol. Todas las isoformas de tocoferol estaban presentes, con un contenido total de 2364.1 mg·kg ) fueron particularmente altos en este aceite. La mayor actividad antioxidante contra el radical 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil libre (DPPH) se obtuvo a una concentración de aceite de 50 mg·mL −1 (73,15 %). La actividad antioxidante evaluadas por la capacidad de absorción de radicales de oxígeno (ORAC) fue 95,3 mmol Trolox equivalente·g −1 de aceite. Estos resultados presentan al aceite de Buriti amazónico como buen recurso con fines cosmético, alimenticio y farmacéutico.

Quality characteristics and thermal behavior of buriti (<em>Mauritia flexuosa</em> L.) oil

“…Crude palm oil shows total carotenoids of 608.39 mg/kg (Ferreira et al, 2006), which is similar to the crude buriti oil in our study. In addition, natural sources of this carotene are of great interest because only 2% of commercial β-carotene is naturally produced (Dufossé et al, 2005;Ribeiro et al, 2011;Speranza et al, 2016).…”

“…According to Speranza et al (2016), a great interest has been placed on oils that contain these fatty acids. High oleic and low linoleic fatty acid contents help to make them more resistant to oxidation than most oils.…”

“…Its fruit has a hard, scaly red bark that covers a soft and oily pulp; its color varies from dark yellow to reddish after complete ripeness. Extraction by cold pressing yields about 45 kg of buriti oil from 1000 kg of ripe fruits, which is considered as an Amazonian resource for cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical purposes (Albuquerque et al, 2005;Silva et al, 2009;Speranza et al, 2016;Virapongse et al, 2017).…”

Characterization of oil extracted from the kernel of the fruit of cumare’s palm (Astrocaryum chambira Barret)

“…The oil extracted from buriti´s palm (Mauritia flexuosa), is considered of economic interest due to its great antioxidant potential due to the high tocopherol content, in addition its physicochemical properties and composition in fatty acids make it an oil with great possibilities of use in foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries (Speranza et al, 2016).…”

Chemical composition and oxidative stability of jussara (<em>Euterpe edulis</em> M.) oil extracted by cold and hot mechanical pressing

“…Soltana et al (2016) extracted the oil from the achenes of Ficus carica and observed a β-carotene content of 81.08 mg/g. Ribeiro et al (2012a) and Speranza et al (2016) found much higher values of total carotenoids for commercial crude buriti oil (1800 and 782 mg/kg oil, respectively), which is extracted from an Amazonian fruit known as a good source of these pigments. Pequi oil extracted by expeller pressing showed a total carotenoid content of 24.96 mg/100g (or 249.6 mg/kg), while extraction using ethyl ether and acetone resulted in even higher values (38.95 and 42.66 mg/100g, respectively).…”