Chemical Profile and Radical Scavenging Activity of Extracts <i>Musanga cecropioides</i> (R. Brown) Seeds Oil from Congo

Abstract

In Africa, many of the plant resources of high nutritional value are not yet included in the uses of local populations. This study contributes to the enhancement of the lipid potential of Musanga cecropioides (R. Brown) seeds. Soxhlet seed oil extraction gave a yield of 8.62%. The evaluation of the physical parameters of the oil brings it closer to that of Argan oil. The oil extracted from the seeds of M. cecropioides consists mainly of three major fatty acids: oleic acid (48.58 ± 0.63%), linoleic acid (26.74 ± 0.53%) and palmitic acid (15.05 ± 0.21%), the determination of which is made by CPG-MS. This fatty acid composition places M. cecropioides oil among oleic/linoleic oils with potentially nutritional properties. The search for minor compounds in the oily fraction shows carotenes, tocopherols and sterols on thin layer (TLC). The antioxidant activity of M. cecropioides oil is evaluated by the anti-free radical test on TLC and spectrophotometer using DPPH. The results obtained from the antioxidant activity of Musanga cecropioides oil show an important radical scavenging activity with the value of IC50 (1.539 ± 0.013 mg/mL) and a strong activity of the unsaponifiable fraction and the latter is due by the unsaponifiable fraction with an IC50 (0.073 ± 0.004 mg/ml). Analysis of the sensory and physical profile of the oil extracted from the seeds of Musanga cecropioides shows that it could be used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food.