Authors : Seraphin Goteni, David Mampouya and Thomas Silou
Abstract: As part of a systematic evaluation of the technological potential of oil containing plants of the Congo basin, the oils of Raphia sese and R. laurentii from Congo-Brazzaville underwent a detailed physical and chemical study. These oils contained 37.0-38.5% Palmitic acid (P), 33.0-34.0% Linoleic acid (L), 19.5-21% oleic acid (O), 6.0-7.0% Stearic acid (S) and 1.0-1.4% linolenic acid giving the following major triacylgycerols: 25.0-26.0% Palmitoyloleoyllinoleoyl- (POL), 20.5-22.5% Linoleoyldioleoyl- (LOO), 13.5-15.5% Palmitoyldilinoleoyl- (PLL), 9.0-11.0% Palmitoyloleoylpalmitoyl- (POP), 8.5-10.0% Palmitoyldioleoyl- (POO) and 8.5-10.0% trioleoyl- (OOO) glycerols. The non-saponifiable fraction comprised large quantities of carotenes (113 mg/100 g), tocopherols (33.0-54.0 mg/100 g) with α-tocopherol predominating (32.0-47.0 mg/100 g) and phytosterols (104.0-147 mg/100 g) including 88.0-120 mg/100 g of β-sitosterol. These results are evidence of an excellent nutritional quality and justify a posteriori the preference shown by local populations for the oil of Raphia sese (kolo) and R. laurentii (mbayaka) over palm oil.
Seraphin Goteni, David Mampouya and Thomas Silou, 2011. Fatty Acids, Triacylglycerols, Carotenes, Retinols, Tocopherols and Phytosterols in Oils of Raphia sese and R. Laurentii from Congo-Brazzaville. Journal of Food Technology, 9: 61-65.