IJCRR - 12(12), June, 2020
Pages: 11-14
Date of Publication: 16-Jun-2020
Print Article
Download XML Download PDF
Comparative Investigation of Physico-Chemical Properties of Two Varieties of Palm Kernel Oil in Use in Ethno Medicine
Author: Edwin N. Oguegbulu, Henry Nwadibia
Category: Healthcare
Abstract:Aim: There are two common varieties of palm kernel oil in Nigeria namely; Elaeis guineensis (virenscens 'Ojukwu' and nigrescens) (family: Arecaceae). However, the former has been more popular in traditional medicine. This study aimed to extract the palm kernel oil from the two varieties using n-hexane as organic solvent; subject the extracts to various physico-chemical analysis and by using the data so generated, attempt to rationalize or otherwise justify the extremes in disparity between their potency and efficacy.
Methodology: Equal weights of the two varieties of palm kernel: E. guneensis( virescens 'Ojukwu' - with brilliant colour and nigrescens) were granulated separately. The oil was extracted by cold maceration in n-hexane and the oil - extract thereafter recovered by the use of a rotary evaporator. The samples were subjected to GC-MS, refractometry, polarimetry, saponification and iodine values as well as relative densities.
Results: The percentage yields were 38.21 for Virescens and 41.79 for Nigrescens. GC-MS shows that e.g. Virescens kernel oil exhibited 18 components against E.g. Nigerensis with 16. Some of the components are same for both in the peak area. Relative densities were 0.875 and 0.872 for which saponification and iodine values were 70.64mg/KOH/g oil and 160.53 for Virescens as against 62.00/KOH/g oil and 117.06 for nigrescens. The refractive index and angle of rotation for Virescens were 1.4550 and 159.50o whereas those for Nigrescens were 1.4550 and 160.50o.
Conclusion: Though some of the differences from the data between the two varieties were not statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05, nevertheless, the wider peak areas depicting; higher concentrations for virescens and also the degree of unsaturation associated with higher iodine values could all be linked to the extreme versatility of the virescens.The unsaturated fatty acids are easily metabolized in human body to physiologically important prostaglandins.
Keywords: Elaeis guineensis-virenscens ‘Ojukwu’ and nigrescens, PKO, Physicochemical parameters, Greater degree of unsaturation for virescens
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
Elaeis guineensis – Jacq (family: Arecacae) – Palm tree, has two varieties that are prominently used in traditional medicine. Those varieties are the Virescens and nigrescens. The two, shown in figure 1, are distributed in equatorial tropical rain forest regions of West Africa1,2. Traditional remedies were derived from palm to heal many diseases throughout these regions.
The fixed oil-bearing plants include; palm, coconut, olive, castor, linseed and more. The three distinct groups of oil crops are3;
-
Those that are annual or biannual such as soybeans, sunflowers, groundnuts
-
The perennial tree crops such as cocoanuts
-
Crops such as cotton and corn germ.
It was found that Traditional African religion has a tremendous influence on the practice of Traditional medicine4. It is further generally acknowledged that negative spiritual influences had an impact on human health5. Those negative spiritual effects are often associated with witchcraft, sorcery, broken taboos, displeased ancestors, spirits or deities 6. Consequently, remedies were found in the application of tangible objects such as palm fruit and kernel oil or recourse to intangible behaviors as in incantation 7,8.
Apart from the medicinal applications, palm has immense economic values in tropical West Africa; industrial, food and nutrition, fuel, fuel additives, plastic, surfactants and good energy source.
The ethnomedicinal uses, especially for the Virescens include; antidote for certain types of toxic and allergic conditions, several skin ailment, control of convulsion in children, stabilization of certain adverse influences. Most of these ethno uses may not be eventually proven empirically with an experimental model despite the level of advances in analytical tools. The elusive experimental nature may also be attributable to the concept of three-dimensional mind and limitations of time and space9.
Currently, Palm Kernel oil (PKO) is used as a liniment for indolent tumours10. It exhibits some level of anti-microbial activity11. Other medicinal uses include treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, antioxidant properties, anticancer, cardiovascular and hepatoprotective properties12.
Triglycerides make up to 95 % of edible fatty acids. Fats and oils belong to the group of lipids; and are found in both plants and animals. Fatty acids are the major components of fats and oils. They are very important sources of energy for the humans, component of the membrane surrounding the sub-cellular organelles and carrier tool for lipid-soluble vitamins.13
Essential fatty acids (Linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids) are largely polyunsaturated. Most of the naturally important fatty acids occur in cis - transfiguration but with the presence of double bonds. The trans-configuration is equally possible.l4
The unsaturated fatty acids due to the presence of double bonds show remarkable difference from the saturated counterparts in shapes, biological, physicochemical properties such as Melting Point(M.P)., Relative Density(R.D)., refractive index, optical rotation, the iodine values saponification
(-SH) group or photolysis15.
Generally, unsaturated fatty acids are more unstable, exhibit higher degree of liquidity and therefore are chemically more susceptible to undergo chemical addition reactions than the saturated molecules which are relatively inert. Further, these polyunsaturated fatty acids have been identified as precursors of prostaglandins hence the essential fatty acids are enzymatically easily metabolized (lipoxidation) in humans to produce physiologically important prostaglandins.16
For fatty acids that occur in humans, double bonds are rarely inserted in carbon atoms less than 16 due to lack of desaturases enzymes capable of influencing double bonds between carbons 1-717. This is unlike plants, where double bonds can be found in carbon 3 and 6 from the methyl terminal group. By this, there could be a possibility of 1-6 double bonds in a single fatty chain.18
The aims and objectives of this study, therefore, were to extract the palm kernel oil from the two varieties using n-hexane as organic solvent, subjected the extracts to various physic-chemical analysis and by using the data so generated, attempted to rationalize or otherwise justify the extremes in disparity between the potency and efficacy of their biological activities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The ripped fresh fruit bunches of the two palm varieties; Elaeis guineensis (virescens and nigrescens) were collected from plantations in Obiakpo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, The authentication was at the Herbarium of Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt. The samples were processed by following a modification of methods earlier reorted19. They were then subjected to manual threshing to release the palm fruit lets from the bunches; sterilized (heat was applied to partially cook the fruits and may serve in terminating certain undesired enzymatic actions.); digested to assist in separation of the nuts from the pulp and the nuts were eventually cracked to obtain the palm kernel seeds. Thereafter, equal weights of the two varieties of samples (390 g each) were milled using Delmar machine to get the desired particle sizes.
The extraction of the palm kernel oil was achieved by the adoption of solvent extraction method as reported16. The milled palm kernel samples were macerated with
n-hexane (500 ml each) for 24 h at room temperature with agitation at regular intervals. The samples were filtered to obtain the palm-kernel oil extract and n-hexane mixture. The respective pure palm kernel oil (PKO) samples were recovered en vacuo in a rotary evaporator. The two PKO samples (A for virescens and B for nigrescens) were further subjected to; saponification and iodine value tests, refractive index, polarimetry, relative density and GC –MS.
RESULTS
Result of the percentage yield of Elaeis guineensis varieties (virenscens ‘Ojukwu’-A and nigrescnes –B):
A = 38.21 % (mean weight of nut= 1.336 g)
B = 41.79 % (mean weight of nut= 1.113 g)
GC-MS result showed that virescens kernel oil exhibited 18 components against nigerensis with 16. Some of the components presented as same for both samples A and B in the Retention Time; Area: Height ratio and in peak areas. The rest of the peaks where areas were larger for sample A than B reflected higher concentrations of components present in same sample.
Some of the fatty acids and esters components identified in the mass spectroscopic fragments included; Octanoic acid, 2-Undecanone, Dodecanoic acid, Tetradecanoic acid, Chloromethyl octyl ether, Acetic acid, chloro-, decyl ester, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 9-Octadecenoic acid, and 9-Decenoic acid.
DISCUSSION:
Though the brilliant colour of sample A is more prominent than sample B, however the mean weights of their nuts and percentage yields did not show any significant differences at 1.336 g;38.21 % for A and 1.113 g;41.79 % for B respectively.
As shown in Table 1, the Iodine values of 160.50(A) and 117.10(B) indicates a remarkable difference. This means degree of unsaturation was higher in sample A than B. Thr respective values of Refractive Indices, Optical Rotation and Relative Densities as shown in Table 2 did not on the other hand exhibit any statistically significant difference at p ≤ 0.05, however, the wider peak areas depicting higher concentrations for virescens(A)and also the degree of unsaturation associated with higher iodine values could all be linked to the extreme versatility of the virescens. Further still, like other Essential fatty acids with unsaturation, this virescens(A) could be metabolizable to prostaglandins in the human body with vital cell functions.
CONCLUSION:
There is a need to characterize and elucidate the exact structures of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of virescens PKO. Additionally, there must be a meaningful effort for the conservation of this valuable plant to avoid extinction. A good pharmaceutical formulation of this product would, therefore, offer yet another potent health remedy to the world.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Staff members and Laboratory facilities of Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy and Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry Departments both of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
I also wish to thank all the Authors, Editors and Publishers of the numerous articles consulted in the course of this research paper.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There was no conflict of interest involved in this research work.
References:
Naher, J.L., Yusuf, U.K., Ismail, A., Tan, J.G., Mondal, M.M.A. (2013). Ecological Status of Ganodsna and basal stem rot disease of oil palm (Eaelis guinensis – Jacq). AJCS. 7; 1723 – 1727.
2. Burkill, H.M. (1997). Useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2 volumes. 4th edition. Kew. London. Families M – R. Royal Botanic Gardens Pages 340-390.
3. Robbelen, G., Downey, K.R., Astri, A. (1989). Oil Crops of the World. McGrac-Hall. Inc. Page 2.
4. Ezeanya, S.N., (1976). Healing in Traditional African Society in West African Region. Department of Religion. U.N.N. Page, 24.
5. Sofoworg, A. (1993). Medicinal plants and Traditional Medicine in Africa. Spectrum Books Ibadan. Nigeria.
6. Cocks, M, Moller, V. (2002). Use of Indigenous and Indigenized medicines to enhance personal well-being; a South African case study. Soc.Sci. Med. 54(3); 381 – 397.
7. Stekelenburg, J. Jager, B.E., Kolk, P.R., Western, E.H, Ven der Kwaak, A., Wolffers, I.N., (2005), Health care-seeking behavior and utilization of traditional healers in Kalaboo, Zambia. Health Policy. 71: 67 – 81.
8. Gruca, M, Andel, T.R., Balsley, H. (2014). Ritual use of Palms in Traditional Medicine in Sub-saharan Africa; a review. Journal of Ethno-biology and Ethnomedicine. 10(60); 1 -24.
9. Adodo, A. (2007). New frontiers in African Medicine. Guide book for PAX Health Care providers. Metropolitan Pren Ltd. Lagos. Page 12.
10. Graham,J.G, Quinn,M,L, Fabricant,D.S, Farnsworth,N.R(2000). PlantsUsed against Cancer –an extension of the work of Jonathan Hartwell. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.73(3);347 -377.
11. Ekpa, O.D,Ebena,R.(1996).Comparative Studies of Mmanyanga, Palm andCocoanut Oils; Anti- Microbial Effects of the Oils and their MetallicSoaps on some Bacteria and Fungi. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2:155-163.
12. Owoyele, B.V, Owolabi, G.O. (2014). Traditional oil palm (Eaelis guineensis-Jacq) and its medicinal uses; A review, TANG./www.e-tang.org.vol. 4.issue 3.
13. Templetor, W. (1978). Basic organismic chemistry. M and B Handbooks. Richard Clery (The Chaucer Press). Ltd. Great Britain. Page 224.
14. Udo, E. (1986). Fats and oils: The complete guide to fats and oils in health and nutrition. AGVE Books, Canada. Pages 3-49.
15. Tvrzicka,E, Kremmyda,L-S, Stancova,B, Zak,A (2011).Fatty Acids as Biocompounds: Their Role In Human Metabolism, Health and Disease;- A Review Part 1:Classification, Dietary Sources and Biological Functions. Biomed. Pap. Med. Fac. Univ. Palackv. Olomouc.Czech. Repub.155(2):117 -130.
16. Crawford, M.A,(1980). The role of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. Postgraduate Medical Journal.56:557 -562.
17. Nelson, D.L,Cox,M.M.(2005). Lipid Biosynthesis In: Principles of Biochemistry. New York: W.H.Freeman and Company.Pp.787 -815.
18. Sheehy, T, Sharma, S.(2010). The nutrition transition in Barbados; trends in macronutrient supply, from 1961 to 2003. B.J.Nutri.104:1222 -1229.
19. Adeniyi,O.R,Ogunsola, G,O,Oluwusi,D.(2014). Methods of Palm Oil Processing in Ogun, State, Nigeria: A Resource Use Efficiency Assessment, American International Journal of Contemporary Research. Vol.4.No.8:173.
20. Islam,M.N,Sabur,A,Ahmmed,R,Hogue,M.E.(2015).Oil Extraction from Pine seed(Polyalthia longifolia) by Solvent Extraction Method andIts property. Analysis. Procedia Engineering.Volume 105; pages 613-618.
|
IJCRR 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
