Physicochemical characteristics of yagua palm (<i>Attalea cryptanther</i>) endospermus oil

Abstract

In this research, the physicochemical characteristics of the yagua palm (Attalea cryptanther) endospermus oil were evaluated. Seeds of mature fruits from Santa Ana hill, Canoabo, Bejuma municipality, Carabobo state-Venezuela, harvested in November 2003, were decorticated and the endospermus was transformed to meal by means of grinding. The oil from meal was extracted with n-hexane using Soxhlet equipment. Yagua endospermus crude oil showed the following characteristics: iodine index 13.77 cg I2/g; refraction index 1.4441 at 60 ºC; saponification value 233 mg KOH/g; peroxide value 0.20 meq O2/kg; unsaponifiable matter 0.97 %; AOM stability 31 h; solid fat content 54 % at 10 ºC and 10 % at 20 ºC; Lovibond color: R 3.2 and Y 1.3. The major fatty acids were lauric acid (58 %) and miristic acid (16.5 %).Yagua endospermus is an alternative oleaginous