Fatty-Acid Profiles, Triacylglycerol Compositions, and Crystalline Structures of Bambangan-Seed Fat Extracted Using Different Solvents

Currently, research on the bambangan-fruit seed has become interesting because of its potential application as a cocoa butter alternative. This work aimed to determine the changes in the quality of the extracted bambangan-seed fat (BSF) obtained using hexane, petroleum ether, and ethanol. The extraction solvents affected the total fat content (TFC), physicochemical properties, fatty-acid profile, triacylglycerol composition, and crystalline structure of the extracted BSF. The results showed that BSF has a high content of 1,3-distreoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (SOS). The solvent-type significantly (p < 0.05) impacts the stearic and oleic acids of the extracts, resulting in apparent changes in the high-melting symmetrical triacylglycerols, such as SOS. Petroleum-ether-extracted BSF has a high stearic acid of 33.40%, followed by that of hexane- and ethanol-extracted BSF at 29.29% and 27.84%, respectively. Moreover, the spherulitic microstructure with needle-like crystals of the extracts also ranges from 30 to 70 µm in diameter. Hexane-extracted BSF illustrated a less-dense, spherulitic, crystalline microstructure with a less-granular centre than those extracted using the other solvents. The results suggested that the quality of the extracted BSF obtained from the nonpolar solvents of hexane and petroleum ether are better than that extracted using ethanol

Characteristics of bambangan kernel fat fractions produced by solvent fractionation and their potential industrial applications

Given the demand for new fats and oils, and the limited research on bambangan kernel fat (BKF), this study aimed to fractionate BKF and to determine its physicochemical properties such as fatty acids, iodine value (IV), acid value, peroxide value, slip melting point (SMP), and solid fat content (SFC). The major fatty acids of stearin fractions were palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, with the first stearin having a higher stearic acid (48.50%) but lower oleic acid (33.76%) content than the second stearin. High SMP (36.3°C) and low IV (39.9 g iodine/100g) values were found in Fraction‐III compared to Fraction‐I. The SFC did not drop to 0% at body temperature, which was shifted to 0% above 40°C for both the stearin fractions, which indicates it is heat‐resistant. This study shows that the BKF‐stearins fractions could be used as suitable raw materials for developing new fatty products in the food industry, especially the confectionery industries

Effects of fractionation technique on triacylglycerols, melting and crystallisation and the polymorphic behavior of bambangan kernel fat as cocoa butter improver

Cocoa butter improver (CBI) is typically composed of high melting symmetrical triacylglycerols (TAGs) that aid in the hardness of chocolate products in tropical/subtropical regions. High-melting symmetrical TAG (1,3-di-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol, SOS) rich fats were produced by two-stage acetone fractionation. Different chromatographic and thermal techniques were used to determine TAGs, thermal properties, and polymorphic behavior of each bambangan kernel fat (BKF) fraction. The first (S-1) and second (S-2) stearins composed of 55.83% and 64.70% symmetrical SOS were the valuable CBIs produced from the fractionated BKF. The stearin fractions also melted and crystallised rapidly at high temperatures with one maximum peak starting at 20.30–21.74 °C and ending at 38.72–42.45 °C (melting), and another starting at 17.05–18.46 °C and ended at 5.63–8.20 °C (crystallisation). In comparison with pure BKF and commercial cocoa butter (CB), the stearins showed sharper melting curves and higher melting properties. The stearins also exhibited β-polymorphic form which was similar to that of CB. Results suggested that the stearins were suitable to be applied as CBI to improve the melting properties and the availability of confectionery products in tropical/subtropical countries

Physicochemical properties of mango kernel fats extracted from different mango varieties cultivated in Sabah, Malaysia

This study was set out to determine the total fat content, physicochemical properties, and crystal morphology of mango kernel fat (MKF) obtained from three popular mango varieties cultivated in Sabah, Malaysia. The total fat contents of the MKFs were 7.02, 9.50, and 8.41% for Air, Manila, and Harumanis. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector analyses revealed three major fatty acids namely, palmitic (6.67 to 7.51%), stearic (42.32 to 48.95%), and oleic (32.91 to 38.14%) acids in studied MKFs as novel mango kernel constituents. The iodide, saponification, acid, peroxide, and slip melting point values of the MKFs were found to be 47.79–52.27 g I2/100 g, 181.4–194.5 mg KOH/g, 5.15–6.26 mg KOH/g, 1.05–1.32 meq O2/kg, and 31.0–35.2°C, respectively. The crystals of the three MKFs were spherulites and densely packed. With respect to the characteristics, MKFs potentially can be applied as cocoa butter equivalents and ideal for use in confectionery industry

A review on functional and nutritional properties of noni fruit seed (Morinda citrifolia L.) and its oil

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is native to the Polynesian and recognized in the tropical and subtropical countries as a sustainable crop with feasible commercial applications. It has been reported that the interest in developing noni plant as a novel source of bioactive compounds are increasing by the day. This review describes the safety, nutritional values, and the properties of noni seed oil (NSO) with potential industrial uses. In particular, the bioactive compounds, anti-nutrients, antioxidant activity, and IC50 values of noni seed and the chemical composition of NSO are also described. NSO has high contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, total phytosterols and tocopherols that could be better choices for patients with high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. Extracts of noni seed have been shown to possess bioactive compounds that exhibit antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic prop-erties. Bioactive compound-rich noni fruit seed could be a potential source of functional foods. Moreover, noni seeds could be a valuable new source of vegetable oil because of its nutritional properties and non-toxic nature along with the increasing supply of seeds as by-products from noni juice industry. Comprehensive studies are needed on NSO to explore more potential product development. Moreover, further study is needed on the development of nutraceutical food products from noni seed by-products