Abstract

RODRIGUEZ LEYES, Eduardo A. et al. Preliminary characterization of the oil from the whole fruit of Roystonea regia (Kunth) O. F. Cook. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.4. ISSN 1028-4796.

INTRODUCTION: the Cuban royal palm tree oil, Roystonea regia (Kunth) O.F. Cook, has possibilities to be used as raw material in the Cuban pharmaceutical industry. OBJECTIVES: to characterize the Cuban royal palm tree oil and to study its fatty acid composition. METHODS: the official methods described in USP 27 were used and the composition of fatty acids was estimated by gas chromatography. RESULTS: relative density was 0.874 - 0.970 g/mL; refraction index 1.454 - 1.463; the saponification index ranged 190.0 to 221.8; the acidity index ranged 5.2 to 26.4; iodine index was 49.2 to 55.8; and the contents of non-saponificable material ranged 2.0 to 13.4 %. The total of fatty acids in the analyzed oils varied from 74.4 to 89.4 %. The composition of fatty acids standardized at 100 % was given by the following concentrations: C_8:0 y C_10:0 (0.1-0.9 %); C_12:0 (17.9-27.8 %); C_14:0 (9.3-12.7 %); C_16:0 (9.3-15.0 %); C_16:1 (0.1-0.6 %); C_18:0 (2.5-3.7 %); C_18:1 (27.3-37.3 %); C_18:2 (12.8-17.4 %); y C_18:3 (0.1-0.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: some of the physical and chemical characteristics of R. regia fruit oil were studied in this paper.

Keywords : Roystonea regia; oil; characterization; fatty acids; gas chromatography.