Physicochemical and Phytochemical Analyses of Copra and Oil ofCocos nuciferaL. (West Coast TallVariety)

Abstract

Coconut copra fromWest coast tallvariety, cultivated in Kerala, India, was subjected to aqueous and solvent extractions (usingn-hexane). Additionally, oil was extracted from the copra in Soxhlet assembly using petroleum ether (b.p. 60–80°C). Physicochemical and phytochemical analyses were conducted for the extracts and the oil, with commercial coconut oil as the experimental control. The physicochemical analyses showed that the aqueous extract of copra was milky-white in color with a sweet odor, while the solvent extract was pale yellow and odorless. The commercial oil had0.08±0.02% oleic acid and a TOTOX value of7.73±0.78, lower than the Soxhlet extracted oil. Among all the extracts and oils, best phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity (DPPH activity, IC50value0.04±0.01 mg/mL), total phenol (0.96±0.04 mg gallic acid eq./g dry copra), reducing power (40.49±1.84 mg BHT eq./g dry copra), and anti-inflammatory activity (NO activity, IC50  value0.77±0.06 mg/mL) were obtained in the commercial coconut oil, followed by the Soxhlet extracted oil, aqueous extract, and solvent extract. Fatty acid composition analyses showed mainly medium chain fatty acids in the copra oil with lauric acid as the predominant fatty acid (51.88% and 44.84% in Soxhlet extracted and commercial oils, resp.).