Variability in Fatty Acid and Triacylglycerol Composition of the Oil of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Hybrids and Their Parentals

Abstract

The fatty acid profiles and triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions of oils from the solid endosperm of different Philippine coconut hybrids and their parentals were determined by using gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In general, varietal differences in fatty acid composition were observed. Lauric acid (C12) content was significantly higher in the hybrids PCA 15-8 (50.45%) and PCA 15-9 (50.26%) by about 3.16% points as compared to other hybrids, and higher in Tacunan Green Dwarf (50.50%) among the parentals. Among the fatty acids, lauric acid exhibited the least variation. In general, none of the hybrids had higher fatty acid content than their parentals. The HPLC chromatogram of triacylglycerols (TAG) showed 8 major peaks which differ in carbon number (CN) by two: identified as TAG CN 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44. TAGs CN 30 (4.08%) and CN 34 (19.20%) were found to be significantly higher in PCA 15-9 than in the other hybrids. CN 36 was highest (21.94-23.66%) in all hybrids and parentals. The TAG CNs varied significantly among hybrids and parents, i.e., in CN 30, 32, and 34, which are high in medium chain triacylglycerols (MCTs), and in CN 30 (for parentals only), 40, 42, and 44 (the latter two for parentals only), and none in CN 36. MCTs calculated for two hybrids and their parents ranged from 13.81% to 20.55%.

Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Medium Chain Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil

“…Gas chromatographic analysis of coconut oil has been reported for various purposes using various derivatization methods including base catalyzation [10], acid catalyzation [11] and acid trifluoride catalyzation [12], but no one give special attention on the derivatization methods. There is no report on the medium fatty acid derivatization including their kinetic of reaction and the efficiency compared to derivatization of other longer fatty acids.…”

Physicochemical characteristics of commercial coconut oils produced in India

“…Rossell et al (1985) and Laureles et al (2002) have reported lauric acid values of 45.9-50.3%, and 47.3-52.6%, respectively, for coconut oil from the Philippines (46.2-48.7%), Papua New Guinea (47.1-50.3%), Vanuatu (47.1-48.4%), North Sulawesi (45.9%) and Sri Lanka (49.3-52.6%) (Rossell et al, 1985;Laureles et al 2002). In this study the lauric acid value of all the UCNOs (49.11 to 51.66%) and RBDCNO (50.90%) of Indian origin were comparable with the results reported by Rossell et al, (1985) and Laureles et al (2002). But, the VCNO showed a significantly higher lauric acid content (55.75%) as compared to UCNOs and RBDCNO.…”

Dietary Possibilities to Mitigate Rumen Methane and Ammonia Production

“…Coconut oil is one of such SFA carriers constituting an important source of saturated medium chain fatty acids, i.e. lauric acid C12:0 and myristic acid C14:0 (Laureles et al, 2002). These acids were identified as substances strongly reducing microorganisms participating in methanogenesis (Dohme et al, 1999;Machmüller et al, 2003a).…”