Biochemical Characterization by GC-MS of Palm Kernel Oils Produced in Côte d’Ivoire

The objective of this study was to determine biochemical composition of palm kernel oils produced and consuming in Côte d’Ivoire in order to find out those more suitable for human diet. Our preliminary investigations showed that palm kernel oils consumed in Côte d’Ivoire were those extracted from varieties Dura and Tenera of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Thus, the types of oils analyzed in this study were oil extracted from the variety Dura (OD) and oil extrated from the variety Tenera (OT). The GC-MS was used to determine the biochemical composition of these oils. The results obtained show that in each oil, seventeen fatty acids were identified by GC–MS. However, among these fatty acids, undecylenic acid was identified only in OD and heptanoic acid was identified only in OT. The two types of oil are rich in saturated fatty acids. However, OD had a relatively higher unsaturated fatty acids content. For the other compounds identified, OT had significantly the highest contents of polyphenols, α-tocopherol and sterols with the predominance of β-sitosterol. These results support that palm kernel oil extracted from the variety Tenera is rich in natural compounds that could be developed as nutraceuticals and phytomedicine. However, some unexpected compounds such as lactones were also identified in the two types of oils. Moreover, it is noted that these lactones were more abundant in oil extracted from the variety Dura (OD).