Fatty acids composition and oil characteristics of nut kernel oil of cashew (Anarcadium occidentale L.)) from Nsukka, Nigeria

Abstract

The lack of information on the fatty acid content and physicochemical profile of nut kernel oil from the eastern part of Nigeria,  necessitated the present study. The physicochemical properties and fatty acid profile of kernel oil obtained from cashew nuts from 
Nsukka community, in Enugu State, Nigeria, was investigated using standard methods. The properties of the oil were: colour (yellow), moisture impurity (1.09%), refractive index (1.86), specific gravity (0.90), acid value (19.58 mg KOH g-1), saponification value (230.01 mg KOH g-1), iodine value (119.72 mg iodine g-1), peroxide value (0.00 mmol kg-1 of active oxygen), free fatty acid value (98.0 g·kg-1), unsaponifiable matter (23.0 g·kg-1), total lipid content of kernel (425.0 g·kg-1), fatty acid content of kernel (340.0 g·kg-1), saturated (74.4 g·kg-1) and unsaturated (265.6 g·kg-1) fatty acid content of kernel. Fatty acid profiling showed the oil to be very rich in oleic (59.95%), linoleic (17.33%), palmitic (14.72%) and stearic (6.78%) acids, with a linoleic to linolenic acid ratio of 84.99. The oil contained 77.70% unsaturated fatty acids, 29.15% of which were polyunsaturated. This result indicates that the oil is of good quality, relatively rich and safe for consumption; is semi-drying and may be suitable for soap making.