Abstract

Oil extracted from the ripe ackee (Blighia sapida L) aril was characterized by the classical titrimetric and gravimetric analyses following the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) procedures. Dynamic and kinematic viscosities as well as the true density of the lipid were determined. The sample was subjected to instrumental polarimetric and gas chromatographic analyses. In each test, arachis oil (BP) and/or oleic acid was used as reference. The extraction and purification method produced 37.0 ± 4.9%, on dry weight basis, of bright-yellow oil with characteristic roasted ackee scent. Acid, ester, hydroxyl and saponification values were 1.83 (±0.01), 64.52 (±0.18), 28.01 (±0.04) and 743 (±0.19) respectively. Its specific gravity was 0.905 (±0.008) while the optical rotation was 1.453. The gas chromatography showed several well-defined peaks with two peaks at elution times of 15.41min (n-hexane) and 17.44 min (oleics acid). The sample has comparable specific gravity, viscosities and true density values as arachis oil BP. On the other hand, it contains higher levels of saponifiable matters, free acid and hydrolysable matters than arachis oil. The characteristic properties of ackee oil suggest potential for its application as pharmaceutical base and may satisfy some of the deficiencies of arachis and, possibly, some other vegetable oils.

Key words: Ackee oil, extraction, characterization, pharmaceutical base.