Fatty Acids Analysis, Antioxidant and Biological Activity of Fixed Oil of Annona muricata L. Seeds

Abstract

The total oil yield and the fatty acid composition were determined in the Annona muricata L. fixed oil using organic solvent extraction and GC-FID. The seeds were found to contain about ~21.5% of crude fixed oil on a dry weight basis. The crude oil containing fatty acid was converted into methyl esters and analysed by GC-FID. Fourteen fatty acids were identified using GC-FID. The major monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids were oleic acid (39.2%) and palmitic acid (19.1–19.2%), respectively, whereas the α-linolenic acid (1.2%) and linoleic acid (34.9%) were polyunsaturated fatty acid. The other saturated acids were stearic acid (3.3%), arachidic acid (0.4%), myristic acid (0.1%), heptadecanoic acid (0.1%), behenic acid (0.1%), and lignoceric acid (0.1%). Some of the fatty acids have not been reported earlier from the oil of Annona muricata L. Fixed oil exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity which was measured using DPPH and is also known to inhibit the gastrointestinal motility significantly.