PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF ORYCTES OWARIENSIS LARVAE OIL

Abstract

Oryctes owariensis is one of the most widely prized edible insects consumed in Côte d’Ivoire. Oil extracted from this insect was analyzed for physicochemical properties and fatty acid constituents using standard methods. Results revealed that with oil content of 18.88 ± 1.3 %, Oryctes owariensis larvae are lipid-rich than most of edible insects. This oil shows a refractive index of 1.344± 0.002, specific gravity of 0.71 ± 0.10, acid value of 3.73 ± 0.02, iodine value of 105.27 ± 0.15, saponification value of 120.14 ± 1.5, unsaponifiables of 2.99 ± 0.31 %, peroxide value of 0.96 ± 0.02 and free fatty acid of 1.12 ± 0.03 (% oleic acid). As regards fatty acids profile, the unsaturated fatty acids in Oryctes owariensis oil were oleic (46.09 ± 0.07%), linoleic (3.25 ± 0.02 %) and Palmitoleic (1.06 ± 0.01  %), while the major saturated fatty acids were palmitic (39.55 ± 0.03  %) and stearic (10.05 ± 0.03 %). The unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 50.4 % of the total fatty acids whereas the saturated fatty acids constituted 49.6 % of  the fatty acids. These values when compared with that observed in oils which have been considered to be of high quality, suggest that Oryctes owariensis oil has potentials that could be exploited by the industrial and pharmaceutical companies.