Physicochemical Properties of Pili (Canarium ovatum) Nut Oils Extracted Using Different Extraction Solvents

There is still lack of information on pili (Canarium ovatum) nut oil from Sabah, Malaysia. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the physicochemical properties of pili nut oils obtained from Soxhlet extraction by using different extraction solvents such as petroleum ether, hexane, acetone and ethanol. The extracted pili nut oils were assessed for colour, refractive index, slip melting, and cloud point; iodine, free fatty acid, peroxide, p-anisidine, totox values; carotene content, thermal behaviour, fatty acid composition, and triacylglycerol profile. The highest oil yields were obtained by extraction using petroleum ether and hexane. The physical and chemical properties of oil are found to be significantly differed with different extraction solvents. The major triacylglycerols of pili nut oils were palmitoyl–di–oleoyl glycerol (PPO) and di-palmitoyl–oleoyl glycerol (PPO) with oleic and palmitic were the most predominant fatty acids. All extracted pili nut oils were below than the permitted range of free fatty acid content, peroxide and totox values (maximum 10 meq O2/kg) for cooking oils. The pili nut oil extracted with petroleum ether contained the highest (~ 110 ppm) β-carotene. Among the extraction solvents, petroleum ether was the best in terms of oil yield, quality, and β-carotene content. © 2025, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. All rights reserved.