Bioavailability of Epoxidized Triglycerides in Seed Oil of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. from Congo-Brazzaville

This study aims at the physico-chemical characterization of Alchornea cordifolia oil isolated from the seed of this plant, to identify the bioavailability of epoxidized triglycerides. The ripe fruits of Alchornea cordifolia were harvested in southern Congo-Brazzaville in the localities of Goma-tsétsé and Dolisie. The oil is extracted from the seeds by three different methods: cold method (Folch), Soxhlet method, and water method. The fat contents are of the order of 18 to 28% by the water method, 30 to 37% by the Folch method and 45 to 56% by the Soxhlet method. All these methods exhibit similar fatty acid profiles. They are characterized by the presence of palmitic acids (C16: 0) 8 to 15%, stearic (C18: 0) 1 to 2%, oleic (C18: 1) 8 to 12%, linoleic (C18: 2) 8 to 12%, epoxidized fatty acid 48 to 63%, selacholeic (C24: 1) 2 to 3%. The epoxidized fatty acid contents are of the order of 50 to 63% by the water method, 50 to 61% by the Folch method and 48 to 58% by the Soxhlet method. The oil extracted with water has slightly higher epoxidized fatty acid contents than that extracted by other methods. The fatty acid composition of Alchornea cordifolia seed oil from Congo is characterized by high levels of epoxidized fatty acids in the order of 48-63%. This multi-functional acid has considerable commercial potential.