Physicochemical and Nutritional Composition of Rambutan Anak Sekolah (Nephelium lappaceum L.) Seed and Seed Oil

Abstract

Rambutan anak sekolah (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed from Malaysia, were analyzed for physicochemical and nutritional composition including proximate composition, mineral contents, solid fat content profiling, triacylglicerol and fatty acid composition. The seeds were abundant in fats (38.9%) and the amount of protein and carbohydrate are 12.4% and 48% respectively. Some chemical properties of seed oil were acid value (0.37%), iodine value (37.64%) and saponification value 157.07. Oleic acid (40.45%) and arachidic acid (36.36%) was the major fatty acid. Triacylglycerol composition of rambutan seed oil was also identified by using HPLC and it shown that AOO (arachidoyl-dioleoylglycerol) was the major compound (49.84%). The Solid fat content profiling of rambutan seed oil shown that it have potential application for food based on fatty product. The mineral elements of seed oil were also involved in this study. The result indicated that rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed have a potential as a source of oil or carbohydrate for the human diet and also for food product application.