Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the composition of Blighia sapida aril oil from Côte d’Ivoire and to compare its effects in diet to that of refined palm oil and olive oil.

A quantity of dried Blighia sapida arils was ground to fine powder. Oil extracted from the powder was filtered and characterized. After that, three experimental diets differed by the type of oil which were mixed with the food (Blighia sapida aril oil or refined palm oil or olive oil) were prepared. Three groups of young rats (six per group) were fed ad libitum with the different diets during 28 days. At the end of the experimentation, food intake, body weight and alimentary efficacy coefficient were measured and compared.

Chemicals analyze of the oil showed that it is oleic/palmitic/stearic oil. It contains low polyunsaturated fatty acids. The ratio of n-6/n-3 is 9.50 and the ratio unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid is 1.6. Food intake of the different group of rats was not significantly different (p>0.05) whatever the kind of oil in the diet. Body weight and alimentary efficacy coefficient obtained on rats fed with diet containing Blighia sapida aril oil were not significantly different (p>0.05) to that of rat’s which consumed diet containing palm oil.However, body weight and alimentary efficacy coefficient in case of olive oil consumption were high (p<0.05) than those obtained with consumption of Blighia sapida aril oil or palm oil.

Blighia sapida aril oil and refined palm oil have practically the same nutritional value in alimentation while olive oil has more nutritional value.Refined Blighia sapida aril oil can enhance it nutritional value.

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