Chemical profile and anti-radical activity of the unsaponifiable matter of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl. seed oil

Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl. is an oil-producing plant of the Anacardiaceae family that produces red fruits when ripe. Studies have already reported on the composition of this plant's vegetable oil. However, other minor compounds have not yet been chemically investigated, nor have their biological properties. The vegetable oil was extracted from the seeds of this plant and separated to obtain the unsaponifiable fraction. This fraction was analysed by CCM, UV-visible spectrophotometry and tested with the stable DPPH radical. The vegetable oil obtained, with a yield of 36%, is green in colour and fluid. The unsaponifiable fraction represents only 1.2% of the weight of the fatty substance. The chromatograms observed in visible and UV light show yellow and orange spots in visible light, blue spots at 254 nm, and purple and grey spots with sulphuric vanillin. The carotenoid content is 691.92 mg/kg of oil. These compounds are carotenes, xanthophylls, sterols and tocopherols, all of which have anti-radical activity. The DPPH reduction percentage is 94.80%, with an IC50 of 0.287 mg/ml and rapid kinetics of 15 minutes. These results show that the vegetable oil from this fruit can be used in cosmetics and for therapeutic purposes.