Physicochemical characteristics of commercial coconut oils produced in India

The physico-chemical characteristics and phytonutrient compositions of commercially available
coconut oils [prepared from either copra (unrefined coconut oil- UCNO; Refined Bleached and Deodorized
coconut oil- RBDCNO) or from milk extracted from wet mature coconut (virgin coconut oil- VCNO)] were
analyzed and compared with the quality of VCNO. The color (2.6, 0.0, 1.6 lovibond units), free fatty acid
value (0.61, 0.58, 0.53%), and peroxide value (1.35, 0.0, 0.0 meq.O2Kg−1) of UCNOs, VCNOs, and RBDCNOs,
respectively, indicated higher units of color and peroxide value for UCNOs, and similar free fatty acid values
to the other two oils. The UCNOs showed a slightly lower saponification value and higher iodine value as
compared to VCNO. The composition of lauric acid (55.8%), medium chain fatty acids (69.65%) and medium
chain triglycerides (59.27%) mainly dicapricmonolaurin (14.32%), dilauricmonocaprin (18.89%) and trilaurin
(21.88%) were significantly higher in VCNO. The % phytosterol, phenolics and tocopherol + tocotrienol contents
of UCNOs, VCNO and RBDCNO were 83.7, 54.9 and 81.4 mg; 9.4, 1.8 and 2.1 mg; 4.9, 2.8 and 4 mg,
respectively. In UCNOs the values were significantly higher than in VCNO and RBDCNO. These results showed
that UCNOs have more phytonutrients compared to VCNO and RBDCNO.