Abstract

Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition of Kombo (Pycnanthus Angolensis) Butter

Author(s): D. K. Essumang, J. Alemawor, S. Abassah-Oppong and A. Weremfo

Fatty acid esters, especially those essential to humans, are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of growth, reproduction and health. They are truly essential to normal cell structure and body function, which function as components of nerve cells and cell membranes. Lack of these in the body causes diseases such as arthritis. Hence, sources rich in cetyl myristoleate (CMO) are known to be a remedy for these diseases. One of such rich source is Kombo Butter, which is a fat obtained from Pycnanthus angolensis. This is a plant source, which is generally known to give a low level of saturated fat and relatively higher levels of essential fatty acids than animal sources. This research, therefore, aims to determine the constituent of the Kombo fat by finding out its fatty acid composition. This will contribute to scientific knowledge and also address the increasing demand for natural alternatives to synthetic medicines.