7.3.2.2 Proteins
Coconut kernel is rich in protein too, though not as high as carbohydrate and fat
content, but still a considerably high. The protein content of the dried kernel is
ranging from 8.1 to 10.2, while the wet kernel is 6.2 to 7.5.
7.3.2.3 Lipids
The fat content of the copra part is in the range of 59.0–63.6 while that of the wet
kernel is 34.7–38.8. It is highest in CWK among all six parts. The fatty acid
composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel is presented in
Table 7.4.
Caprylic and capric acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT are lesser
than the other samples (Table 7.4). Lauric acid is the major fatty acid present in
coconut which can be easily observed from Table 7.4 as it is present in the highest
amount than other fatty acids. Here oils extracted from CT and WCT contain lesser
amount of lauric acid than CW, CWK, WCW, and WCWK. However, myristic,
palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT is
higher than other parts of coconut kernel and testa. The stearic acid content of oils
extracted from copra is in the range of 1.1–1.9, while that of wet coconut parts is
1.2–2.3. Coconut is the richest in SFA content of oils extracted from coconut kernel
and testa as it is ranging from 82.5 to 94.6 for copra and 71.6 to 92.7 for oils
extracted from wet coconut parts. MUFA and PUFA content of oils extracted from
coconut follow similar trends as of myristic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid since
Table 7.4 Fatty acid composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel
Fatty acids (%)
CW
CWK
CT
WCW
WCWK
WCT
Caprylic acid (C 8:0 )
9.6
6.7
3.9
8.1
5.6
1.6
Capric acid (C 10:0 )
6.4
6.2
3.8
7.8
5.8
2.2
Lauric acid (C 12:0 )
51.5
52.6
40.9
50.5
52.8
32.4
Myristic acid (C 14:0 )
19.1
18.9
20.9
16.1
19.2
20.2
Palmitic acid (C 16:0 )
6.9
7.4
11.3
6.8
7.4
14.1
Stearic acid (C 18:0 )
1.1
1.9
1.6
2.3
1.9
1.2
Oleic acid (C 18:1 )
4.3
4.8
12.2
5.6
5.5
17.8
Linoleic acid (C 18:2 )
1.1
1.6
5.3
1.8
1.0
10.6
SFA
94.6
93.7
82.5
92.6
92.7
71.6
MUFA
4.3
4.8
12.2
5.6
5.5
17.8
PUFA
1.1
1.6
5.3
1.8
1.0
10.6
MCFA
67.5
65.5
48.3
66.3
64.2
36.2
Source: Appaiah et al. (2014)
SFA Saturated fatty acid, MUFA monounsaturated fatty acid, PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid,
MCFA medium-chain fatty acid, CW Copra whole, CWK copra white kernel, CT copra testa, WCW
wet coconut whole, WCWK wet coconut white kernel, WCT wet coconut testa
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
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Coconut kernel is rich in protein too, though not as high as carbohydrate and fat
content, but still a considerably high. The protein content of the dried kernel is
ranging from 8.1 to 10.2, while the wet kernel is 6.2 to 7.5.
7.3.2.3 Lipids
The fat content of the copra part is in the range of 59.0–63.6 while that of the wet
kernel is 34.7–38.8. It is highest in CWK among all six parts. The fatty acid
composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel is presented in
Table 7.4.
Caprylic and capric acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT are lesser
than the other samples (Table 7.4). Lauric acid is the major fatty acid present in
coconut which can be easily observed from Table 7.4 as it is present in the highest
amount than other fatty acids. Here oils extracted from CT and WCT contain lesser
amount of lauric acid than CW, CWK, WCW, and WCWK. However, myristic,
palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT is
higher than other parts of coconut kernel and testa. The stearic acid content of oils
extracted from copra is in the range of 1.1–1.9, while that of wet coconut parts is
1.2–2.3. Coconut is the richest in SFA content of oils extracted from coconut kernel
and testa as it is ranging from 82.5 to 94.6 for copra and 71.6 to 92.7 for oils
extracted from wet coconut parts. MUFA and PUFA content of oils extracted from
coconut follow similar trends as of myristic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid since
Table 7.4 Fatty acid composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel
Fatty acids (%)
CW
CWK
CT
WCW
WCWK
WCT
Caprylic acid (C 8:0 )
9.6
6.7
3.9
8.1
5.6
1.6
Capric acid (C 10:0 )
6.4
6.2
3.8
7.8
5.8
2.2
Lauric acid (C 12:0 )
51.5
52.6
40.9
50.5
52.8
32.4
Myristic acid (C 14:0 )
19.1
18.9
20.9
16.1
19.2
20.2
Palmitic acid (C 16:0 )
6.9
7.4
11.3
6.8
7.4
14.1
Stearic acid (C 18:0 )
1.1
1.9
1.6
2.3
1.9
1.2
Oleic acid (C 18:1 )
4.3
4.8
12.2
5.6
5.5
17.8
Linoleic acid (C 18:2 )
1.1
1.6
5.3
1.8
1.0
10.6
SFA
94.6
93.7
82.5
92.6
92.7
71.6
MUFA
4.3
4.8
12.2
5.6
5.5
17.8
PUFA
1.1
1.6
5.3
1.8
1.0
10.6
MCFA
67.5
65.5
48.3
66.3
64.2
36.2
Source: Appaiah et al. (2014)
SFA Saturated fatty acid, MUFA monounsaturated fatty acid, PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid,
MCFA medium-chain fatty acid, CW Copra whole, CWK copra white kernel, CT copra testa, WCW
wet coconut whole, WCWK wet coconut white kernel, WCT wet coconut testa
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
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