TITLE:
Fatty Acid and Triglyceride Composition of the Oil from the Almonds of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth., Collected at Ontogo in the Republic of the Congo
AUTHORS:
Davy Rody Epenit Mondjo, Jean Paul Latran Ossoko, Yves Okandza, Blaise Divin Emmanuel Miakayizila, Roniche Nguie, Michel Didace Mvoula Tsieri
KEYWORDS:
PFNL, Oil, Fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Probabilistic Approach
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth., also known as “Paayi” in the collection area, is an underutilised oil-bearing non-timber forest product from the Congo Basin. This study evaluated the fatty acid profile and triglyceride composition of seed kernel oil collected in Ontogo, in the sub-prefecture of Boundji, Cuvette Department. Oil extracted via Soxhlet (hexane) was transmethylated with boron trifluoride (BF3) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID). A probabilistic model based on the (1,2,3-random) distribution predicted triglyceride species, compared against experimental data (C50 to C62). Results show an oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (43.89 ± 3.50%), dominated by linoleic acid (43.77 ± 3.50%) and oleic acid (24.33 ± 1.95%). Remarkably, the saturated fraction (30.03 ± 2.40%) is exceptionally rich in very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs: 23.6 ± 1.9%), notably lignoceric (11.57 ± 0.93%), behenic (6.62 ± 0.53%), cerotic (2.81 ± 0.50%), and arachidic (2.60 ± 0.50%) acids. Triglycerides were dominated by C54 (35.26 ± 2.82%), C60 (23.53 ± 1.88%), C58 (18.62 ± 1.49%), and C56 (12.49 ± 1.00%). The probabilistic model identified major species—LLO (13.98 ± 1.12%), LLL (8.39 ± 0.67%), and LOO (7.77 ± 0.62%)—and rare VLCFA-containing triglycerides including LOLi (7.39 ± 0.59%) and LLLi (6.65 ± 0.53%). This atypical composition categorises P. macrophylla oil as a linoleic-VLCFA structured fat, serving as a promising alternative to synthetic ceramides for cosmetics (barrier repair) and nutraceuticals.