Analysis of the fatty acid content of sacha inchi oil at an altitude of 1000 mdpl
Keywords:
Sacha Inchi, Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9, vegetable oils, essential fatty acidsAbstract
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is an oilseed crop known for its high content of essential fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). The fatty acid composition of sacha inchi oil can be influenced by environmental factors such as altitude. This study aimed to analyze the fatty acid profile of sacha inchi oil cultivated at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level (masl) in Ciwidey, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia. A descriptive quantitative design was employed with a laboratory-based analytical approach. The unit of analysis was oil extracted from mature sacha inchi seeds, with a total of 30 composite samples collected from a 1-hectare organically cultivated plot. Harvesting was conducted in August 2024, during the dry season. Oil extraction was performed using a cold-press method, and fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To ensure the reliability and validity of results, each sample was analyzed in duplicate, and instrument calibration was carried out using certified fatty acid standards. The standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV%) were calculated for each fatty acid component, with CV% values maintained below 5%, indicating high analytical precision. The results showed that sacha inchi oil from this altitude contains a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) at 47.5%, linoleic acid (omega-6) at 35.2%, and oleic acid (omega-9) at 9.8%, with lower levels of saturated fatty acids such as palmitic and stearic acids. These findings suggest that cultivating sacha inchi in Ciwidey at 1000 masl yields high-quality oil with excellent nutritional properties, supporting its potential for nutraceutical and functional food applications. Altitude appears to play a key role in optimizing oil quality and should be considered in future cultivation strategies.
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