Oil extraction from caiman fat

GONZALEZ, M.A.; LEIVA, P. M. L.; VERA CANDIOTI, L.; VALLI, F.; PIÑA, C. I.; SIMONCINI, M. S.

Chetumal

Congreso; XXVI Working Meeting Crocodiles Specialist Group - UICN; 2022

Crocodiles Specialist Group - UICN

Caiman are farmed because their skin and meat, although there are othersub-products, such as fat (at this moment discarded) that could be used assource of natural oils. In recent years, demands of natural oils from theindustry have increased, looking for natural options, with good lipid profile,that produce positive effects on human health. Our objective was to obtain oilfrom Caiman latirostris fat deposits,to be used in cosmetology and food industries. Extracted oil was evaluatedbased on oxidative stability, fatty acid profile, and microbiological analysis.Fat fatty acid profile was correlated to oil profile, with a high content ofoleic acid (34%) and linoleic acid (29%), and 2% of α-linolenic acid (essentialof the ω-3 family). The oil obtained showed good performance, high oxidativeand hydrolytic stability, no microbial load and excellent nutritional quality,aroma and appearance. It has a low cost and high stability over time and couldbe an excellent source of good fatty acids for the prevention of chronic non-communicablediseases one of the most important causes of death in the world in recentyears.