Abstract
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees (Lauraceae), popularly known as cinnamon, has been widely investigated for presenting functional properties, nutraceuticals and other diverse bioactive activities, mainly for the beneficial effects to human health. That is why natural products made from different extraction methods and different cinnamon botanical structures have aroused interest in the biotechnology industry in different sectors of the world economy. The objective of this work was to determine the phytochemical composition and to characterize the physical-chemical properties of the fixed oil of the cinnamon seeds submitted to the conditions of Savana Tropical in the Brazilian Amazon by 1H NRM and GC-FID. The following results were obtained for saturated fatty acids - FAS (97.21 %): lauric (88.60 %), the major constituent being; caprylic acid (2.34 %); myristic (2.70 %); pentadecyl ester (0.56 %); palmitic acid (1.89 %); stearic acid (0.96 %); and, arachidic acid (0.16 %). The percentage concentrations of linolenic (?3), linoleic (?6) and oleic (?9) calculated by 1H NRM and GC-FID, respectively, were: 0.20; 0.73; 1.86 %; and 0.19; 0.72; 1.88 %. The physico-chemical properties showed: Iodine content of 2.52 mg I2/g; Saponification Index of 255.97 mg KOH / g; Acid value of 3.32 mg KOH / g; and, Molecular Weight of 604.09 g / mol. These exploratory results indicate the potential of the fixed oil of the cinnamon seeds as a possible therapeutic agent, as well as its use in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
Keywords: Essential Fatty Acids, Lauric acid, 1H NMR, GC-FID.
