Extraction of Coconut Oil (Fermentation System: Cocos Nucifera L.) Through
Extraction of Coconut Oil (Fermentation System: Cocos Nucifera L.) Through
ABSTRACT
Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.) has a unique role in the diet as an important physiologically functional food. The health and
nutritional benefits that can be derived from consuming coconut oil have been recognized in many parts of the world for
centuries. There are few techniques for coconut oil extraction, such as physical, chemical, and fermentation or enzymatic
processes using microbial inoculum as enzymatic starter. Starter with different concentration (1.0; 2.5; 5.0; and 10%) of
microbial strains were added into coconut cream and allowed to be fermented for over night. The extracted oil was analyzed
for further experiment, especially on its antibacterial activity. The maximum yield of 27.2% was achieved by adding 5.0%
starter. Water content, acid value, FFA, and peroxide value of the fermented coconut oil were 0.3%, 0.45%, 0.22% and
2.54% respectively. A gas chromatogram showed that this fermented oil contained high lauric acid (46.82%), and 6.01%
caprylic, 7.5% capric, 17.02% miristic, 7.21% palmitic, 3.11% palmitoleic, 5.41% stearic, and 1.3% linoleic acid,
respectively. An inhibitory effect of such kind coconut oil which contains potential fatty acid against bacterial growth was
further examined. It was found that this edible oil exhibited antibacterial activity to inhibit the growth of Bacillus subtilis,
Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella; however it showed slightly inhibitory effect
when it was exposed to Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.
© 2009 Biodiversitas, Journal of Biological Diversity
employed as starter since their proteolytic and coagulate protein in consequence of phases
amylolytic activities given are lower than L. bulgaricus formation of oil on upper part, protein in the middle
(Table 1). and water layer on lower part (Rindengan and
Novarianto, 2004). Due to a lower molecular weight,
Table 1. Proteolytic and amylolytic activities of the selected the oil part formed through the process could be
strains. directly separated from protein and water part by
draining off both of them through a valve (Figure 1.B).
Diameter of clear zone (cm) To reduce interference of water content or insoluble
Activity/Strain
LB K-1A SC CR
materials into the oil part, a further process of
Proteolytic 2.0 1.6 1.3 1.6
obtaining oil by refining through filter paper or vacuum
Amylolytic 2.1 1.4 1.4 1.5
Note: LB: Lactobacillus bulgaricus; K-1A: Aspergillus oryzae; filter and rinse with hot water following by vacuum
SC: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; CR: Candida rugosa. evaporation was required to avoid chemically
processing to achieve the virgin state of oil as shown
Fermentation system on Figure 1.C.
The fermentation of coconut cream occurred when Fermented coconut oil has been known well as
the enzymatic starter had been employed for virgin coconut oil (VCO) since high temperatures,
processing. Crude coconut oil was formed due to a chemicals or other physical treatment are not used in
phenomenon of protein digestion that plays a role to its processing. As it had been naturally and
stabilize emulsion of the coconut cream into a soluble traditionally processed through enzymatic
material. The enzymatic starter with high capacity of fermentation, unhydrogenated, undeodorized, and
amylolytic and proteolytic could hydrolyze unbleached, the component of fatty acids, especially
carbohydrate and protein which contained in the lauric acid of this coconut oil is not change since it is
coconut the cream as its substrate into soluble sugar least vulnerable of all the dietary oils to oxidation and
and amino acid and peptide (Soeka et al., 2008). The free-radical formation, and it is therefore the safest to
extraction process of coconut oil via fermentation or use in cooking. It does not become polymerized and
enzymatic system involved microbial cell and form by-products as do other oils when heated to
enzymes those could solve the emulsion; however, normal cooking temperatures (Kaunitz and Dayrit,
their activities were influenced by some conditions of 1992; Rindengan and Novarianto, 2004; Sulistyo,
substrate, enzyme, pH, temperature, and incubation 2004).
period (Pelczar and Chan 1986). Structurally, coconut oil is very rare amongst all
Preliminary step on extraction process of VCO the other dietary lipids. As a different class of
was initiated after separating the coconut cream saturated fat that behaves very differently in the body
which higher in lipid content from coconut skims from each other, since it is composed almost entirely
which higher in carbohydrate and protein content as of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), a powerful anti-
shown on Figure 1.A. After addition with starter microbial, where mother's milk is very high in
followed by overnight fermentation of the coconut them. Coconut oil is composed of an incredible 64%
cream at room temperature, the starter containing MCFA. The body metabolizes MCFA and absorbed
enzymes were stimulated to digest starch and directly from the intestine into the portal vein, and
ferment it into alcohol and organic acids that sent straight on to the liver, where they are burned for
A B C
fuel, almost like a carbohydrate. Rather than produce the concentration of substrate achieves optimal
fat, they are used to produce immediate energy. And, condition since the enzyme is saturated by the
the body uses much less energy to digest MCFA. substrate binding enzyme complexes.
They are easily digested by saliva and stomach
enzymes and do not require pancreatic enzymes.
This relieves stress on both the pancreas and 30
and Key. 0
Figure 3 showed the influence of incubation LB 1K-1A CR 3 SC 5
temperature on the yield of extracting oil. It was found Starter Concentration (%)
that the highest yield of oil (27.2%) could be obtained
o
after incubating the starter at 45 C. It is probably that
the strain of L. bulgaricus behaves at optimal
o Figure 4. Effect of starter concentration on yield of
condition between 40-45 C. The binding of enzyme to extracting oil.
its substrate and rising temperature up to a certain
degree had increased kinetic energy and promoted
movements of reacted molecules. It was therefore Moreover the starter capability of L. bulgaricus in
increasing bumping occurrence between enzyme and extracting of VCO was investigated furthermore in the
its substrate optimally. The enzyme exhibited its comparison to other strains contained in soy-sauce
activity at certain optimal condition of temperature, starter mold (A. oryzae), bake yeast (Saccharomyces
and therefore when the temperature is over than its sp), tempeh starter (R. oligosporus), and alcoholic
optimal condition, the enzyme would certainly be beverage yeast (C. utilis). To produce kinds of VCO
denaturated. products, the coconut milk was prepared by different
Figure 4 showed the influence of starter strain of coconut cultivars such as kelapa dalam of
concentration on the yield of extracting oil. It was Cianjur Regency, genjah salak and genjah kuning of
found that the highest yield of oil (26.8%) could be Bogor Regency. The yield of oil derived from each
obtained after incubating the starter at 5.0% (v/v). At types of coconut were then purified by filtration and
low concentration rate of reaction was too low, absorption using absorbent of activated charcoal as
however, the rate would be higher as increasing of shown on Table 2.
substrate concentration which catalyzed by the The Table showed that the highest yield of oil was
enzyme. Increasing of enzyme is not effective when obtained by using coconut cream of kelapa dalam
156 B I O D I V E R S I T A S Vol. 10, No. 3, July 2009, pp. 151-157
Table 2. Yield (mL) of VCO derived from different type of (Soeka et al., 2008).
coconut.
Quantitative analysis of VCO
Coconut VCO Kecap Tempeh Beverage Bake
To determine the content of FFA, moisture
Cultivars starter starter starter yeast yeast
content, peroxide value, the extracting VCO obtained
Kelapa dalam 25.5 28.0 21.0 - -
Genjah salak 21.5 23.0 18.0 - - by using of the starter of L. bulgaricus was then
Genjah 15.5 17.0 15.0 - - analyzed and showed as Table 4.
kuning
Note: (-) none oil formed after processing. Table 4. Analysis of VCO according to SII. 0150-72 for
edible oil.
(24.83 mL) while using genjah salak and genjah Component of Reference Concentration
kuning gave lower yield of oil was 20.83 mL and Analysis Value of SII (%)
15.83 mL, respectively. It was apparent that initial Moisture content Max 0.5 % 0.30
composition of coconut cream significantly influence Acid value Max 0.5 % 0.45
on final yield of extraction oil. The coconut cream of Free fatty acid Max 2.5 % 0.22
kelapa dalam exhibited calories (359 cal) and lipid by Peroxide value Max 3.0 % 2.54
means of oil content (34.7%) higher than both of the
genjah types of coconut cultivar those were 180 cal
and 13.0% on the average (Palungkun, 1993). It was Table 4 showed that characteristic of obtaining
found that the oil layer was formed on the coconut VCO for edible oil referred to the moisture content,
cream was incubated by the starter of L. bulgaricus, acid value FFA and peroxide values was agreed with
A. oryzae of soy-sauce and R. oligosporus of tempeh a range of value in accordance to the Standard
inoculum, while there was none of oil layer found on International of Indonesia (SII) 0150-72 for edible oil.
the coconut cream was incubated by Saccharomyces It was suggested that our VCO which was extracted
sp. of bake and C. utilis of beverage starters. through enzymatic fermentation process by
Apparently, the enzyme of these kinds of starters had employing the starter of L. bulgaricus was
been inactivated or not appropriated as the starter for appropriated to be consumed as safety and healthy
enzymatic fermentation process of coconut oil, and edible oil. The quality of the obtaining oil was
resulted in none oil formation since the coconut corresponded to requirement for quality standard of
cream as the substrate was not agreed with the good edible oil. One of spoiled edible oil indicator is
enzymes contained in such starters. high in acid and peroxide values, since their
existences in the product indicate an alteration
Fatty acid analysis of VCO caused by oxidation on chemical content is being
To determine fatty acid composition of the virgin occurred and resulted frequently in a problem of
coconut oil (VCO) obtained by the enzymatic rancid.
fermentation, sample of the oil was then analyzed by
using GC. It was found that the highest yield of lauric Assay of antibacterial activity
acid of oil (42.95%) was obtained by employing the The antimicrobial properties lauric acid and its
starter of L. bulgaricus into coconut cream derived derivative monolaurin from coconut oil have shown
from kelapa dalam strain as shown on Table 3. promise in this study. Lauric acid, which is present in
high concentration in coconut oil, forms monolaurin in
Table 3. Analysis of lauric acid of extracting VCO. the animal body and this derivative of lauric acid can
inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms
Lauric acid concentration (%) (Kabara, 1984). The research focused on
Fatty Acid
VCO-LIPI AO–D LB-D AO-GS LB-GS Pseudomonas fluorescence, Bacillus substilis,
Lauric acid 46.82 41.46 42.95 40.68 35.08 Salmonella and Escherichia coli. To determine
potential of lauric acid contained in this extracting oil
obtained through enzymatic fermentation, this oil was
Table 3 showed that the VCO obtained by then studied furthermore against microbial growth. Its
employing the starter of L. bulgaricus into coconut antimicrobial activity was observed by the existence
cream of kelapa dalam (LB-D) yielded higher lauric of clear zone formed surrounding paper-disc that had
acid content (42.95%) rather than by employing the pre-submerged into this oil on the media grown with
starter of A. oryzae with strain of kelapa dalam (AO- colonies of tested microbial strains. It was found that
D, 41.46%) and the starter A. oryzae with the strain of the clear zone surrounding the paper disc on the
genjah salak (AO-GS, 40.68%) or the starter of L. media fully grown with strain of Salmonella, indicated
bulgaricus with the strain of genjah salak (LB-GS, that this oil had activity against the growth of tested
35.08%). It was found somehow; the yield of strain as shown on Figure 5. It is now clear and
obtaining oil still lower yet rather than the oil had been scientifically validated that the inclusion of coconut oil
obtained by using the starter of VCO-LIPI as the in the diet could and should be utilized for its
standard of comparison of previous experiment preventive and healing properties.
HANDAYANI et al. – Extraction of virgin coconit oil 157
REFFERENCES