Hypoglycemic Effect of Hydrolyzed Palm Kernel Oil in Rats

摘要

Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) is a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil with a high value of health and medical benefits. MCT contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) especially lauric acid (C12:0) as mayor fatty acid (~50%) so that this oil is also called lauric oil. Of the fatty acids, lauric acid reported to be the most effective as antibacterial agent. MCT oil is quickly absorbed and metabolized to produce energy and hence may have physiological effect. The purposes of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of hydrolyzed PKO. Lipase enzyme from Rhizomucor miehei specifically active on sn-1 and sn-3 position was used to partially hydrolyze PKO, and hydrolyzed product (HPKO) was tested for hypoglycemic effect in rats. The optimum condition of hydrolysis was at pH of 8 and 50oC for 10 hours. The results also showed that after 10 hours of incubation acid value (98.20 ± 0.62 NaOH/ g oil) and percentage of free fatty acid (49.12%), remained constant. Blood glucose level was decreased after treatment with PKO and HPKO for 15 days. This study indicated that hydrolyzed PKO was more effective as hypoglycemic agent compared with unhydrolyzed PKO and antidiabetic metformin.