Research Note A Note on the Oil Extracted from Titoki Berries (Alectyron excelsum)

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 84, 1956-57, Page 935

Research Note A Note on the Oil Extracted from Titoki Berries (Alectyron excelsum) By S. G. Brooker [Received by Editor, September 10, 1956.] In September, 1954, a small quantity of Titoki berries was obtained through the courtesy of Dr. R. Cooper, of the Auckland Museum. On extraction with petroleum ether, they yielded about 30 per cent. of a bright yellow oil with the following characteristics:— Per cent. Free fatty acids (as oleic) 2.4 Iodine value 71.5 Saponification value 221.0 Refractive index at 20° 1.4697 Refractive index at 25° 1.4678 This oil is quite unusual in developing a green colour when treated with alcoholic potash: unfortunately we did not have enough of it to investigate this matter further. The following figures on the characteristics of other oils of Sapindaceae species are quoted from Eckey (1954):— Iodine Value Saponification Value Refractive Index (25°) Sapindus trifoliatus (Soap tree) 58 194 1.4764 Sapindus Drummondii (Western soapberry) 82–89 192–219 1.4686–1.4722 Sapindus Mukorossi 62.5 221 Sapindus marginatus 90.4 194.4 1.4709 Blighia laurentii 73.5 181.7 Dodonea viscosa 110.9 Koelreuteria paniculata 90 190 Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan) 39–44 193–195 1.458 (40°) Nephelium mutabile (Pulasan) 35–42 194–199 1.458 (40°) Schleichera trijuga (Kusum) 48–58 220–230 1.461 (40°) Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye) 77–84 192–203 Xanthoceras sorbifolia 111 183 1.471 (12°) Reference Eckey, E. W., 1954. Vegetable Fats and Oils. New York: Reinhold. S. G. Brooker, M.Sc., Abels Limited, Box 9012, Auckland, S.E.1.