Abstract
The effect of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) fractionation of three oil fractions (1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd) fraction) on the fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of oils from two cultivars; of cantaloupe were investigated. Rock melon oil (RMO) and Golden Langkawi oil (GLO) were extracted using SFE and the major fatty acids for both cultivars were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acid. The SFA decreased from 15.78 to 14.14% in RMO 1(st) fraction, and MUFA decreased from 18.30 to 16.56% in RMO 2(nd) fraction, while PUFA increased from 65.9 to 69.30% in RMO 3(rd) fraction. On the other hand SFA decreased from 16.35 to 13.91% in GLO 1(st) fraction, and MUFA decreased from 17.50 to 15.57% in GLO 2(nd) fraction, while PUFA increased from 66.15 to 70.52% in GLO 3(rd) fraction. The different fractions of the two oils showed high antioxidant activity in reducing the oxidation of beta-carotene in beta-carotene bleaching assay (BCB) and the quenching of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).