Physicochemical and Phytochemical Analyses of Copra and Oil of Cocos nucifera L. (West Coast Tall Variety)

Table 5

Qualitative phytochemical analyses of coconut copra oil (commercial and by Soxhlet assembly).

Test	Observation	Inference	Intensity
(1) Alkaloids
(a) Dragendorff reagent	Brick red color	Alkaloids present	Low
(b) Wagner’s reagent	Reddish brown color	Alkaloids present
(2) Flavonoids
(a) Ammonium test	No yellow color	Flavonoids absent	n.a.
(b) Aluminum chloride test	No yellow color	Flavonoids absent
(3) Glycosides	Dense red color	Glycosides present	Moderate
(4) Saponins
(a) Emulsion test	Emulsion formed	Saponins present	Moderate
(b) Frothing test	Stable froth formed	Saponins present
(5) Resin
(a) Precipitate test	White precipitate	Resins present	Low
(b) Color test	Light pink color	Resins present
(6) Tannins
(a) Ferric chloride test	No green precipitate	Tannins absent	n.a.
(7) Steroids
(a) Conc. H2SO4 test	Reddish brown precipitate at interface	Steroids absent	n.a.
(8) Terpenoids
(a) Conc. H2SO4 test	Red precipitate	Terpenoid absent	n.a.
(9) Acid compounds test
(a) Moist litmus paper	No color change in moist blue litmus	Acid compounds absent	n.a.

n.a.: not applicable.