Abstract: One-factor-at-a-time coupled with orthogonal array design method was employed to optimize the extraction of seed oil from Areca catechu by the traditional solvent method. The optimal extraction conditions were found to be: extraction at 80 ℃ for 11 h with n-hexane at a 24:1 ratio of material to liquid. Under these conditions, the extraction rate of seed oil from Areca catechu was 12.84%. Ten fatty acids were identified by GC-MS in the extracted oil, altogether accounting for 99.99% of the total fatty acids. The major fatty acids were myristic acid (30.78%), palmitic acid (19.23%), oleic acid (26.86%) and linoleic acid (19.56%). These results indicate that the seed oil contains 51.18% saturated fatty acids and 48.81% unsaturated fatty acids with a 20.10% relative content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the total fatty acids.

Key words: seed oil from Areca catechu L, extraction process, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), fatty acids