Physicochemical quality, molecular composition, tocopherol profiling, and in vitro activity of cold-pressed Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil

Abstract

Abstract Sacha inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil is among the richest plant-derived sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), offering vegetarians a plant-based route to omega-3 fatty acid. This study encompasses around the characterization of cold-pressed Sacha inchi oil (SIO) combining physicochemical quality assessment and molecular composition. GC-FID analysis quantified five major fatty acids, with ALA as the predominant fatty acid (49.61 ± 0.05%), with total PUFA content of 84.25 ± 0.07%, with a ω-6:ω-3 ratio of 0.70:1. LC–MS/MS analysis revealed a total tocopherol content of 492.685 ± 0.049 mg kg⁻¹. SIO exhibited concentration-dependent DPPH (IC₅₀ = 24.94 ± 2.58 µg mL⁻¹) and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 31.99 ± 1.13 µg mL⁻¹). In RAW 264.7 macrophages, SIO showed concentration-dependent effects on cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 213.40 ± 5.73 µg/mL in LPS untreated cells. SIO also reduced LPS-induced NO production by 6.05–49.62% at 10–75 µg mL⁻¹. And exhibits cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 15.08 µg mL⁻¹; 95% CI: 14.14–16.06 µg mL⁻¹) and HEK-293 cells (IC₅₀ = 45.53 µg mL⁻¹; 95% CI: 43.02–48.02 µg mL⁻¹). These findings highlight the compositional richness of SIO and support its potential as PUFA-rich functional food ingredient.