Characterization of Seed Oil From Caco ( <i>Chrysobalanus icaco</i> L.) and Potential of Its Fatty Acids as a Dermal Anti‐Inflammatory Agent in Murine Models

ABSTRACT Caco ( Chrysobalanus icaco L.) seeds are rich in oil. This work aimed to characterize and study the anti‐inflammatory properties of Caco seed oil (CSO) using the model of acute auricular edema induced by 12‐ O ‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) in female CD1 mice. A final yield greater than 40% was achieved for CSO extraction. The extract presented a specific gravity of 0.939 g/mL, refractive index of 1.52, acidity index of 1.18 mg KOH/g of oil, saponification index of 181.48 mg KOH/g of oil, iodine index of 78.60 g I 2 /100 g of oil, peroxide index of 5.99 mEq O 2 /kg of oil, and ester index of 179.64 mg KOH/g of oil. Stearic (50.80%), oleic (17.87%), and linoleic (15.33%) fatty acids were identified, along with two new compounds for this species: pucinic and parinaric acids. In terms of acute topical anti‐inflammatory effect, CSO demonstrated greater inhibition (60%) of ear edema at 0.5 mg/ear, approaching the potency of indomethacin (66%), but at 2 mg/ear (control). Physicochemical analysis demonstrated that CSO could be stored for an extended period. Furthermore, it could be used as a therapeutic agent in acute inflammatory processes due to the presence of oleic, linoleic, pucinic, and parinaric fatty acids.