The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal, 2017, 4(4):79-84 The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal 79 Available online www.tpcj.org Research Article ISSN: 2349-7092 CODEN(USA): PCJHBA Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Kenari (Canarium indicum) Nut G.S. Suhartati Djarkasi*, Lana Lalujan, Erny J. N. Nurali, Thelma J. D. Tuju, Dekie Rawung, Maria F. Sumual Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sam Ratulangi University, Jl. Kampus Unsrat Kleak, Manado, 95115, Indonesia Abstract Kenari (Canarium indicum L) belongs to Burseraceae family and grows abundantly in Indonesia especially in Eastern Indonesia. The kernel is often called kenari nut. The nut contains high amount of lipid and various chemical substances, such as protein, phenolic compound, and tocopherol. The chemical composition is affected by some factors, especially area of origin. The objective of this study was to determine chemical composition and antioxidant properties of kenari nut grown in Sangihe, Minahasa, and Maluku. The results showed that the highest component of kenari nut is lipids, which account for 66.27 %, 65.93%, and 66,59 % of the nut from Sangihe, Minahasa, and Maluku respectively. The dominant fatty acid were oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic. The second compound of kenari nut is protein which accounted for 14.20 %, 13.49%, and 13.38 % of nut from Sangihe, Minahasa, and Maluku respectively. The dominant amino acids were glutamate, leucine, arginine, and aspartate. Glutamate content of nut from Sangihe, Minahasa, and Maluku were 30.11%, 25.30 %, and 25.43%, respectively. In addition to those major compounds, the nut also contained of antioxidant substances, i.e. phenolic compound and tocopherol. Antioxidative activities based on the DPPH values, were 61.3%, 60.2%, and 53.2 % for nut from Sangihe, Minahasa, and Maluku, respectively. Therefore, kenari nut may be used as functional food. Keywords kenari nut, fatty acids, amino acid, antioxidant. Introduction Kenari is a tropical perennial tree nut that belongs to Burceraceae family, genus Canarium with 100 species that grows in Melanesia wet forest [1]. Several Canarium species that grows in Indonesia are C. lamili, C. vulgare, and C. indicum [2]. Among those species, C. indicum (L.) is the most prominent and grows abundantly in eastern Indonesia, such as in Maluku as well as in North Sulawesi. These plants are not normally cultivated. Usually they are planted as fencer or grew wildly in forest. Tree nut such as almond, cashew, walnut, Brazil nut, hazelnut, pecan, macadamia, and kenari nut are plants rich in bioactive compounds which have high contribution in human health. The compounds can reduce the risk of generative diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cataract [3;4]. In general, bioactive compounds in fruit or seed of tree nuts are phenolic compounds, carotenoid, phytosterols, and tocopherols. The concentration of these compounds mainly depends on the variety and the age of the fruit [5]. Phenolic substances in tree nuts generally contribute to the taste and flavour. Some of them also contribute to the colour. These phenolic substances are classified as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins [6]. There are many kind of foods made from kenari in North Sulawesi (Manado). However, scientific evidence on functional properties and health benefits are very limited and needs to be explored. To support this health benefit claim, it is necessary to provide scientific evidence on the functional properties.