Sun protection factor, content and composition of lipid fraction of green coffee beans

Coffee is a much enjoyed beverage because of its unique flavor and taste characteristics. The lipid fraction of coffee beans, composed of wax, oil and unsaponifiable matter, prevents volatilization and loss of flavor during the roasting process. The lipid fraction extracted from green beans is high in linoleic acid and has an ultraviolet absorption. These properties that can be very useful and suitable for cosmetic products such as skin moisturizers and sunscreens. The aim of this study was to characterize the lipid fraction and to determine the sun protection factor of 10 species of Coffea. Significant variability was found for all the parameters investigated: the wax content varying between 0.0 and 2.8%, the oil content ranging from 6.9% to 32.4%, unsaponifiable matter from 0.3% to 13.5% and the sun protection factor from 0.0 to 4.1. Fatty acids widely used in the cosmetics industry, such as linoleic and oleic acid were found to be present in excellent proportion.