**2. Origin**

Red palm oil (RPO), found in the tropical and sub-Saharan Africa is natural oil obtained from the fleshy red mesocarp of the fruits from the oil palm tree (*Elaeis guineensis*). RPO contains lipid-soluble antioxidants like carotenoids (α and β-carotenes, lycopenes), vitamin E (in the form of α, β, δ tocotrienols and tocopherol) and ubiquinone [7]. It has also been reported that the red-orange color of red palm fruits was due to its carotene and lycopene contents as present in tomatoes, carrots and other fruits and vegetables [7]. Red palm oil is different from other plant and animal oil because it contains 50% saturated fatty acids, 40% unsaturated fatty acids, and 10% polyunsaturated fatty acids [8–10].
