Sustainable utilization of oil palm wastes for bioactive phytochemicals for the benefit of the oil palm and nutraceutical industries

For a hectare of oil palm plantation, about 21.63 tonnes of biomass comprising 20.43 % empty fruit bunches, 5.09 % palm kernel shells, 11.65 % oil palm trunks, 50.30 % oil palm fronds and 12.53 % palm pressed fibre is produced per year as wastes which keep raising many environmental concerns as most of them are incinerated and dumped at open sites. Oil palm wastes are found to contain phytochemicals which have anti-cancer, antioxidants and other vital biological activities. About 17–65 kg of carotenoids, 0.1–60 kg phenolic compounds, 0.6–39 kg sterols and 4.0–62 kg tocols could be extracted from these wastes which would not only boost the economy but also help improve human health and promote clean environments. This study assesses the phytochemistry of oil palm wastes and their pharmacological activities beneficial to the nutraceutical industry with the view of utilizing oil palm wastes for sustainable development.