PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND FATTY ACID PROFILE OF GBAFILO (CHRYSOBALAMUS ICACO) SEED OIL

• A.I. Akinyede

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria

  Author

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the physicochemical properties and the fatty acid composition of the seeds of Gbafilo from a cultivated origin of Nigeria. Oils from the seeds of gbafilo were extracted with n-hexane using Soxhlet apparatus. The oil extract was evaluated for physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition using standard methods. The results of the physicochemical parameters were: color (brown), specific gravity 0.97, refractive index 1.43, saponification value 164.00 mgKOH/g oil, unsaponifiable matter 0.34 peroxide value 6.10 Meq KOH/g and acid value 6.2 mgKOH/g. The major sterol was β-sitosterol constituting about 58.69%% of the total sterols content. The next major components were stigmasterol (22.62%), brassisterol (11.82%) campesterol (6.06%) and cholesterol (0.06%). The fatty acid profile presented a higher proportion of saturated (38.57%) than unsaturated (37.54%), likewise the fatty acid composition analysis showed that oleic acid is the most abundant (24.72%) followed by palmitic acid (21.17 %); stearic acid (14.17%); linoleic (11.60%). The oil is rich in some polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols which may make it serve as a potential source of valuable oil that might be used for edible and other industrial applications.

1. A.I. Akinyede, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria

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