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| Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acid Composition of Citrullus lanatus (Egusi Melon) Seed Oil |
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O.M. Oluba,
Y.R. Ogunlowo,
G.C. Ojieh,
K.E. Adebisi,
G.O. Eidangbe and I.O. Isiosio |
Abstract:
In this study, the physicochemical properties and fatty
acid composition of Citrullus lanatus (egusi melon) were
investigated. Oil from the seeds of Citrullus lanatus (egusi melon)
was extracted with petroleum ether as solvent. The ether extract was evaluated
for its specific gravity, refractive index, acid, iodine, peroxide and
saponification values. The fatty acid profile analysis of the oil was
also carried out by Gas Liquid Chromatography. The oil has a specific
gravity of 0.93 and refractive index of 1.45 indicating that the oil is
less thick compared to most drying oils with refractive indices between
1.48 and 1.49. Its acid, iodine, peroxide and saponification values were
3.5 ±0.3, 110 ±8.2, 8.3 ±4.6 and 192 ±43.7, respectively.
These values are within recommended range for edible oils. The oil has
four main fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids, linoleic
acid being the most abundant. The fatty acid content of the oil showed
that 71.9% is unsaturated. These results indicate that egusi melon oil
could be a good source of table oil. Its high content of linoleic acid
is of particular interest especially in the fight against atherosclerosis.
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How to cite this article:
O.M. Oluba, Y.R. Ogunlowo, G.C. Ojieh, K.E. Adebisi, G.O. Eidangbe and I.O. Isiosio, 2008. Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acid Composition of Citrullus lanatus (Egusi Melon) Seed Oil. Journal of Biological Sciences, 8: 814-817.
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2008.814.817
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2008.814.817
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