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Physico-chemical characteristics of Mesua ferrea seed oil and nutritional composition of its seed and leaves


M. Abu Sayeed
M. Abbas Ali
F.I. Sohel
G.R.M. Astaq Mohal Khan
Mst. Sarmina Yeasmin

Abstract

Studies on the physico-chemical characteristics of seed oils of Mesua ferrea collected from different districts of Bangladesh revealed specific gravity (0.9287-09312), refractive index (1.4690-1.4739), solidification point [-4.0-(-4.3)], pour point [-1.0-(-1.3)], cloud point (5.5-6.0), flash point (90-98), fire point (110-116), smoke point (44-47), iodine value (89.17-93.01), saponification value (199.03-206.40), saponification equivalent (271.80-281.86), acid value (9.64-11.87), free fatty acid (4.85-5.96), ester value (188.95-1.95.44), unsaponifiable matter (1.44-1.50), acetyl value (2.70-2.84), peroxide value (3.58-3.64), Reichert-Meissl value (5.852-6.031) and polenske number (0.7891-0.8401). Glyceride classes were estimated to be monoglycerides (1.05-1.35 %), diglycerides (2.12-2.32 %) and triglycerides (87.65-89.50 %) whereas total lipid extracts were fractionated into neutral lipid (89.83-92.18 %), glycolipid (3.65-4.15 %) and phospholipid (1.98-2.68 %). Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids present in the oils were separated and amounted to be (27.40-29.11 %) and (65.85- 68.31 %), respectively, depending upon the areas from where the seeds were collected. GLC analysis of the oil indicated the presence of palmitic acid (10.87%), linoleic acid (13.68%), oleic acid (55.93%) and stearic acid (14.19%) as major fatty acids in the oil. In addition, myristic acid (2.13%) and arachidic acid (2.921%) were also present in minor amount. In biochemical analysis, Mesua ferrea seeds contained total lipid (66.91-70.23 g %), moisture (4.02-5.05 g %), ash (1.46-1.50 g %), total protein (6.99-7.19 g %), water soluble protein (2.98-3.11 g %), starch (5.51-5.85 g %), crude fiber (1.22-1.98 g %), carbohydrate (15.88-18.68 g %) and energy value (700.55-724.15 kcal/100 g), while its leaves contained total lipid (2.32-2.44 g %), moisture (65.12-72.19 g %), ash (2.60-2.71 g %), total protein (4.23-4.85 g %), water soluble protein (1.47-2.01 g %), starch (3.06-3.27 g %), crude fiber (3.12-3.29 g %), carbohydrate (14.82-22.30 g %) and energy value (100.24-128.40 kcal/100 g ). The present investigations demonstrate that the results vary to some extent but not significantly enough with the locations from where samples were collected.

 

KEY WORDS: Mesua ferrea, Seed oil, Glyceride compositions, Fatty acid compositions, Nutritional composition

 

 

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2004, 18(2), 157-166.


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eISSN: 1726-801X
print ISSN: 1011-3924