Physicochemical and Phytochemical Characterization of Seed Kernel oil From Desert Date (Balanites Aegyptiaca)

Abstract

The seed oil of Balanites aegyptiaca was extracted and its physical, phytochemical and chemical properties which accounts for the oil quality parameters were investigated. The elemental composition of the oil revealed high metal concentration of sodium (5.9178±0.2 mg/g) in the seed kernel, magnesium (2.2242±0.007 mg/g) and calcium (1.4643±0.5) in the seed oil. The chemical parameters evaluated include saponification value (200.02±0.12 mgKOH/g), acid value (2.14±0.28 (mgKOH/g), iodine value (104.39±0.00 100/g), peroxide value (2.95±0.00 (mEq/kg) and free fatty acid (0.82±0.01%). The physical parameters determined were oil content, specific gravity, refractive index and moisture content. These were found to be 45.32±0.0026%, 0.90±0.03, 1.45 and 0.114±0.04%, respectively. The oil quality parameters showed that the oil is of edible quality with highest %FFA content of 0.84 % and considered non-drying oil. The fatty acids composition of the oil was evaluated using GC-MS as FAME, the oil contains about 47.52 % unsaturated fatty acids. Phytochemical screening of the oil also showed the presence of alkaloid, steroid, cardiac glycoside and carbohydrate. The seed kernel of Bala-nites Aegyptiaca is a good source of vegetable oil.