Physico-chemical characteristics of Moringa oleifera seeds and seed oil from a wild provenance of Pakistan

The purpose of the present study was to examine the physico-chemical characteristics of Moringo oleifera seeds and seed oil from a wild provenance of Pakistan. The Moringa seeds harvested from the forests of Kohat district of NWFP exhibited an oil yield of 34.80%. Protein, fiber, moisture and ash contents were 31.65, 7.54, 8.90 and 6.53%, respectively. The extracted M. oleifera seed oil revealed an iodine value of 68.63: refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4571; density (24 degrees C), 0.09032 g cm(-3): saponification value. 181.4: unsaponifiable matter, 0.74%; acidity (as oleic acid) 0.81% and color (1-in. cell) 1.28 R + 31.00 Y. Determinations of oxidation parameters like induction period (Rancimat 20 L/h, 120 degrees C), specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm, peroxide- and p-anisidine values demostrated a good oxidation stability of the investigated M. oleifera oil. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma and delta) contents of the oil amounted to 140.5, 63.18 and 61.70 mg kg(-1), respectively and were reduced considerably after degumming. The major sterol components of the oil were beta-sitosterol (46.16%), campesterol (17.59%), stigmasterol (18.80%) and Delta(5) avenasterol (9.26%). The wild M. oleifera seed oil was found to contain oleic acid up to 73.22%, followed by palmitic, stearic, behenic and arachidic acids 6.45, 5.50, 6.16 and 4.08%, respectively and fell in the category of high-oleic oils, The results of different quality attributes of M. oleifera oil from a wild provenance of Pakistan reveal that it could be employed for edible and commercial applications.