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 Moringa 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°C), 1.4571; density (24°C), 0.9032 g cm; 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°C), specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm, peroxideand p-anisidine values demonstrated a good oxidative stability of the investigated M. oleifera oil. Tocopherols (α, γ and δ) contents of the oil amounted to 140.5, 63.18 and 61.70 mg kg, respectively and were reduced considerably after degumming. The major sterol components of the oil were β-sitosterol (46.16%), campesterol (17.59%), stigmasterol (18.80%) and Δ, 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.