Biodiesel, a form of diesel fuel, is an alternative fuel similar to the conventional diesel (the fossil) and can be produced from vegetable oils, animal oils and fats, tallow and waste cooking oils. In this study, oil was extracted from shea butter, and then subjected to transesterification process to convert it to biodiesel. Both the oil and the biodiesel were characterized using the standard procedures. The results showed that the oil has a density of 923.82 Kgm 3 , refractive index of 1.464, viscosity of 4.5 mm 2 /s at 40 O C, acid value of 1.84 mgKOH/g, saponification value of 189.53 mgKOH/g, flash point of 338 O C and iodine value of 35.52 mgI 2 /g. While the results for the biodiesel showed that it has a density of 887.61 Kgm 3 , refractive index of 1.441, viscosity of 3.62 mm 2 /s at 40 O C, acid value of 0.37 mgKOH/g, saponification value of 265.81 mgKOH/g, flash point of 96 O C and iodine value of 34.24 mgI 2 /g. These results were found to be within the ranges of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification.

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The fruits of the doum palm tree, Hyphaene thebaica are one of the oldest relish fruit. This study analyzed the chemical composition (both proximate and the mineral contents) of this plant, as well as its antioxidant property. The mineral content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the proximate and phytochemical analyses were carried out using standard procedures at Bayero University, Kano. The fruit were found to contain some minerals including K (3366.21 mg/100 g), Ca (292.04 mg/100 g), Na (212.27 mg/100 g), Mg (177.14 mg/100 g), Fe (4.86 mg/100 g), Mn (0.83 mg/100 g), Zn (0.68 mg/100 g), Cu (0.40 mg/100 g), Ni (0.32 mg/100 g) and Co (0.12 mg/100 g). The proximate composition of the doum palm fruit pulp reveals protein (2.86%), lipid (0.92%), ash content (6.24%), crude fiber (12.87%), moisture content (8.64%) and carbohydrate 68.47%. The DPPH radical scavenging efficacy of the ethanol extract of the fruit of the doum palm tree was analyzed at different concentrations of the extract. At concentration 0.0625 mg/mL, 0.125 mg/mL, 0.250 mg/mL and 0.500 mg/mL the extract showed inhibitory activity of 31%, 61%, 72% and 81% respectively. Thus the doum palm fruit pulp extract possess potential antioxidant properties.

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