Analytical Characterization of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil Grown in Temperate Regions of Pakistan

Abstract

The hexane-extracted oil content of Moringa oleifera seeds ranged from 38.00 to 42.00%. Protein, fiber, and ash contents were found to be 26.50-32.00, 5.80-9.29, and, 5.60-7.50%, respectively. Results of physical and chemical parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 68.00-71.80; refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4590-1.4625; density (24 degrees C), 0.9036-0.9080 mg/mL; saponification value, 180.60-190.50; unsaponifiable matter, 0.70-1.10%; and color (1 in. cell), 0.95-1.10 R + 20.00-35.30 Y. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil were up to 123.50-161.30, 84.07-104.00, and 41.00-56.00 mg/kg, respectively. The oil was found to contain high levels of oleic acid (up to 78.59%) followed by palmitic, stearic, behenic, and arachidic acid up to levels of 7.00, 7.50, 5.99, and 4.21%, respectively. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 9.99 h and reduced to 8.63 h after degumming. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.70 and 0.31, respectively. Many parameters of M. oleifera oil indigenous to Pakistan were comparable to those of typical Moringa seed oils reported in the literature. The results of the present analytical study were also compared with those of different vegetable oils.

Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple medicinal uses

“…Moringa oleifera is also a good source of different tocopherols (α-, γ-and δ-); the concentration of those is reported to be 98. 82-134.42, 27.90-93.70, and 48.00-71.16 mg/kg, respectively (Anwar and Bhanger, 2003;Tsaknis et al, 1999).…”

“…The composition of the sterols of Moringa seed oil mainly consists of campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, ∆ 5 -avenasterol and clerosterol accompanied by minute amounts of 24-methylenecholesterol, ∆ 7 -campestanol, stigmastanol and 28-isoavenasterol (Tsaknis et al, 1999;Anwar and Bhanger, 2003;Anwar et al, 2005; Table 2). The sterol composition of the major fractions of Moringa seed oil differs greatly from those of most of the conventional edible oils (Rossell, 1991).…”

“…The fatty acid composition of M. oleifera seed oil reveals that it falls in the category of high-oleic oils (C18:1, 67.90%-76.00%). Among the other component fatty acids C16:0 (6.04%-7.80%), C18:0 (4.14%-7.60%), C20:0 (2.76%-4.00%), and C22:0 (5.00%-6.73%) are important (Tsaknis et al, 1999;Anwar and Bhanger, 2003;Anwar et al, 2005). Moringa oleifera is also a good source of different tocopherols (α-, γ-and δ-); the concentration of those is reported to be 98.…”

“…In some parts of the world M. oleifera is referred to as the 'drumstick tree' or the 'horse radish tree', whereas in others it is known as the kelor tree (Anwar and Bhanger, 2003). While in the Nile valley, the name of the tree is 'Shagara al Rauwaq', which means 'tree for purifying ' (Von Maydell, 1986).…”

“…The leaves, fruit, flowers and immature pods of this tree are used as a highly nutritive vegetable in many countries, particularly in India, Pakistan, Philippines, Hawaii and many parts of Africa (D'souza and Kulkarni, 1993;Anwar and Bhanger, 2003;Anwar et al, 2005). Moringa leaves have been reported to be a rich source of β-carotene, protein, vitamin C, calcium and potassium and act as a good source of natural antioxidants; and thus enhance the shelf-life of fat containing foods due to the presence of various types of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics and carotenoids (Dillard and German, 2000;Siddhuraju and Becker, 2003).…”