African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Physicochemical characterisation of hexanic seed oil extract from the pepper tree (Schinus molle) of South African origin

Trevor T. Nyakudya1*, Oscar Mahoa2, Amidou Samie3, Eliton Chivandi4, Kennedy H. Erlwanger4, Mazuru B. Gundidza5, Michael L. Magwa6 and Perkin Muredzi7
  1Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa. 2School of Therapeutics Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. 3Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050 Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa. 4School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand,Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. 5Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Harare Institute of Technology, P. O. Box BE 277, Ganges Rd, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe. 6Botany Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alice. Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa. 7School of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Harare Institute of Technology, Ganges, Rd, Box BE 272, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 01 February 2013
  •  Published: 20 February 2013

Abstract

 

The physicochemical characterisation of oil extracts from Schinus molle seeds collected in South Africa was performed. The oils were extracted in hexane, physicochemical parameters determined and lipids profiled by gas chromatography, in order to determine its potential for use in industry, ethnomedicine and its nutritional value. The total oil yield of the seed dry mass was 22%. The oil was semi-liquid at room temperature and consisted of 24 fatty acids of which 15.56, 16.75, and 31.02% were saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. Palmitic acid (8.31%), oleic acid (15.3%) and linoleic acid (26.99%) were the main fatty acids in S. molle seed oil, which had a high acid value (178.23 ± 36.8 mg KOH/g), iodine value (17.74 g I2/100 g oil) and saponification value (129.88 mg KOH/g). It was concluded that oil from S. molle seeds could be used as a source of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid which would be utilised as industrial ingredients in the manufacture of soaps, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and nutritional supplements.

 

Key words: Schinus molle, hexane oil extraction, fatty acids, ethnomedicine.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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