PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF FOUR MINOR OILS

Abstract

Four minor seed oils from Abroma augusta (AA), Annona squamosa (AS), Bombax ceiba (BC) and Ceiba pentandra (CP) plants were refined and refined seed oils were analyzed for their physicochemical properties. All the refined seed oils had normal physicochemical characteristics. The seed oils except CP also had usual fatty acid composition and contained a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids namely linoleic and oleic, a suitable criterion of edibility of vegetable oils. In addition to normal fatty acids, the refined CP seed oil also contained 10.6% cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA), therefore, is not recommended as a dietary source of fat unless a suitable method is developed for its removal or detoxification. Nutritional evaluation of the refined seed oils were carried out in rats by feeding the respective oils and peanut oil as control at 10% level in a 20% protein diet with adequate vitamins and minerals. The refined CP seed oil showed poor growth performance, low FER, altered lipid metabolism and histopathological abnormalities in the liver which indicate the unsuitability of it for edible purpose. Growth performances, FER, serum and liver lipids, organ weights and histopathological findings of other three minor oils were satisfactory and comparable to that of peanut oil, therefore, they can be considered for edible use.