Abstract

EXTRACTION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MUSTARD SEED (BRASSICA SPP.) OIL

Aloh,G.S., *Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Odo Christian Emeka, , Okpara,kingsley Ezechukwu, Onyekwere Chioma, Obeagu Getrude Uzoma

Abstract

The extraction (with soxhlet apparatus) and partial characterization of Brassica juncea oil, its phytochemical and physiochemical analyses were carried out to investigate the extractable oil of the seed, to classify the oil and to evaluate its pharmacological and industrial potentials. The extraction gave a percentage yield of 22.93% while the partial characterization results (which include the physicochemical and phytochemical analyses), were specific gravity - 0.8286; acid TOlue- 11.781%; free fatty acid value-5.922%; peroxide value-7.0%; iodine value -103.499%, saponification value 315.563%, unsaponifiable matter - 5.0%. The Rf values from the TLC gave 0.92, 0.94, 0.84, and 0.89 for stearic, linoleic, cleic and palmitic ands respectively niiich corresponded to the Rf values of the sample, while the phytochemistry revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and proteins. These suggest good, stable, edible and semidrying extractable industrial oil with pharmacological properties.

Keywords: Brassica juncea oil, semi- drying extractable, phytochemical analyses.