Abstract

GC-FID AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF OIL FROM THE LEAVES OF FICUS ELASTICA LINN

Afifa Saeed, Zafar Iqbal*, Zubia Gulzar, Zhang Hai, Mohammad Akram, Lubna Liaqat, Zaheen Tara, Marvi Mansha and Hafiza Iqra Khalil

Abstract

Ficus elastica leaves were cut into small pieces and extraction of oil was carried out through soxhlet apparatus by using n-hexane for 6 hours. Solvent was separated by rotary evaporator at reduced pressure and green colored oil with 1.92% yield was obtained. Its physicochemical properties were estimated by following standard procedures. Its acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, refractive index and free fatty acid values were 11.16 mg KOH/g, 16.83 mg KOH/g, 15 meq H2O2/g, 1.3970 and 5.61% respectively. Fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatograph coupled with flam ionization detector (GC-FID) after esterification of the oil with methanol in the presence of boron trifluoruide. It contains lauric acid 3.36%, myristic acid 3.12%, butyric acid 3.38%, isobutyric acid 6.50%, caprylic acid 5.41%, caproic acid 27.34%, valeric acid 6.76 %, isovaleric acid 23.59% and capric acid 20.28%. The oil of F. elastica contains lower molecular weight saturated fatty acids which are suitable for application in soap and cosmetic industry.

Keywords: Gas Chromatography, Ficus elastica, Oil, Fatty acid, Caprylic acid, Capric acid.