Purpose: To elucidate lipid profile of
Landolphia owariensis
P. Beauv stringy seed oil, the bulk
physicochemical properties of its neutral lipid (NL), and also to ascertain its nutritional properties, safety
and industrial applications.
Methods: The neutral lipid was recovered by macerating 500 g of
L. owariensis stringy seed pulp in 1 L
of petroleum ether (40 – 60 ºC boiling range) for 48 h. Methyl esters of the inherent fatty acids were
generated by transmethylation while the physicochemical properties of the NL was determined by
official methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC).
Results: The acid, iodine, saponification and peroxide values were 2.81 ± 0.01 mg KOH/g, 67.26 ± 1.05
mg I/100 g, 219.38 ± 2.69 mg KOH/g and 6.00 ± 0.28 mEq/kg, respectively. Thiobarbituric acid reactive
substance (TBARS) value (6.10 ± 0.24 mg MDA/kg) of the NL further confirmed the stability of NL
(neutral lipid) against oxidative rancidity. Gas chromatographic analysis of the methyl ester mix of
L.
owariensis stringy seed pulp NL indicate hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) as the principal fatty acid
with an absolute proportion of 54.38 %. Palmitoleic acid (18.54 %) and linoleic acid (9.56 %) ranked
second and third, respectively, while the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio was 2.53.
Conclusion: The neutral lipid of seed oil exhibited strong stability to ketonic and oxidative rancidity, and
is safe for edible purposes. Its relatively high unsaturated fatty acid proportion (28.29 %) indicates that
L. owariensis stringy seed pulp fixed oil possesses good nutritional qualities.
