Physicochemical Analysis of Moringa oleifera Seeds
C. O. Ike *
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
N. M. Orjioke
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
M. C. Ugwu
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5001 Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
G. U. Okafor
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
P. I. Udeozo
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
H. O. Nwachukwu
Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The soxhlet extraction of Moringa seed oil was used to determine the proximate and physicochemical screening. The parameters obtained for the proximate screening were 7.64% moisture content, 4.05% ash content, 29.65% crude fat, 34.92% crude protein and 52.30% carbohydrate while the values obtained for the physico-chemical screening were 62.45% for Iodide, 1.1% for specific gravity, 9.84 for free fatty acid, 162.84% for saponification value, 4.10% for peroxide value, 1.46% for refractive index, 10.50% for viscosity and 5.95% for acid value. The results showed that Moringa oleifera seeds and seed oil could be employed for edible and commercial purposes.
Keywords: Physico-chemical, Moringa oleifera, soxhlet extraction, medicinal