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Seasonal variations in the seed oil of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum
Author(s) -
Obasi N. B. B.,
Igboechi A. C.,
Benjamin T. V.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02540411
Subject(s) - unsaponifiable , capric acid , wet season , chemistry , botany , extraction (chemistry) , chemical composition , horticulture , biology , food science , lauric acid , organic chemistry , fatty acid , ecology
The fixed oil of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum. ( T. neriifolia Juss) was obtained by solvent extraction, and its yield and composition were studied to reflect the effect of seasonal variations. Ripe and unripe seeds collected in December and February (the dry season) gave average yields of 72 and 52%, v/w, respectively, and those of May and August (the rainy season) gave 56 and 41%, v/w, respectively. Sitosterol was isolated and identified from the unsaponifiable fraction. Oleic, linoleic, stearic and palmitic acids were shown to be present in all the oils, while myristic, lauric, capric and caprylic acids were identified only in the oil from unripe seeds collected in the rainy season. The physical and chemical constants of the oils are given also.