Physico Chemical and Fatty Acid Composition of Nicker Bean (Entada gigas) Seed Oil

摘要

The proximate, minerals, physico chemical properties and fatty acid composition of nicker bean (Entadagigas) seed oil were evaluated. The results of proximate analysis were: moisture (25.0%), ash (0.50%), crude protein (0.23%), crude fat (60.4%) and carbohydrate (13.9%). The predominant mineral was magnesium (161mg/kg) followed by potassium (110 mg/kg) and sodium took the third position with value of 89.0 mg/kg. The least abundant mineral was phosphorus (5.45 mg/kg). The physico chemical parameters analysed were: saponification value (236mgKOH/g), specific gravity (0.7499 g/cm³), refractive index (1.4651), acid value (3.37mgKOH/g), unsaponifiable matter (21.62%), peroxide value (4.00 MEq.O₂ /Kg), iodine value (13.96 mgI₂/100g) and viscosity (5.52 mPa/sec). The richest fatty acid was oleic acid with the value of 72.1% while the least was lauric acid (0.11%). The value of TUFA >TSFA makes the oil worthwhile.