Watermelon seed oil

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Male and female watermelon 1458.JPG

Watermelon seed oil is extracted by pressing from the seeds of the Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon). It is particularly common in West Africa, where it is also called ootanga oil or kalahari oil.Watermelons probably originated almost 5,000 years ago in the Kalahari Desert of Africa where botanists have found its wild ancestors still growing. Watermelons migrated north through Egypt, and during the Roman era they were cultivated and prized.[1] Traditionally, the seeds are extracted from the seed casing, and dried in the sun. Once dried, the seeds are pressed to extract the oil.

Chemical composition

Watermelon seed oil contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major acids.[2]

Fatty acid composition of Watermelon seed oil[3]

Fatty Acid Percent %
Palmitic acid(C16:0) 11.0
stearic acid(C18:0) 10.0
Oleic acid(C18:1) 15.0
Linoleic acid(C18:2) 63.0

Specifications of watermelon seed oil[4]

character value
Refractive Index (40ºC) 1.4630-1.4670
Iodine value 115-125
Saponification value 190-198
unsaponifiable matter 1.5% max
Moisture 0.5% max
colour 1/2"cell,(y+5R) 20.0 units

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. SEA HandBook-2009 by Solvent Extractors'Association Of India
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.