PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND OIL EXTRACTION YIELD OF MORINGA (MORINGA OLEIFERA) SEED

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is fast growing, drought resistant tropical tree mostly found in Asian countries. Moringa is known as miracle plant due to its numerous health benefits and biological properties. Seeds of M. oleifera contain up to 35-40% of nondrying and pale yellow oil that is being utilized for illuminations because it burns without producing smoke. The current research was aimed to investigate extracted oil percentage and physicochemical characteristics of moringa seed oil. Proximate analysis of moringa seed powder was carried out and resulted that it has moisture 6.64±0.343%, crude protein 30.60±1.105 %, crude fat 24.06±1.520, crude fiber 7.07±0.367, ash 3.61±0.046 and nitrogen free extract 28.00±1.41%.Mineral profiling of moringa seed powder was done and calcium was found in higher amount of 356.67 ±15.53 mg/g than all other minerals. Concentration of magnesium  was more prominent followed by calcium which was 285.71± 3.51 mg/g. Moringa oil was extracted by solvent and cold press extraction technique and oil percentage of solvent extracted was 24.06 % as compared to mechanical extracted which was 22.47%. Moringa oil extracted by the solvent extraction showed that it contained 0.026±0.005 % moisture, 184.473±0.567 mgKOH/g saponification value which is greater than the value obtained by the solvent extraction.