Yield Potentials of Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don Seed Oil for Therapeutic and Industrial Uses

Abstract

This study determined the extractable yield, phytochemical constituents and physicochemical properties of Chrysophyllum albidum seed oil. Seeds of Chrysophyllum albidum were collected from two locations, air-dried, milled and cold macerated. The seed oils were extracted and purified using activated charcoal before qualitative screening to identify their phytochemical contents. The physicochemical properties were quantitatively determined. Cold maceration resulted in low seed oil yield. The phytochemical constituents included alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides, while tannins and flavonoids were absent. Physicochemical properties included: acid value (6.31 – 8.10 mg KOH/g), saponification value (254.70 – 356.60 mg KOH/g), iodine value (65.30 – 68.30 mg/g), ester value (247.50 – 348.50), pH (2.93 – 4.04), relative density (0.787 – 0.874 g/cm3) and refractive index at 28°C (1.45 – 1.46). There were slight variations in the yield and physicochemical constituents of the seed oils from the two locations, which exhibited non-drying characteristics.