Physico-chemical and GC-MS Analysis of Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria) Seed Oil

Aims: To show the potential of the hexane extract of the seed oil in cosmetics and perfumery.

Study Design: Quality evaluation by physico-chemical analysis and determination of fatty acid composition through GC-MS qualitative analysis were carried out on hexane extract of calabash (Lagenaria vulgaris) seed oil.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, between April and Aug 2016.

Methodology: Dried seeds were crushed into powder using mortar and pestle and were stored in a plastic container before analysis. Seed oil was obtained by complete extraction using the Soxhlet extractor (GG-17, SHUNIU). The qualitative fatty acid analysis was done using Shimadzu QP2010 plus series gas chromatography coupled with Shimadzu QP2010 plus mass spectroscopy detector (GC-MS) system.

Results: The oil yield (%) was 29.33±0.01, the colour was dark yellow. The following physico-chemical results were obtained; Acid value mgKOH / g of 0.47±0.01, Iodine value gI2/100 g of 23.03±0.07 and Saponification value mgKOH / g of 156±0.01. The GC-MS results revealed the following fatty acid composition; Palmitic acid, stearic acid, Eicosadenoic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, erucic acid, arachidic acid and behhenic acid respectively.

Conclusion: Quality characteristics through physico-chemical analysis and fatty acid profile qualitatively determined showed the potential of the hexane extract of the seed oil in cosmetics and perfumery.