FRUITS OF CUCURBITA-MOSCHATA DUCH .2. CHARACTERISTICS AND ACIDIC COMPOSITION OF THE EXTRACTED CRUDE SEEDOIL

Abstract

Mixed integral seeds of Cucurbita moschata Duch (calabacita) harvested at Buenos Aires and Mendoza provinces) were analized considering some characteristics like size, kg/Hl, No- seeds Ig, rate kernel/hull, mean seed weigh and color). The grinded seeds were extracted with technical hexane and the crude seedoil obteined (33,2 % db.): II 101,4; IS 187,6; IA 16,1; unsaponifiable matter % 1,86; total fatty acids % 90,20; total sterols (mg % g) 658 and lipidic phosphorus (as P % g oil) 0,022. The fatty acid composition (% of total acids) determined by GLC of methyl esters showed as ''major components'' 16:0(17,0); 18:1 (31,6) and 18:2 (45,1) plus 14:0 (0,1); 18:0 (5,9), 20:0 (0,2) and traces of 12:0 and 17:0. IS methyl esters 190,0; ISA methyl esters 195,0. It is concluded that the oil is a semidrying, practically free from 18:3 and hydroxyacids one.