STUDIES ON MIRABILIS JALAPA (4 OCLOCK PLANT) SEED OIL

Abstract

Mirabilis jalapa of Nyctaginaceae plant family yields 4–5% of fatty oil. The oil is investigated for its glycerides and fatty acid composition by gas liquid chromatography. The fatty acids in the seed oil constitute C16:0, 18.3%;C18:1,55.3%;C18:2,11.5%;C18:3,14.9%. The triglyceride components were also determined by separating the triglycerides according to their degree of unsaturation by means of thin-layer chromatography on silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate. The fatty acid composition of the different triglyceride fractions was determined. Moreover, the triglycerides were separated according to their carbon number by gas liquid chromatography.