CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL, OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA

Abstract

Oil extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica seeds constituted 13.6% of the whole seed. Results of the physical and chemical analyses of the oil for refractive index, iodine number, saponification number, Reichert-Meissl number, Hehner value, acid value and unsaponifiable matter compared well with the characteristics of other commonly consumed vegetable oils. Thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a relatively high degree of unsaturation, 82%, with a linoleic acid content of 73.4% followed by palmitic, 12%, oleic 8.8% and stearic acid, 5.8%. Based on these results, Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil appears to be a good potential source of edible oil for human and/or animal consumption.