Promising oil producing seed species of Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu, India)

Abstract

Fifteen species of plants from the Western Ghats were screened as alternative sources of energy, oil, polyphenol, hydrocarbon, and phytochemicals. The highest oil content was observed in Achras sapota with 13.8%. The highest polyphenol and hydrocarbon content was observed in seeds of Dalbergia sissoo with 7.1% and 1.9%, respectively. The seeds of Prosopis spicigera yielded the highest protein content with 20.9%. P. spicigera exhibits highest quantity of carbohydrate with 7.9%. The gross heat value of 5506.0 cal/g for the seeds of Terminalia tomentosa was the highest among the species analysed. The gross heat value of oil and hydrocarbon fractions of A. sapota were very high with 8717.0 and 9930.0 cal/g, respectively. The fatty acid composition of Calophyllum elatum seed oil contained oleic acid (38.02%), palmitic acid (20.98%), and linoleic acid (14.48%). The hydrocarbon fractions were also analysed to determine the type of isoprene present. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.