Oil Characteristics of Thevita peruviana (Yellow oleander) and Plumeria alba (White frangipani)

Abstract

Seed oils of two Apocynaecea plants have been subjected to chemical analysis. Physico-chemical parameters obtained revealed the good potentials of the oils. Percentage seed oil in Thevetia peruviana and Plumeria alba were 65.53 ± 2.84 and 34.12 ± 0.81 respectively. Iodine value in the two seed ouls indicates a preponderance of unsaturated fatty acids. Amount of unsaturated fatty acids in T. peruviana is 75.40% with oleic and linoleic having 31.46 ± 0.2 and 43.90 ± 0.4% respectively while the unsaturated fatty acids content found in P. alba is 79.40% with palmitoleic, oleic, and linoleic having 58.42 ± 0.2, 6.9 ± 0.3 and 14.04 ± 0.2% respectively. Proximate analysis of the seeds of the Apocynaecea plants showed that they are rich in carbohydrate, 17.44 ± 1.6 and 31.34 ± 1.0% for T. peruviana and P. alba respectively. Ash, moisture and crude fiber contents in the seeds were low, while crude protein was found to be more in P. alba (24.61 ± 0.32%).