Chemical Characterization and Pharmacological Screening of Some Annona Seed Oils

Abstract

Seed oils from the indigenous species, viz., Annona squamosa, Annona muricata and Annona reticulata belonging to Annonaceae family have been analyzed for their physico-chemical properties. Major fatty acids identified from Annona squamosa seed oil are palmitic acid (8.9%), linoleic acid (11%), stearic acid (1.5%), caproic acid (0.4%) and traces of caprylic acid, while in Annona muricata seed oil, caprylic acid (76%), capric acid (13%), stearic acid (10%) and traces of capric acid are present. The fatty acid constituents of Annona reticulata seed oil are linoleic acid (13%), caprylic acid (4.2%), oleic acid (0.7%), capric acid (0.26%) and traces of caproic acid. The Annona seed oils are individually screened for the acute toxicity studies and found that all the three seed oils are non-toxic. They exhibited significant antiinflammatory effects against carageenan induced paw oedema in albino rats. This is the first report of the study of chemical constituents as well as anti-inflammatory activity of annonaceous seed oils.