Physico-chemical Characterization of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) Seed Oil Harvested from Burkina Faso

Résumé

Moringa oleifera seeds are a potential source of oils for food or cosmetic use but also for therapeutic virtues. This study is a contribution to the valorization of this oil by assess the physico-chemical characteristics of the seed oil of M. oleifera from Burkina Faso obtained by two extraction methods. Extraction was assessed by Soxhlet with n-hexane and Hot expression extraction. The chemical indices were evaluated by volumetry. Density and refractive index were determined with a pycnometer and an ABBE OPL type refractometer respectively. The density of the oils was 0.904 and 0.907 respectively by organic extraction and by pressing with refractive indexes 1.465 vs 1.467. From these two extraction methods, the chemical index such as the acid value: 3.94±0.19 vs 2.85±0.15 mg of KOH/g of oil ; Peroxide value: 55.33 ± 1.26 vs 2.19 ± 0.56 mEq of O2/Kg ; Iodine value: 37.6 ± 0.64 vs 37.93 ± 0.68 g of iodine/100 g of oil and saponification value: 199,79 ± 1.11 vs 200.39 ± 4.34 mg KOH/g oil were found respectively. Moringa oleifera oil obtained by organic extraction is more acidic and more sensitive to oxidation against that obtained by hot press. Thus, organic solvents would negatively impact the quality of the oil.Guinea.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, seeds, organic extraction, Hot expression extraction, chemical index.