Evaluation of Snake Tomato (Trichosanthes Cucumerina) Seed and Extracted Seed-oils for Relevant Applications

Abstract

This study reports the phytochemical screening, ascorbic acid, total sugar contents of the seed flour as well as the physicochemical and selected fatty acid profile of snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) seed oils in three different solvents (n-hexane, methanol and ratio 1:3 mixture of n-hexane: methanol). Qualitative phytochemical screening of the seed flour showed the absence of cyanogenetic glycosides, alkaloids and saponins. The ascorbic acid and total sugar in mg/100 g of the seed flour were found to be (0.24 ± 0.02) and (0.12 ± 0.01) respectively. Higher amounts of macro and low quantities of micro elements were observed in n-hexane and methanolic oil extracts. The physicochemical properties of the oils revealed an increase in specific gravity, acid and saponification values of the n-hexane extracted oil relative to that of methanol. The determined selected fatty acids of the oils showed oleic acid to be the most abundant fatty acid with 26.51 % and 19.47 % in n- hexane and methanolic solvent extracted oils respectively while palmitoleic acid was the least abundant fatty acid in the two oil samples. FT-IR spectroscopic studies performed on the mixture of n-hexane: methanol (ratio 1:3) extracted seed oil revealed useful characteristic peak values. The outcome of this study is an indication that T. cucumerina seed and seed oils could be considered as alternatives in the search for replacement of synthetic additives to further enhance industrial development.