Extraction and Characterization of Vegetable Oil from 20 Accessions of Allanblackia parviflora Seeds in Ghana

Abstract

The benefits derived from the forest estate in Ghana include Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). NTFPs such as vegetable oil produced from seed of  forest trees have been used for centuries. The oil from the seed kernel of Allanblackia parviflora (Allanblackia) is investigated for differences in the yield  and quality between accessions. Vegetable oil from twenty (20) accessions of Allanblackia were extracted and characterized. The oil yields from the  different accessions were all above 60% and no significant differences were detected amongst the accessions. The iodine value was very low indicating a  very saturated oil whilst the refractive index, specific gravity and acid values were all within the range of most edible oils. The vegetable oil contains over  60% saturated fatty acids in the form of stearic acid (C18:0) and over 30% unsaturated fatty acid in the form of oleic acid (C18:1), and this may be the  reason for the oil been solid at ambient room temperature.