Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences (Jul 2022)

Influence of seasonality on the physicochemical properties of Moringa oleifera Lam. Seed oil and their oleochemical potential

  • Flávia Michelle Silva Wiltshire,
  • Alessandro de França Santos,
  • Lavínia Kelly Barros Silva,
  • Lays Carvalho de Almeida,
  • Lisiane dos Santos Freitas,
  • Alvaro Silva Lima,
  • Alini Tinoco Fricks,
  • Cláudio Dariva,
  • Cleide Mara Faria Soares

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4
p. 100068

Abstract

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The effect of abiotic factors, such as weather and climate can alter the properties of vegetable oils. In this work, the effects of the refining process and pre-drying of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds collected in the dry and rainy seasons (seasonality) were evaluated on the characteristics of the extracted oils. The refined and crude dry season oils had lower acidity and moisture content than the dry and raw rainy season oils. Oleic acid (C18:1) showed the highest concentration in the different Moringa oils studied. The results suggest that dry season oils are more suitable for application as feedstocks in the cosmetic, food, medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. Furthermore, refining proved to be efficient in removing free fatty acids and in lightening the oil.

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