Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry

Abstract

Pharmacological Potentials, Characterization and Fatty Acids Profile of Persea americana Mill. (Avocardo) Seed Oil Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy

Omeje KO, Ozioko JN and Opmeje HC

In this study, Avocado seed oil was extracted using sohxlet apparatus, n-hexane: chloroform (30:70) at 70°C for 3 h, characterized and the pharmacological potentials assessed. The percentage oil yield was 36.93%, brown in colour and remained liquid at room temperature. The acid, peroxide and iodine values were 7.86 mg/KOH/g, 42.11 meq/ Kg-1 and 33.21 mg/100 g respectively. The identified fatty acids included Dodecanoic acid (1.05%), tetradecanoic acid (0.86%), n-hexadecanoic acid (13.19%), hexadecanoic acid (4.12%), 9,12-octadecanoic acid (0.28%), 11-octadecanoic acid (0.45%), oleic acid (40.33%), n-hexadecanoic acid (9.69%), 1,E-11-Z-13-octadecatriene (11.45%), 1,E-11-Z-13octadecatriene (6.78%), undecylanic acid (6.31%), palmitaldehyde diisopentylacetal (1.14%), 9-octadecanal (1.18%) and (E)-13-docosenoic acid (3.17%). The presence of fatty acids such as undecylenic acid, oleic acid and other essential fatty acids suggests the seed oil could possess important pharmacological properties.