Physico Chemical Properties and Chemical Constituent Characterization of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil from Benue State, Nigeria, Extracted Using Cold and Soxhlet Method

The extraction and characterization of both cold press and hexane solvent extracted Moringa oleifera oil found in North central (Makurdi, Benue State) Ecological Zone of Nigeria has been carried out. The moringa seed was milled into flour and then divided into two portions. The first portion was used for the cold press extraction while the second portion was defatted using soxhlet extraction method. Normal hexane was used as solvent for the extraction process. The characterization breakdown revealed that tested parameters, which include specific gravity, refractive index, acid value, free fatty acid and moisture content were not significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. While, viscosity, colour, pH, percentage yield, saponification value, peroxide value and iodine value for both cold press and hexane solvent extracted Moringa oil produced, were significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. The oil was analysed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer method showing the composition and components (quantitative and qualitative) of the oil. Seven compounds were identified from oil derived from cold press extraction method with 5, 5-Dimethyl-1, 3-dioxane-2-ethanol and 12-Methyl-E, E-2, 13-Octadecadien-1-ol as the major component obtained. For the hexane solvent extraction method, only three compounds were identified with 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), (Linoleic acid) having highest abundance with respect to retention time as displayed by the highest peaks in the graphs. The seed oil of M oleifera showed good physio-chemical properties and could be utilized successfully as a source of edible oil for human consumption and for industrial applications. Also, we found oil derived from cold press extraction method as most enriched than that hexane solvent extraction method and can be used for the treatment of various hazardous diseases.