Composition, Physical Properties and Drying Characteristics of Seed Oil of <i>Momordica charantia</i> Cultivated in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Abstract Karawila ( Momordica charantia ), also known as bitter gourd, is widely used as a food and a medicine in Asian countries. Representative samples of the seeds of the most abundant cultivar (MC43) in Sri Lanka were collected. The kernel represented 60 ± 4.7% of the seed by dry weight basis. The oil content of the dry kernel was 40.45 ± 3.12%. The seed oil was rich in α‐eleosteric acid (50.04 ± 4.80%) and three other geometrical isomers of 9,11,13‐octadecatrienoic acid that constituted 6.55%. The acid value, the saponification value and the iodine value were 2.73 ± 0.876, 190.70 ± 1.82 mg/g and 115.96 ± 3.46 cg/g, respectively. The set‐to‐touch drying time of 3 h observed for the seed oil of MC43 was significantly less than that of linseed oil (13 h). The presence of a high amount of conjugated octadecatrienoic acids, low acid value, high saponification value, moderate iodine value and the low set‐to‐touch drying time are promising indicators of the potential of karawila seed oil as a good drying oil for the paint and coating industry.