Chemical composition of crude oil from the seeds of pumpkin (<i>Cucurbita spp</i>.) and mamey sapota (<i>Pouteria sapota</i>Jacq.) grown in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition of crude oil from the seeds of pumpkin and mamey fruits grown in the Yucatan, Mexico. Through the extraction method utilized, it was possible to obtain 50 and 40% of crude oil from pumpkin and mamey seeds, respectively. The refractive index at 40°C and peroxide index of crude oil from mamey seeds were similar to those reported for pumpkin var. Xnuuk K'úum, but significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those reported for pumpkin var. Xmejen K'úum. The acidity and iodine indexes were significantly higher in crude oil obtained from mamey seeds in comparison with the oils obtained from pumpkin seeds. The main fatty acid identified in mamey seed oil was oleic acid (60.32%), whereas in pumpkin seed oils from var. Xnuuk K'úum and var. Xmejen K'úum it was linoleic acid (69.12% and 63.11% respectively). The results achieved suggest that the seeds of mamey and pumpkin might be an important source of vegetable oil for industrial uses.