Studies on physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca Linn.) kernel oil

Abstract

Some principle characteristics like fruit, stone and kernel weight and kernel and oil recovery as crude oil and physicochemical characteristics of apricot (Prunus armeniaca Linn.) kernel oils were determined in the stones collected from different locations of Himachal Pradesh. Mean fruit weight of apricot fruits ranged between 8.0-15.1 g with the stone recovery of 12.7-22.2% having stone weight 1.78-1.92 g. Further, the kernel recovery was found ranging between 30.733.7% whereas kernels gave oil yield of 45.6-46.3% crude oil. The study further revealed that the colour of apricot kernel oil was yellow whereas acid value; peroxide value; iodine value and saponification value were reported as 2.27-2.78 mg KOH/g; 5.12-5.27 meq/kg; 100.2-100.4 g I2/100 g and 189.8-191.3 mg KOH/g oil, respectively. The fatty acid profile of these oils showed that the oleic (62.07-70.6%); linoleic (20.5-27.76%); linolenic (0.4-1.42%); palmitic (5.0-7.79%) acids are present in major quantity, while palmitoleic acid (0.48-0.70%) in small quantities. Vitamin E contents were present in oil to the extent of 72-107 mg/100 g. Apricot oil was characterized by its high contents of oleic and linoleic acid. The apricot oils because of the fatty acid composition indicates that they may be suitable as edible oils and vitamin E rich contents make these oils suitable for use in preparation of cosmetic and moisturizing creams for dry skins, massaging oils and for industrial use.