‘Characterisation of seed-oil of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schard.’

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schard. is an important medicinal plant belonging to family Cucurbitaceae. The seeds of the plant are rich in oil which attracts many scientists to study its potential for the production of bio-fuel from the extracted oil. Taking this important aspect of this plant, the present research work was done emphasising on the study of its seed-oil. The percentage yield of oil from its seeds was found to be (18.66%). Characterising its potential on the basis of its physiochemical parameters such as acid value, saponification value, peroxide value and moisture content, it showed its acid value to be 4.445mgKOH, saponification value to be 177.97mgKOH and peroxide value to be 0.009 .TLC analysis of the crude oil from Citrullus colocynthis seed showed that the major constituents were mainly the triglycerides (Rf=0.66 ), free fatty acids (Rf=0.37), phospholipids (Rf=0.25) and sterols (Rf=0.16) along with other minor unidentified constituents.