Physico chemical properties of some non cultivated oil bearing seeds of Garhwal region

Abstract

Wild edible plants constitute a large portion of food consumed by local inhabitants in tribal and hilly areas of Uttarakhand state covering Kamaun and Garhwal regionsThe Land of Uttarakhand (Garhwal) is blessed with a great diversity of medicinal plants due to its geographical and ecological conditions Many plants have been identified as sources of oil in Garhwal region, there are some important wild seeds which are already in use for preparation of beverages, medicines ,spices, resins ,insecticides and natural dyes such as Bhang, Jakhya,Choru,Jumbo, Dhak,Deodar,Cheura etc some of them are cultivated Besides these there are several non cultivated un- utilized plant seeds including these four seeds taken for research in Garhwal regionTo overcome the problem of shortage of oils in India there is urgent need to search and develop new sources of oils The seeds of the wild Bischofia javanica, Hyptis suaveolens, Datura metel and Prunus armeniaca from the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand (India) were analysed for its proximate compositions and the physico chemical characteristics eg specific gravity,acid value, saponification value, Iodine value, unsaponifiable matter of the oil by standard procedures (AOAC methods) newline newlineInvestigations carried out by me on Bischofia javanica, Hyptis suaveolens,Datura metel,and Prunus armeniaca shows appreciable amount of protein ,fiber,oil and carbohydrates The oil yields ranges between 1472% to 443%Crude protein content is in the range of 1869% to 3118%, carbohydrate between 1561% to 5122% Iodine value of oils ranges between 1020 to 1783Saponification value between 190 to 2893 The unsaponifiable matter content in oil ranged from 048 to 071% The main fatty acids are oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid ,and palmitic acids Bjavanica contains 5676% linolenic acid, Hsuaveolens 7613% and Dmetel 5511% linoleic acid, Parmeniaca 7358% oleic acid The presence of these fatty acids reflect high nutritional and medicinal values of oils and they may be cheaper source of p