Physicochemical characterization, fatty acid and Tocopherol content of Moringa ovalifolia (African Moringa) oil from Namibia

Abstract

Moringa ovalifolia tree is indigenous to Namibia and is a multipurpose tree whose leaves, pods, fruits, and flowers are edible. The tree is well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the region and easily cultivated. In this paper, we investigate the physicochemical characteristics of the oil extracted from M. ovalifolia seeds collected from Remhoogte Farm, Khomas region, Namibia. The oil yield was 34.86 2.47%. The oil contained a high level of monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid (18:1) being the dominant one. The oil had high levels of tocopherol, with a total of 44.56 mg 100 g−1 of oil, comprising α-tocopherol (33.94 mg 100 g−1 ), β-tocopherol (6.64 mg 100 g−1 ), and δ-tocopherol (3.98 mg 100 g−1 ). High levels of stigmasterol (142.41 mg 100 g−1 ) and β-sitosterol (330.70 mg 100 g−1 ) were also detected. The seed oil exhibited good-quality characteristics, making it a useful new seed oil to be considered for food and nonfood applications.