Abstrakt

Quality Characteristics of oil from Brown and Yellow Cyperus esculentus L. Tubers

AA Warra

Hexane extracts of oil from brown and yellow Cyperus esculentus Lativum tubers was physico- chemically analyzed for quality evaluation and the following results were obtained: Acid values; 0.41±0.015 mg KOH/g and 0.48±0.014 mg KOH/g, Free fatty acids;77.00±1.0(% oleic acid) and 72.67 ±1.528(% oleic acid); Iodine values; 71.00±0.414gI2/100g and 76.67±2.517, Peroxide values; 3.80± 0.1meq H2O2 and 4.10±0.153 meq H2O2, Saponification values; 193.33±2.121 mg KOH/g and 188.33±0.707 mg KOH/g respectively. The oil yield was 26.15±3.142 % and 27.50± 5.721 respectively, while the colour was physically observed to be brown for the smaller variety (brown Cyperus esculentus tuber) and yellow for the larger variety (yellow Cyperus esculentus tuber). Justification of the cosmetic potential of the two varieties of Cyprus esculentus tubers was expatiated.