The seeds of Torreya nucifera, which were shown to contain high level of oil, were characterized to evaluate their possible utilization as oil source.
Oil was extracted by compression from the seeds and its physico-chemical properties and, total fatty acid composition were determined. The results are summarized as follows:
1. Proximate components of the seeds were shown to be: moisture, 12.3% ; crude protein, 9.46% ; crude fat, 54.29 % ; fiber, 5.28 % ; ash, 2.13%.
2. Physico-chemical characteristics of the seed oil were determined as follows: specific gravity 0.92, refractive index 1.470, iodine value 127, saponification value 182.2, acid
value 9.5, ester value 172.7.
3. The major fatty acids of the total lipids were linoleic (46.77%), oleic (31.68%) and palmitic acid (6.92%).
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