RESUMO
The objective of the present study involves the evaluation of physicochemical characteristics of the oil extracted from Garciniagummi-gutta seeds. The seed oil is yellowish brown coloured without any characteristic odour and it is solid at room temperature with a melting point of 39.8oC and 9.27% of moisture content. The refractive index of the seed oil was determined as 1.460. G. gummi-gutta seed oil is soluble in non-polar solvents and its pH was determined as 4.69. The parameters such as acid value, saponification value, iodine value, peroxide value and ester value of G. gummi-gutta seed oil were determined by standard methods and they were 3.07±0.18 mg KOH/g oil, 185.94±0.32 mg KOH/g oil, 43.86±0.24 g/100 g oil, 3.47±0.18 meq/kg and 182.87±0.55 respectively. The results showed that the acid value, saponification value and peroxide value of G. gummi-gutta seed oil are within the range of edible oils. The present study points out that G. gummi-gutta seeds can be used as an alternate source for edible oil. Detailed nutritional and anti-nutritional studies of the seed oil are warranted to confirm its edibility