Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of Synsepalum dulcificum Daniell and Carica papaya L. seeds oil

Abstract

Seed oils are not only used as food but also as medicinal products by many communities in Africa. However, detail chemical composition and medicinal values of many seed oil are yet to be documented. In this report, the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of Carica papaya and Synsepalum dulcificum seeds oils are evaluated. The oils were extracted using soxhlet apparatus and their chemical compositions analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Free radical scavenging activities and total antioxidant capacity of the two oils were examined by DPPH (2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydarzyl) and phosphomolybdate method respectively. GC-MS analysis of S. dulcificum seed oil revealed the presence of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids palmitic acid (34.22 o/o) and linoleic acid (33.74 o/o) respectively as major components. Analysis of C. papaya seed oil revealed three free fatty acids with monounsaturated fatty acids, oleic (43.43 o/o) and cis-vaccenic (27.84 %) acids as the major components. Between the two oils tested, miracle berry showed the highest antioxidant capacity of 60.05% at 1 mg/mL. Free radical scavenging activities of pawpaw oil showed similar trend as that of miracle berry but at slightly lower percentage. The activities of the two oils were dose dependent. Total antioxidant capacity of S. dulcificum and C. papaya seeds oils were 3.259 and 2.925 mg GAE/mL of dry oil respectively. The oils extracted from the two seeds exhibited good antioxidant activities and could be rich sources of potential dietary, nutraceutical and industrial raw material. Keywords: Carica papaya, Synsepalum dulcificum, GS-MS analysis, fatty acid, antioxidant.