Article: Characterization of the Seed Oil and Meal from Monechma ciliatum and Prunus mahaleb Seeds

Abstract

The oil and meal from Monechma ciliatum (black mahlab) and Prunus mahaleb (white mahlab) seeds were characterized for their physicochemical properties. The oil content was found to be 30.95 and 13.15% in white and black mahlab seeds, respectively. The refractive indices of white mahlab oil (WMO) and black mahlab oil (BMO) were 1.475 and 1.470, and specific gravities were 0.8511 and 0.8167 g/cm^sup 3^, respectively. Saponification values were 184.23 and 180.3 mg KOH/g, peroxide values were 2.54 and 4.43 meq/kg, and unsaponifiable matter was 0.92 and 0.66%, respectively. The major fatty acids were palmitic 4.5%, stearic 16.0%, oleic 47.3%, and linoleic 31.4% in BMO, while in WMO they ...