Chemical Analysis of (Lagenaria siceraria) Calabash Seeds Oil

Characterization of fats and oils is important in assessing their potential economic uses. This study was carried out to determine and compare the physicochemical characteristics of a commercial oil and solvent extracted oil from the kernels of calabash seeds (Lagenaria siceraria). The range of physicochemical properties are: Solvent extraction recorded a higher yield of (42.3±0.66%) acid value (9.4±1.8 - 8.2±0.5 mgKOH/g of oil), iodine value (4.56±2.6 - 4.46±0.07 mg/100g), saponification value (162.7±4.58 - 159.42±3.68 mgKOH/g), peroxide value (6.0±1.63 - 5.3±2.4 mEq/kg), free fatty acid (10.3±1.76 - 9.89±1.8 % as oleic acid). The low iodine value indicates a high degree of saturation of the fat as well as its non-drying nature.