Physicochemical Properties and Anti-Microbial Activity of Moringa oleifra Seeds Oil

Abstract

Moringa oleifera seeds contains highly valuable substances with an impressive range of medicinal, cosmetic and food uses. The purpose of the study is to test the physical, chemical and biological properties of the pressed oil of Moringa oleifera . Titration experiments were done to investigate the physical and chemicals results of the oil as follows viscosity (84cp) ,refractive index (1.4685) ,the density(0.909g/cm3), acid value (1.295mg KOH/g oil), peroxide value (2.75meq KOH/g oil ),saponification value (211.775mgKOH/g oil ),ester value (210.478 mg KOH/g oil ) free fatty acid (0.651%). Fatty acids constituents were determined by GC-MS. The analysis showed that Moringa oleifera seeds oil contains greater a mounts of unsaturated fatty acids especially oleic acid (47.1%)and Docosanoic acid(11.14%) , The oil contains a high percentage of oleic acid47.1%, Docosanoic acid11.14, methyl stearate (9.51%) and ecaonic acid( 8.55%) . The FT-IR wave showed the absorbance functional groups of the Moringa oleifera seeds oil. Moringa oleifera seeds oil exhibits moderate activity aginst all of the four species of positive and negative bacteria and no activity in aqueous extract of Moringa seeds,and showed anti fungal activity by inhibiting zone of growth.