Characterization and Biological Activity Study of Ziziphus Spina-Christi Seed Oil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the physicochemical properties of Ziziphus Spina Christi seed oil and to evaluate its anti-microbial activity The seeds were crushed and the nutritional values ,which in clude oil content , moisture content , total ash , fiber content , protein content and carbohydrate were identified. The results obtained were 27.8 %, 4% , 3.5% , 21.3% , 31.9%, 11.5% , respectively, The oil was extracted by petroleum ether and the physical characteristics of the oil, refractive index , density and viscosity were studied, and the results were 1.467 , 0.928 g\ cm3 , 37.31 Poise, respectively . The chemical characteristics of the oil, saponification value, acid value and peroxide value were studied, and the results were 159.6 mg \g , 4.7 mg \g , 0.8 meq\kg , respectively . The oil was analysed by gas chromatograph, and 29 chemical compounds were idendtified of which linoleic , oleic , palmitic and stearic acid have the highest percentages of 35.86% , 19.83% , 15.41% , 8.75% respectively In addition, antimicrobial activity was evaluated for two types of fungi and the results were Aspergillus niger(11.5) and Candida albicans (18).It was also evaluated for four types of bacteria E coli(13.5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(12), Staphylococcus aureus(11.5) and Bacillus subtilis (0). The results of ziziphus spina Christi seed oil antimicrobial activity have shown that it works as good antimicrobe against all the microorganism mentioned except the bacteria Bacillus subtilis .