oil content and physicochemical characteristics of oils

America and many parts of Africa. It is used in several tropical applications and has been found to
have anti-arthritic effect (Babu and Krishnakumari, 2006). The seeds from Holland were found to
have oil with 11-eicosenoic (gadoleic) acid (42%) as the major FA. Other FAs found in the species
are palmitic 3%, linolenic 8%, linoleic 8%, oleic 22%, stearic 2%, and arachidic 10% (Chisholm and
Hopkins, 1958). Occurrence of large amounts of C20 acids was confirmed and cyanolipid
constituents of four different types found in oil of seed samples from Maryland in USA
(Mikolajczak et al., 1970). Seeds of this species from Pakistan had a very high proportion of
unsaturated FAs particularly C20:1 (Ahmad, 1992).
2.4.4. Maesopsis eminii Engler (Rhamnaceae)
Common name in Eastern D.R. Congo: Omugaruka (Mashi). Trade name: Musizi (Katende et al.,
1995). It is a large African forest tree introduced to many parts of the tropics and grown in
monoculture plantations as a fast growing timber tree (Binggeli, and Hamilton, 1993). The heavily
felled and encroached forests within the fringes of the Lake Victoria zone and the River Nile are
characterized by Maesopsis eminii and Abizia spp as colonizers (Andrua, 2002). Analyses of seeds
from Karnakata in India, showed that the kernel contains 40-45% of oil. The oil contains 35.91%
saturated and 62.26% unsaturated FAs and 1.82% of an unidentified acid. The major components
were stearic 26.48%, oleic 47.49% and linoleic acids 14.79% (Theagarajan et al., 1986).
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