Traditional Pathway of Oil Extraction from Quassia undulate Seeds and Its Chemical Characteristic

Research on the traditional oil extraction from Quassia undulate seeds in Senegal's Bassari Cultural Landscape reveals that the resulting oil shares physicochemical properties with shea butter, corn oil, and peanut oil. The study, conducted by four women from Eganga, Ethiolo, and Ebarack villages, found that the oil is solid at room temperature with specific acid (1.223 ± 0.013 to 7.333 ± 0.465), saponification (190.489 ± 3.083 to 199.732 ± 3.107), peroxide (4.453 ± 0.042 to 8.644 ± 0.285), and iodine values (21.455 ± 2.440 to 38.068 ± 0.082). The refractive index was measured at 1.462 - 1.463, indicating potential technological applications. Notably, Pilliostigma thonnintigi leaves were used during extraction, suggesting a possible influence on the oil's characteristics that warrants further investigation.

Seyni, N., Mathieu, G., Samba, B., Bou, N., & Cyrille, A. N. (2021). Traditional Pathway of Oil Extraction from Quassia undulate Seeds and Its Chemical Characteristic. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 12(05), 452–461. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2021.125035