Characterization and applications of oils extracted from Canerium schweinfurttii, Vitex doniana and Xylopia aethiopica fruits/seeds

Preparation of oils from Canerium schweinfurttii (Ube Osa), Vitex doniana (Mbembe) and Xylopia aethiopica (Uda) was carried out by petroleum ether (60–80) extraction. The percentage oil yields from the dried seeds were 45•3 ± 1•2, 29•6 ± 1•2 and 11•5 ± 2•5, respectively. The percentage oil from the dried pulps of Canerium schweinfurttii and Vitex doniana were 38•0 ± 5•0 and 0•5 ± 0•2, respectively. From their physico-chemical properties, the seed oils of Canerium and Xylopia were semi-drying, had relatively high saponification values and were used for making alkyd resins which could be used for making paints. The oil from Vitex doniana seed had high iodine and low saponification values and was used for skin cream, resin and paint production. The oil from Canerium pulp had low iodine and saponification values and was used for the production of polish and solid soap. Proximate analysis of the pulps of Canerium and Vitex doniana showed that the percentage moisture contents were 21•3 ± 3•0% and 44•0 ± 5•0%, with ash 2•5 ± 0•4 and 3•10 ± 0•5, protein 3•04 ± 0•5 and 3•7 ± 0•5%, fibre 2•5 ± 1•0 and 6•0 ± 0•7%, vitamin C 294 mg/100 g and 1000 mg/100 g, while carbohydrate contents were 35•31 ± 0•5 and 46•68%, respectively. Both fruits had good contents of vitamin C and could serve as important vitamin sources.