Studies on the Oil and Nutritive Value of Seeds of Crotalaria retusa L. (Fabaceae)
Abstract
The proximate composition of Crotalaria retusa L. seeds and the physico-chemical characteristics of the oil fraction were studied using standard techniques. The proximate value was 15.00, 37.50, 15.00, 4.37, 15.00 and 13.13% for moisture, fibre, ash, crude protein, oil and carbohydrate, respectively. Characterization of the oil showed that it was non-drying and of low unsaturation. The saponification value implicated the oil as non-edible oil but could be used in the production of hair shampoos, skin cream and shoe polish. The fairly high acid value suggested that oil required little purification to improve its shelf-life. Mineral elements determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry revealed the presence of essential minerals. The seed could serve as source of fibre and some minerals for poultry and livestock.
Keywords:
Characterization, Crotalaria retusa L. seed, proximate composition oil extractionArticle Metrics
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