Composition of Azadirachta indica and Carapa procera (Meliaceae) seed oils and cakes obtained after oil extraction

Samples of Azadirachta indica and Carapa procera seeds collected in Benin have been analyzed and the results are compared to scarce literature data. The extracted lipids (44.0 and 61.5%, respectively) were examined for fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. The most interesting feature is the very high oil content and the prominent concentration of oleic acid (59.1%) of C. procera seed oil. Oleic (43.5%), linoleic (18.7%), palmitic (17.8%) and stearic (17.4%) acids were the predominant fatty acids in A. indica seed oil, while palmitic (21.1%) and oleic acids (59.1%) were the major acids in C. procera seed oil, this leading to saponification values of 167 and 188 and iodine values of 75 and 69, respectively. Among the unsaponifiable fraction (1.2 and 1.6%, respectively), whose composition has never been reported to date – except the sterol fraction of A. indica – the major sterol is β-sitosterol (77.7 and 61.2%). Tocols (298 and 92 ppm respectively) show α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol as major components (30.8 and 67.3%; 32.5 and 12.2%, respectively). Regarding the cake, results show the interesting content of proteins (31.4 and 20.2%) comprising 17 amino acids with the prominent concentration of arginine, leucine, aspartic and glutamic acids and a noticeable amount of sugars (9.6 and 12.4%). Total ash in cake amounts 5.3 and 8.3%, primarily N and K, but C. procera shows a noticeable amount of Na (1574 ppm). Possible uses of oils and cakes are discussed.

► Oilseeds from two underused Meliaceae species (Benin) were analyzed (Carapa procera and Azadirachta indica).
► 85–95% of seed components were identified.
► C. procera seed is rich in oil (61%) and both seeds contain proteins.
► First report of detailed analytical data about the unsaponifiable fraction of C. procera.
► Both the oils can be differenced on the basis of sterol and tocol compositions.