Comparative Study of Physico-chemical Properties of Bitter Gourd Seed Oil with Various Other Seed Oils

This study investigates the industrial usage of bitter melon apart from its domestic usage. The study focused on extraction of oil from Bitter Gourd seeds that were purchased from local market. The oil was extracted by solvent extraction method using hexane and subsequently characterized. The physical properties of the oil determined according to the method of AOAC (1990) were specific gravity, refractive index, colour, odour, density, moisture content of fresh seeds and Kernel to seed dry basis (% w/w). According to the methods prescribed by AOAC (1984) the chemical characters like Acid value, Saponification value, Free Fatty Acid and Iodine value were determined. The yield of oil obtained by extraction process was 52.1% at 368 K. The values obtained were Saponification value (189.25mg/g), Acid value (1.904mg/g), Iodine value (112.90cgI/g) these were compared with the values of other seed oils like Sunflower oil, Groundnut oil, Soya bean oil and Sesame oil which are reported in literature. From the results obtained, it has be seen that bitter gourd seed oil has great potential for use as domestic and industrial oil.