Cold pressed okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) seed oil

Abstract Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the most commonly grown and consumed species of the family Malvaceae. It is a nutritious vegetable cultivated in tropical to subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. Okra is an affordable source of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, dietary fiber, and other phytonutrients with physiological benefits. Okra seeds contain a considerable amount of edible oil, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1 and C18:2). There are different conventional and unconventional extraction techniques that could be employed to recover oil from okra seeds. Among conventional extraction techniques, although cold pressing (CP) is relatively less efficient, the oil recovered with CP, has superior nutritional properties and organoleptic value. This chapter reveals the physicochemical and nutritional attributes of okra seed with special focus on functional food and nutra-pharmaceutical potential uses of cold pressed okra seed oil.