Tea seed oil: Potential source for product diversification
Abstract
A total of seven bi-clonal hybrid seed stocks were evaluated for their unique phsico-chemical properties. The oil percent ranged between 20.57% to 21.77%, smoke point 257.99- 260.6o C, iodine value 78.57–85.05 g of I/100 g of oil and saponification value 175.16–185.99 mg of KOH/g of oil were recorded. The oxidation parameters i.e. peroxide value ranged between 2.33–2.77 meq/kg. Tea seed oils have PUFA/SFA ratio 0.8-1.3 closer to WHO recommended value. In addition, antioxidant activity in term of DPPH free radical scavenging activity ranged between 6.38-7.25%, â-carotene 8.60-13.51 mg/kg and á-tocopherol 319.11-424.67mg/kg were also evaluated. Highest oleic acid content was found in TS 464 whereas highest á-tocopherol was found in TS 491. The results open up the possibility of extracting oil from different bi-clonal seed stocks which will diversify the use of tea.
Keywords: Antioxidant; Bi-clonal;Seed stock; Tea seed oil.
