Studies on physiochemical properties of oil extracted from Brassica nigra and Brassica rapa toria

The family of Brassicaceae accounts for one of the earliest cataloged annual oilseed referred to as Mustard. Brassica nigra and Brassica rapa var. toria are two of the commercially important varieties of mustard seed which are endowed with biomedical properties. The present study was designed for the comparative scrutiny of quality and physicochemical parameters of both oilseed mustard varieties. Oil content, near infrared reflectance analysis, moisture content, color, pungency, free fatty acid value, acid value, presence of argemone test and gas chromatography were studied. B. nigra and B. rapa toria showed oil content corresponding to 37.68% and 43.06% respectively. Less moisture content was observed in B. rapa toria (5.33 %) in comparison to B. nigra. Higher color units were investigated in B. nigra in comparison to B. rapa toria. B. rapa toria showed lesser pungency with 0.034 % allyl isothiocynate content. B. nigra illustrated free fatty acid (FFA) content of 0.79% and high acid value (1.58%). While B.rapa toria showed less FFA and acid value. Argemone oil contamination was not seen in oil of both varieties. B. nigra showed 6.45%, 69.25%, 24.29% of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids respectively. B. rapa toria demonstrated valuable gas chromatographic analysis with lesser saturated fatty acid and higher monounsaturated fatty acid. In comparison to B. nigra, higher oil content, lesser moisture, low FFA value, less acid value and favorable fatty acid composition analysis has been shown by B. rapa toria there upon, indicating superior quality of B. rapa toria oilseed.