Seed Oil Extraction and Analysis on the Seeds of Calophyllum apetalum Willd., an Economically Important Endemic Tree of Western Ghats

The composition of fats and oils is essentially the same.Both plants and animals use these compounds primarily as energy stores.A few of their constituents are vital to metabolic functions.The huge woody tree species Calophyllum apetalum is a member of the Calophyllaceae (Clusiaceae) family.The seed oil is used to cure rheumatism, leprosy, scabies and other skin conditions since it is said to have antiseptic qualities.The greenish yellow fatty oil that is produced from sun-dried kernels has a distinct odour and bitter taste.It is used as a lubricant, illuminant, to make soap and to treat leather.The seed oil is therefore extremely important.Therefore, an attempt is undertaken to extract the seed oil from C.apetalum and is a preliminary work.