Characterisation and comparative quality assessment of edible oils from Adansonia digitata L. and Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds found in Kogi state, Nigeria

Abstract Background This study investigates the quality of Adansonia digitata L. and Carthamus tinctorius L. edible oils from Kogi state, Nigeria. Percentage oil yield, physicochemical properties, mineral content, antioxidant activity and chemical composition were analysed using standard analytical methods and GC-MS. Significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05) were found between samples. Results Adansonia digitata L. seed oil had the highest percentage of oil yield (38.12%). Adansonia digitata L. seed oil had the least analysed physicochemical properties including, specific gravity (0.79 ± 0.01), peroxide value (1.14 ± 0.05 mEqO 2 /kg), iodine value (86.72 ± 0.80 g/100 g), saponification value (198.24 ± 1.10 mgKOH/g), acid value (0.82 ± 0.02 mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (0.46 ± 0.01%), refractive index (1.46 ± 0.03) and viscosity index (35.05 ± 0.53%). Adansonia digitata L. seed oil had the highest potassium, sodium and magnesium, while phosphorus, calcium, iron and zinc were highest in Carthamus tinctorius L. seed oil. Both samples showed good antioxidant activity, with Adansonia digitata L. seed oil being more effective. GC-MS showed that palmitic acid (18.35%) was most abundant in Adansonia digitata L. seed oil, while linoleic acid (25.69%) was in Carthamus tinctorius L. seed oil. Conclusion The findings from this study revealed that these edible oils are rich sources of nutritional and pharmaceutical properties. Graphical Abstract