Kusum oil

A Kusum tree
Fruits of the Kusum tree
Seeds of the Kusum fruits

Kusum oil is a type of oil extracted from the seed of the Kusum tree (Schleichera oleosa). The plant, which is also commonly known as Ceylon oak, lac tree, or Macassar oiltree,[1] belongs to the family Sapindaceae. The sapindaceae family is named after J. C. Schleicher, a Swiss botanist, and the species name means "oily"[2] or "rich in oil." The tree is native to South Asia, but is also found in some parts of Southeast Asia.

Collection of seeds

The bunches of fruit are plucked by climbing the Schleichera oleosa trees. The fruit pulp is removed by rubbing the fruits in water, and letting them dry.

Oil

The oil contains oleic acid (2-3%), stearic acid (2-6%), gadoleic acid, and arachidic acid as well as cyanogenic compounds, which must be removed for human consumption. Kusum oil is unusual, with just 37% of common glycerol esters. The oil also contains linoleic acid (43-50%), palmitic acid (5-8%), and hydrocyanic acid, which is poisonous and must also be removed prior to consumption. The oil is yellowish brown, semi-solid, with the faint odour of bitter almond. When allowed to settle, a light coloured solid fat separates.[3] Kusum oil contains a cyanogenic compound in concentration of 0.03-0.05% as HCN. But the exact location of the cyanogenic compound in the oil or its nature has not been reported.

Property Value[4]
Moisture and insoluble impurities 0.25
Refractive Index at 50 °C 4.4560-1.460
Specific gravityat 90°/30 °C 0.865-0.869
Saponification value 220-240
Iodine value(Wijs) 48-60
Acid value, max 10.0
Unsaponifiable matter% by Wt 3.0
Titer value °C, min 45
Reichert-Meissel value 15-20
Polenske value, max 1.5

Fatty acid composition[5]

Fatty acid Percent
Myristic acid (C14:0) 0.01
Palmitic acid (C16:0) 7.59
Palmitoleic acid(C16:1) 1.80
Oleic acid (C18:1) 2.83
trans-Linoleic acid (C18:2) 49.69
cis-Linoleic acid (C18:2) 5.56
α-Linolenic acid (C18:3) 0.26
Eicosenoic acid (C20:1) 29.54
Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2) 0.24
Behenic acid (C22:0) 1.14
Erucic acid (C22:1) 1.22
Lignoceric acid (C24:0) 0.03

Uses

Kusum oil is used in hairdressing. The oil can also be used for cooking and lighting, and is used in traditional medicine. It is used as massage oil to relieve pain.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lac tree, Macassar Oil tree, Ceylon Oak. Kusum, Kusumba, Kusim". Gardentia. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  2. ^ "Meaning of oleosus (oleosa, oleosum, oleosa, oleosae, oleosam, oleosarum, oleosas, oleosi, oleosior, oleosiora) in Latin-English dictionary - World of Dictionary". worldofdictionary.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Kusum". Crirec.com. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  4. ^ "IS 4088 (1966): Kusum Oil (Fas 13: Oils and Oilseeds)" (PDF). Law.resource.org. Retrieved 2013-11-21.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Methyl Ester Production from Schlichera Oleosa" (PDF). Ijpsr.com. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  • Pali, Harveer Singh; Mishra, Chinmaya; Kumar, Naveen (2013). "Production and Physico-Chemical Characterisation of Kusum Oil Methyl Ester as an Alternative Fuel in Diesel Engine". Journal of Biofuels. 4: 38. doi:10.5958/j.0976-4763.4.1.005.
  • Kundu, M. K.; Bandyopadhyay, C. (1969). "Studies on some chemical aspects of kusum oil". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 46: 23–27. doi:10.1007/BF02632704. S2CID 85070300.