Characteristics of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) seed oil

Studies were conducted on properties of oil extracted from raspberry seeds. Oil yield from the seed was 10.7%. Physicochemical properties of the oil i nclude: saponification number 191; diene value 0.837; p-anisidine value 14. 3; peroxide value 8.25 meq/kg; carotenoid content 23 mg/100 g; and viscosit y of 26 mPa.s at 25 degrees C. Raspberry seed oil showed absorbance in the UV-B and UV-C ranges with potential for use as a broad spectrum UV protecta nt. The seed oil was rich in tocopherols with the following composition (mg /100 g): alpha-tocopherol 71; gamma-tocopherol 272; delta-tocopherol 17.4; and total vitamin E equivalent of 97. The oil had good oxidation resistance and storage stability. Lipid fractionation of crude raspberry seed oil yie lded 93.7% neutral lipids, 3.5% phospholipids, and 2.7% free fatty acids. T he main fatty acids of crude oil were C18:2 n-6 (54.5%), C18:3 n-3 (29.1%), C18:1 n-9 (12.0%), and C16:0 (2.7%). The ratio of fatty acids, polyunsatur ates to monounsaturates to saturates varied depending on lipid fraction. Po lymorphic changes were observed in thermal properties of raspberry seed oil . (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.