Abstract
Using n-hexane as solvent, a greenish yellow oil was extracted (yield 5%) from iple-iple seeds. The oil with sp. gravity 0.8, refrac-tive index 1.469, viscosity 0.475 poise, acid value 2.8, saponification value 154, iodine value 109.76, R. M. value 1 and unsaponifiable matter 3.07%, melted at 17°C. The oil contained C16 (14.8%), C18 (5.3%), C22 (1.4%) as major saturated and C18:1 (16.2%), C18:2 (55.0%), C18:3 (2.4%) as main unsaturated fatty acids. Protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract, reducing sugars, calcium and phosphorous contents of the oil cake were found to be 43.75, 6.6, 35.00, 1.18, 0.68 and 0.01% respectively.
INTRODUCTION
Leucaena leueocephela locally known as iple-iple is a salt tolerant tree which has recently been introduced in Pakistan as a fast growing tree with its potential use as forage, fire-wood, timber, etc., (Brewbaker, 1975). In view of the fact that a large area of arable land in Pakistan is saline sodic, cultivation of such trees in these soils not only reclaims soils (Sandhu and Malik, 1975) but also provide huge amounts of biomass which may be converted to usable energy Besides various other plants screened for salt tolerance (Anonymous, 1982). extensive work is underway on iple-iple to test its potential for colonizing saline lands (Kausar et al., 1985). In addition to its being a source of fire-mood, etc., iple-iple tree bears seeds containing appreciable amount of oil. It was therefore, planned to isolate and characterize the oil from the seeds of locally growing iple-iple tree.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Authentic seeds of iple-iple (Leucaena letwocephda) were procured from Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad.
