Comparative Physiochemical Analysis of Kachi Ghani, Solvent Oil and refined Oil Extracted from Brassica nigra

Brassica nigra or black mustard is traditionally used in various states of India from the ages. It is being commercially used in the form of kachi ghani, solvent oil (non-edible), and refined oil. Due to the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of kachi ghani mustard oil, it is considered to be of better quality. On the other hand, literatures also state that refined oil is better due to the purification processes. There is ambiguity regarding quality aspects of these three oil fractions. Therefore, the present study was planned for the comparative analysis the quality and physiochemical characterization of kachi ghani, solvent and refined oil. Commercially free fatty acids value, acid value, color, presence of argemone, pungency of oil and content of various monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids is determined to check quality of commercial grade edible oils. In consequence, it was observed that kachi ghani consists of less free fatty acids (0.37±0.02%), less acid value (0.74±0.04mg/g) and high pungency (0.279%) as compared to solvent and refined oil. Kachi ghani embrace more natural color (32.0 units) in comparison to solvent oil which was way darker and refined oil which was very light. The percentage of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids was spotted to be 6.44%, 64.360% and 28.64% respectively in kachi ghani oil. The study shows that saturated fatty acids such as palmitic C-16, stearic C-18, behanic C-22 and lignoceric C-24 were present in kachi ghani. In solvent oil, palmitic C-16, stearic C-18, behanic C-22, and lignoceric C-24 were found whereas only palmitic acid was present in refined oil. High content of monounsaturated fatty acids were found in oil. Eicosenoic C-20:1, Oleic C-18:1, Eurcic C 22:1 and Nervonic C-24:1 unsaturated fatty acid was found in all the three fractions of oil.