Characterization and compositional studies of oil from seeds of desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars grown in Pakistan

The physiochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) composition of oil from seeds of four desi chickpea cultivars, grown in Pakistan, were investigated. The oil content was relatively low (5.88-6.87%). The physiochemical parameters determined included refractive indices (RI) at 40 degrees C (1.48-1.49), relative density (0.95-0.96), iodine value (IV) (111.87-113.69), acid value (AV) (2.55-2.73 mg KOH/g), saponification value (SV) (183.98-185.64 mg KOH/g), unsaponifiable matter (UM) (2.99-3.71%), peroxide value (PV) (3.97-6.37 mequiv/Kg), p-anisidine value (p-AV) (5.39-8.74), and oxidation value (OV) (13.67-22.34). Linoleic acid and oleic acid were the dominant FAs. Results from most of the parameters revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences among the cultivars. The findings reveal Desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), indigenous to Pakistan, to be a potentially valuable legume crop with comparable nutritional quality oil.