Pilu oil

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Characteristics:
– Oil comes from the seed and kernel
– Oil percentage in seeds is 32-34%
– Kernel accounts for 60% in dried seed
– ‘Sweet Variety of Pilu’ yields 35-44% oil with a strong odour
– Presence of Benzyl isothiocyanate in the oil gives it the odour

Physical Characteristics of Pilu Oil:
– Refractive index at 40°C is 1.4465
– Saponification value is 251.2
– Iodine value is 15.6
– Solidifying point is 31.1°C
– Specific gravity (35.5°C/15.5°C) is 0.9246

Fatty Acid Composition of Pilu Oil:
– Capric acid (C10:0) percentage is 1.0-1.5
– Lauric acid (C12:0) percentage is 19.6-47.2
– Myristic acid (C14:0) percentage is 28.4-54.5
– Palmitic acid (C16:) percentage is 18.9-29.5
– Oleic acid (C18:1) percentage is 5.5-12.0

Uses:
– Fat is used in soap making, up to 20% of the soap
– Used as a resist in the dyeing industry
– Oil is used in rheumatic infection treatment
– Pilu fat is used for soap making in India
– Oil has bitter and sharp taste, used as a purgative diuretic or tonic

See also:
– Salvadora persica
– Salvadora oleoides
– Salvadora (plant)

References:
– Orwa, Caleb; Mutua, A.; Kindt, Roeland; Jamnadass, Ramni; Simons, Anthony (2009). Salvadora persica
– Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide (4th ed.)
– Modern Technology Of Oils, Fats & Its Derivatives by Niir Board
– Pilu / Khakan information from crirec.com
– Chandra oil – Pilu oil information from my.agrotrade.net

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