Watermelon seed oil

male flower

female flower

fruit

seeds

Watermelon seed oil is extracted by pressing from the seeds of the Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon). It is particularly common in West Africa, where it is also called ootanga oil or kalahari oil. Traditionally, the seeds are extracted from the seed casing, and dried in the sun. Once dried, the seeds are pressed to extract the oil.

Chemical composition

Watermelon seed oil contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major acids.

Fatty acid composition of Watermelon seed oil

Fatty Acid	Percent %
Palmitic acid(C16:0)	11.0
stearic acid(C18:0)	10.0
Oleic acid(C18:1)	15.0
Linoleic acid(C18:2)	63.0

Specifications of watermelon seed oil

character	value
Refractive Index 400Cవద్ద	1.4630-1.4670
Iodine value	115-125
Saponification value	190-198
unsaponifiable matter	1.5% max
Moisture	0.5% max
colour 1/2"cell,(y+5R)	20.0 units

Additional uses

Watermelon oil is also sold as an emollient, and is used in personal care products.

• It is also known as Ootanga oil or Kalahari Oil in Africa.
• Watermelon seed oil is very nourishing yet light oil with good absorption.
• It is a good choice for use with oily skin but can be effective with all skin types.
• Its viscosity,mils aroma and indefinite shelf life make it good all-purpose carrier oil for use in aroma therapy.
• Other thicker oils and oils with shorter shelf lives can be blended with Watermelon seed oil to lighten their texture and aroma and extend their overall shelf life.
• Due to its rich composition of fatty acids,it is used for smooth skin and also used in skin ointments and formulations.

References

te:పుచ్చగింజల నూనె