A Potential Source of Omega - 6 and Omega -9 in Capsicum Annum Seed Oil from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan India

Abstract

Vegetable Capsicum (Capsicum Annum L.) also known as sweet pepper are most consumed spices in the world. It belongs to the Solanaceae family. It derived from Greek word ‘Kapto’ means bite or swallow. The capsicum plant contains a chemical called capsaicin which help to reduce pain & swelling. It also contains important pigments like chlorophyll, anthocyanin and lutein, which has many health benefits. Capsicum peppers are considered to be warm season, day neutral plants, although certain forms show photoperiod reaction. Capsicum annum seeds were an inexpensive and dietary supplement for improving human health. It is used in painful situations like rheumatic diseases, migraine, arthritis and in painful diabetic situations with the development of modern technologies made easy to use of medicinal herbs and determination of all components in chili pepper. The accumulation of heavy metals in seed oil of Capsicum annum were mainly K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na, Zn, Cuand Mn. Samples of Capsicum annum seed oil cultivated by industrial waste nearby areas of Khetri, Jhunjhunu Rajasthan were collected and on digestion of oil for heavy metals. The following heavy metals were obtained (in mg/100g) Potassium (K) 560.32, Magnesium (Mg) 219.40, Calcium (Ca) 152.33, Iron (Fe) 31.29, Sodium (Na) 14.01, Zinc (Zn) 6.89, Copper (Cu) 5.35, Manganese (Mn) 3.11, by using MP-AES (Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometers). Analyses of heavy metal content indicated that the most abundant mineral in Capsicum annum seeds was potassium, followed by Ca, Fe, Zn, Mg, Mn, Na. On GC–FID (Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detection) analysis, the extracted oil mainly composed of poly-unsaturated fatty acid with higher percentage of Linoleic acid (omega-6) (C18:2) 56.88%, Oleic acid (omega-9) (C18:1) 23.57% Palmitic acid (C16:0) 11.99% and Stearic acid (C18:0) 4.72 %. Linolenic acid (C18:3), Arachidic acid (C20:0), Gondoic acid (C20:1), Behenic acid (C22:0) are present in lesser amount. Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids are a kind of polyunsaturated fats. Omega-6 is utilized for lessening the danger of coronary illness, bringing down absolute cholesterol levels, and reducing cancer risk. The dietary benefit of oleic acid (omega-9) in a decent eating routine has been the subject of various investigations with specific highlights on the cardiovascular system.