ABSTRACT

Oil from muCunu prurierl.S was extracted using the soxhiet method, puriiic(l and extracted. Standard methods were used For the determination of the physic- chemical indices. The physico-chemical analysis revealed the following: Acid value: 0.80mgKOH/g, Peroxide value: 0.00meqK/g, Saponofication value: 86.05, Unsaponilication matter: 46. 10%, 1'rce fatty acid value: 0.40, Viscosity: 37:54:03 and lodinc value: 24.40/ lOOg fat.. The erm analysis revealed the following for the test sample (mucuna): (-carotenc: 0.05, vitamin C: 1.77, vitamin E: 0. 11, showing its antioxidant activity when compared to control. the acute toxicity (LD50) was determined, test performed is indicative of the fact. that at high concentrations, the mucuna prunctis SCC(1 is not toxic. 'I'hc rcslt of the lipid profile done indicated that the test sample ('mucuna oil) had more high density lipoproteins (HDL) at a value of 121 while the control sample had HDL: 63, the test sample had low density [ipoprotein: 35, while the control had 55. From the lipid profile analysis done it was clearly evident that the test oil (mucuna) is cardio-protective. The histopathologica.l examination of the heart sections indicated there was no adverse effect of the test oil on the heart tissue, hence, the mucuna oil is said 1.0 he cardio-protective.