| The present research studied the oil content of Lallemantia peltata (Balangu) extracted by cold pressing method.
Before extraction, the moisture contents of the seeds were adjusted to 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 % to evaluate its effect
on the oil yield and its quality. Moreover, the physicochemical characteristics were measured during storage for
up to 90 days. The optimum moisture content which gave the highest oil yield (33.5 %) was 7.5 %. Increasing of
seed moisture content increased acid value, peroxide value and total tocopherols, whereas decreased total
chlorophyll and carotenoid as well as oxidative stability. During storage, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was
observed in the acid and peroxide values and γ-tocopherol content, while the α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, chlorophyll
and carotenoid contents decreased. However, fatty acids and phytosterol composition did not significantly
change by increasing moisture content and storage. Taken together, this study shows that the moisture
content has a crucial influence on the oil yield and the quality of Balangu oil. Also, Balangu oil is rich in n-3 and
n-6 acids and its nutritional profile is excellent and would be a good source of edible vegetable oil |