PHYSICO-CHEMICAL EVALUATION FOR ASSESSING THE GENUINITY OF GINGELLY OIL (TILA TAILA) IN KERALA MARKET

Abstract

Gingelly oil or Sesame oil (Tila taila) is an edible vegetable oil obtained from Sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum Linn. Family: Pedaliaceae). Sesame oil is most widely used in Ayurveda as a base to prepare many medicated oils and also in the preparation of other formulations such as avaleha. As it is having high demand the chances of adulteration are more. The genuinity of gingelly oil (tila taila) in commercial market of Kerala was assessed by evaluating and comparing the physico-chemical characters of market samples of sesame oil with that of genuinely prepared sesame oil. Physico chemical parameters such as Acid value (AV), Iodine value (IV), Refractive index (RI) Saponification value (SV), Specific gravity (SG) and Moisture content were evaluated and were compared with those of genuine sample, API⁵ and AGMARK⁷ standards. Rancidity test, Boudoin’s test, Tests for detection of Mineral oil and Cotton seed oil were also done