Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

Aims: The seed oil composition of Baphia massaiensis seeds was determined using ¹H NMR and GC-MS techniques. The seed oil was also screened for antimicrobial activity.

Study Design: The study was designed to determine Baphia massaiensis seed oil fatty acid composition and antimicrobial activity.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, between June 2012 and July 2014.

Methodology: The Baphia massaiensis seed cotyledons powder (29.2 g) were extracted by Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane/ 1-propanol. The seed oil (3.12 g) was esterified to FAMEs using dry methanol. The percentage composition of fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) in the seed oil of B. massaiensis was determined using ¹H NMR and GC-MS techniques. The antimicrobial screening was carried out using agar well diffusion method.

Results: The ¹H NMR method showed the oil composition to be 20% ω-3 fatty acids, 11% mono-unsaturated, 60% di-unsaturated and 9% saturated fatty acids. Based on GC-MC analysis, saturated fatty acids composition was 12.2% and unsaturated fatty acids were 87.8% of the total FAMEs. The major constituents of B. massaiensis seed oil FAMEs were linoleic acid (C_18:2; 49.0%) and linolenic acid (C_18:3; 36.7%) methyl esters. The FAMEs were active against E. coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis with 10-16 mm inhibition zones.

Conclusion: Linoleic acid (49.0%) and linolenic (36.7%) methyl esters were the major components of Baphia massaiensis FAMEs.