Niger ( Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed oil plays an important role in human nutrition and health because of its fatty acid composition and its high levels of fat-soluble bioactive components. The oil has an attractive pale yellow color and a nutty taste. With high levels of linoleic acid, it is very similar to sunflower and safflower oils.
Does Ethiopian Niger have high oil and oleic acid content?
Niger ( Guizotia abyssinica) is an economically important edible oilseed crop with a wide variation in seed oil content and fatty acid composition between populations. This study sought to determine the extent of this variation among the Ethiopian niger populations and to analyze the inheritance of high oil and oleic acid (C18:1) contents.
Where is Niger oil grown?
Niger is an oilseed that humans have cultivated for approximately 5,000 years. Guizotia abyssinica is widely grown in South India and Ethiopia, which are the two main producing countries.
Why is niger seed oil low OS?
The high content of conjugated oxidative products in niger oil was attributed to its high linoleic acid content which is readily decomposed to form conjugated hydroperoxides. Thus, the lower OS of niger seed oil could be partly explained by the fact that niger seed oil has a high proportion of PUFA.