Watermelon seed oil is extracted by pressing from the seeds of the Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon). It is particularly common in West Africa, where it is also called ootanga oili> or kalahari oil.Watermelons probably originated almost 5,000 years ago in the Kalahari Desert of Africa where botanists have found its wild ancestors still growing. Watermelons migrated north through Egypt, and during the Roman era they were cultivated and prized. Traditionally, the seeds are extracted from the seed casing, and dried in the sun. Once dried, the seeds are pressed to extract the oil.
Chemical composition
Watermelon seed oil contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major acids.
Fatty acid composition of Watermelon seed oil
Specifications of watermelon seed oil
See also
- List of melon dishes and foods
References
