Chemical Composition on the Seeds and Oil of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Grown in Congo-Brazzaville

Proximate composition and physicochemical analyses were carried out on the seed and Sesame oil (Sesamum indicum L.). The results showed that the seed contained 5.7% moisture, 20% crude protein, 3.7% ash, 3.2% crude fiber, 54% fat and 13.4% carbohydrate. The seeds were found to be good sources of minerals. Potassium (851.35±3.44 mg/100g) was the highest, followed in descending order by Phosphorus (647.25±3.52 mg/100g), Magnesium (579.53±0.42 mg/100g), Calcium (415.38±3.14 mg/100g) and Sodium (122.50±4.21 mg/100g). The physical properties of the oil extracts showed the state to be liquid at room temperature. The oil was found to contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic (up to 38.84%) and linoleic (up to 46.26%). Sesamum indicum L. oil can be classified in the oleic-linoleic acid group. The dominant saturated acids were palmitic (up to 8.58%) and stearic (up to 5.44%). The oil extracts exhibited good physicochemical properties and could be useful as edible oils and for industrial applications.