The aim of this paper was to study the physical–
chemical composition of the watermelon seed oil
extracted by a mechanical process using an expeller and by
a chemical process using hexane as the solvent. The
watermelon seed oil had a high concentration of unsaturated
fatty acids. The two primary sterols were stigmasterol
and b-sitosterol, which corresponded to approximately 47
and 30% of the total phytosterols. The oil had a low
tocopherol content (65.19 mg/kg for S and 73.19 mg/kg for
E). Comparing the two extraction methods, extraction by
expeller produced an oil of superior quality with respect
to oxidative stability, carotenoids and Lovibond color.
No significant differences were found between the two
extraction methods with respect to the minor components
of the oil considered as functional, such as phytosterols.