INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

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Documentation of Edible Oil Yielding Plants of Challakere Chitradurga

Dst. Karnataka

Dr. Ramesh B. H.

Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Government First Grade College, Bapuji Nagara,

Shivamogga-577201, Karnataka

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.101100037

Received: 24 November 2025; Accepted: 30 November 2025; Published: 09 December 2025

ABSTRACT

The present study carried out with a preliminary documentary survey of edible oil yielding plants in and around

Challakere during 2022-23. During this study, a total of 31 edible oil bearing plants belonging to 30 genera and

20 families were recorded. The scientific names of the plants with their family names have been reported in the

current study. Among families Arecaceae dominant with 05 species followed by Cucurbitaceae with 3 species

preceded by Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae and Apiaceae with 2 species each respectively. The

importance of few edible oil bearing plants are discussed in this paper. Good quality cultivation practices are

needed to preserve and receiving maximum yield which can be used as alternative for their livelihood

Keywords: Edible oil yielding plants, Challakere

INTRODUCTION

Edible plant oils are used in food, both in cooking and as food supplements. The oil obtains from such plant

seeds is used for the manufacture of hair oil, soaps, refined cooking oils, candles, paints, varnishes, skin care

creams, biofuel, lighting etc. Some of the edible oil seed bearing plants include Cocos nucifera , Arachis hypogea

and Zea mays etc.

Seeds pave the way for farm efficiency and utility, making a fundamental and essential contribution to effective

yield production. The resulting oil is used either for edible or medicinal and cooking purposes. Oil crops have

recently received increasing attention due to the increasing demand for vegetable oils, animal feed,

pharmaceutical biofuels, and other chemical industries.

Oilseeds are one of the most important crops in India. For plants, they are essential as energy stores to sustain

seed germination. These are considered a viable food energy source for humans. The synthetic composition of

cultivated and wild seeds is well known as they constitute a large part of the food supply and industrial raw

materials. There is relatively little information on wild seeds. However, the search for new resources as industrial

raw materials is gradually providing information on wild plant seeds. Seed chemistry is an interesting topic for

scientific research, resulting in much information being collected on both cultivated and wild species (Barucha

Pretty, 2010; Harekrishna Nial and Gyanranjan Mahalik, 2020).

The aim of the present study is to know the diversity of edible oil yielding plants occurring in and around

Challakere taluk area of Karnataka. Hence, the present study has been carried out and it is helpful for further

scientific research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

Challakere is Taluk of Chitradurga District region of Karnataka. The district is surrounded by Davanagere,

Shivamogga, Tumkur and Bellari districts. Challakere is a city in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, India,

with a latitude of approximately 14.313∘ 14.313 raised to the composed with power 14.313∘ N and a longitude

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

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of approximately 76.653∘ 76.653 raised to the composed with power 76.653∘ E. The area is known as the "oil

city of Karnataka".

Collection of data

Field explorations was conducted during 2022-23 to study the diversity of edible oil yielding plants occurring in

Challakere taluk of Karnataka .The study was based on extensive and intensive field surveys undertaken in and

around Challaker. Wastelands, road side fields, remote agricultural areas and house gardens were surveyed in

the present study. The plant specimens have been studied and identified by using floras (Hooker 1872-1897;

Gamble 1915-1936; Rao and Razi 1981; Sharma et al. 1984, 1988; Saldanha 1984, 1996; Keshava Murthy and

Yoganarasimhan 1990), besides other new books and monographs.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 depicted the checklist of edible oil yielding plants of Challakere taluk A total of 31 species belonging

to 30 genera and 20 families were recorded. Among families Arecaceae with 05 species followed by

Cucurbitaceae with 3 species preceeded by Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae and Apiaceae with 2

species each respectively. As per Figure 3 Cocos nucifera, Areca catechu, Carica papaya and Coriandrum

sativum shows highest percentage of occurrence.

Table 1: Edible oil yielding plants of Challakere taluk, Karnataka

Sl.No

Scientific Name

Family

Anacardium occidentale

Anacardiaceae

Arachis hypogea

Fabaceae

Amaranthus cruentus

Amaranthaceae

Areca catechu

Arecaceae

Brassica compestris

Brassicaceae

Brassica nigra

Brassicaceae

Cocos nucifera

Arecaceae

Citrus sp.

Rutaceae

Citrullus vulgaris

Cucurbitaceae

10.

Cucurbita

Cucurbitaceae

11.

Coriandrum sativum

Apiaceae

12.

Carica papaya

Caricaceae

13.

Daucus carota

Apiaceae

14.

Elaeis sp.

Arecaceae

15.

Gossypium sp

Malvaceae

16.

Helianthus annuus

Asteraceae

17.

Hibiscus sp.

Malvaceae

18.

Momordica charantia

Cucurbitaceae

19.

Moringa oleifera

Moringaceae

20.

Oryza sativa

Poaceae

21.

Punica granatum

Lythraceae

22.

Phoenix sp.

Arecaceae

23.

Solanum lycopersicum

Solanaceae

24.

Zea mays

Poaceae

25.

Azadirachtha indica

Meliaceae

26.

Santalum album

Santalaceae

27.

Prunus dulcis

Rosaceae

28.

Glycine max

Fabaceae

29.

Linum usitatissimum

Linaceae

30.

Sesamum indicum

Pedaliaceae

31.

Slaeis guineensis

Arecaceae

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS) 
ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025 
 
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Coconut oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut 
palm (Cocos nucifera). It has various applications. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize 
and, thus, resistant to rancidification, lasting up to six months at 24 °C (75 °F) without spoiling. 
Arachis hypogea oil give a pleasant tasting for  human consumption and also used for cooking. As a legume, 
Arachis hypogea belongs to the botanical family Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae, and commonly known 
as the bean or pea family) (The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, 2013). Like most other legumes, 
peanuts  harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria  in root  nodules  (Legumes  of  The  World-Royal  Botanic 
Gardens,  Kew  . www.kew.org.,  2015;    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut).   This  capacity  to  fix  nitrogen 
means peanuts require less nitrogen-containing fertilizer and improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop 
rotations Arachis hypogaea, a native to Brazil, is an important source of oil. It is a low growing herb of tropical 
and sub-tropical regions. The crop is largely grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar 
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. The oil is expressed from seeds both by hydraulic presses and 
expellers. Oil content of seeds varies from 40 to 50%. It is also rich in phosphorus and vitamins. Oil contains 
mainly oleic acid. It is predominantly used for culinary purposes. It is used for the manufacture of vegetable 
ghee by hydrogenation. The oil is used as a laxative and emollient. It is also used in soap making, in leather 
dressings, furniture creams and in making shaving creams, cold creams, candles etc. The oil cakes are used as 
feed for animals and as a manure  
Zea Mays (maize) is an important source of starch. Corn starch is an important ingredient in home cooking and 
many industrial foods. Corn is also a major source of edible oil (corn oil) and corn gluten. Cornstarch can be 
hydrolyzed  and  treated  with  enzymes  to  produce  syrups,  especially  high  fructose  corn  syrup,  which  is  a 
sweetener.  It is also  fermented  and  distilled  to  produce grain alcohol. Corn alcohol  is traditionally the raw 
material for whiskey. Corn is sometimes used as  a starch source for beer. Corn is  primarily  grown  to feed 
livestock as feed, silage (made by fermenting chopped green corn stalks), or grain. Cornmeal is also an important 
ingredient in some commercial pet food products, such as dog food (https://en.wikipedia.org). 
Punica granatum are used in cooking, baking, meal garnishes, juice blends, smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, 
such  as cocktails  and wine.  Punica   seed  oil contains punicic  acid (65.3%), palmitic  acid (4.8%), stearic 
acid (2.3%), oleic  acid (6.3%),  and linoleic  acid (6.6%)(  Antioxidant  and  eicosanoid  enzyme  inhibition 
properties of pomegranate seed oil and fermented juice flavonoids,1999).. 
Brassica campestris is an herb grown as an oilseed crop mainly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and 
Assam. Oil content is 32-40%. Erucic acid is the characteristic fatty acid of  mustard oil. Oil is obtained  by 
pressing or by solvent. Oil is used for cooking and burning. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is also used as a topical 
ointment for paralytic diseases and periodontal disease, and for massage. Used for tanning. Oil cake is used as 
livestock feed and  fertilizer (Albert  Hill,1998). 
Linum usitatissimum is an annual herb that grows naturally in the Mediterranean region of Southwest Asia. In 
India, it is mainly cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan/Bihar, Karnataka, and 
West Bengal. The seeds contain 33-43% extracted by both cold and hot pressing. This oil contains linolenic, 
stearic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Used in the production of paints, varnishes, soft soaps and printer inks. 
Also used in lubricants, greases, and polishes. Crude oil is used as an emollient, expectorant, and diuretic. The 
oil cake is used as a protein supplement for cattle and as a high-quality fertilizer. 
Glycine max is an herb native to Southeast Asia. In India, it is mainly cultivated in states such as Madhya Pradesh, 
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. The oil is obtained from the seeds by pressing or by treating the 
crushed seeds with a small amount of solvent. It mainly contains unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, linolenic 
acid, and oleic acid). Oil is used for cooking. It is also used in the production of candles, varnishes, greases, 
paints, pesticides and disinfectants. Oil cake contains high-quality protein and is used as animal feed 
Sesame is an annual plant native to Africa and India. It is the most important oil in India and has been cultivated 
since ancient times. In India, it is mainly cultivated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, 
Orissa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The seeds contain approximately 50% oil and can be 
easily extracted using cold pressing. Oil contains approximately 80% unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid and 
linoleic acid). Higher quality varieties are almost tasteless and colorless and are used as an alternative to olive 

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

Page 391

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oil for cooking and medicinal purposes. Must be added to margarine and other foods. Poor quality products are

used as substitutes for soaps, perfumes, rubber, and in some cases as lubricants. Oil is used for anointing the

body, as fuel for lamps, and as food. Oil cake is a good quality feed for livestock (Albert Hill,1998). Helianthus

annuu is an important oilseed crop in India. Sunflower seeds contain 42-50% oil. In India, it is mainly cultivated

in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Oil mainly contains unsaturated fatty

acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid). Sunflower oil is an excellent cooking medium. Sunflower oil contains protein

and vitamin A and is easily digested. It is also used in the production of paints and soaps.

CONCLUSION

Edible oil yielding plant seeds have been used as cooking oil and other food supplements. It is believed that the

edible oil bearing plant resources of the Challakere taluk area provides a checklist of the floristic diversity which

will serve as a prepared reference for scientific research.

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