Cottonseed Oil: Extraction, Characterization, Health Benefits, Safety Profile, and Application

Cotton (Gossypium sp.) is a commercially important annual fiber crop; cottonseed oil (CSO) is an important product extracted from one of the byproducts of cottonseeds. Oil yield varies with cotton species, places, and season when cotton grown and extraction methods used for oil extraction. This review provides an overview on the extraction of CSO by different chemical, biochemical, and mechanical methods. Functional characterization and physicochemical evaluation of CSO demonstrated the superior quality as compared to other vegetable oils. Fatty acid profile showed higher percentage of unsaturated fatty acids and found to have promising health effects. Various physiochemical characteristics include iodine value, phosphorus content, moisture content, refractive index, specific gravity, saponification value, gossypol content, and antioxidants are also presented in the current review. Health benefits of CSO and its uses as edible oil in food and other industrial applications are also described. CSO with well-developed extraction method, good fatty acid profile with safe levels of gossypol, is healthy and edible for human consumption.