Abstract The fruits and sprouts of Pongamia pinnata have been used traditionally against cancer. Seeds are claimed to treat fever, bronchitis, whooping cough, rheumatism and skin diseases. Seed oil is usedby local healers against piles, leprosy, ulcers and scabies. Plant juice and oil possess antiplasmodial, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, antiulcer, antidiarrhoeal and antihyperammonemic activity. In this study Pongamia pinnata oil was characterized by GC-MS. A total of 25 constituents were identified. Major constituents are:i) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (53.58%) ii) methyl stearate (15.00%) iii) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (13.31 %) and iv) hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (12.39%). The antioxidant activity of Pongamia pinnata oilwas conducted. The studied oil showed good free radical scavenging capacity in the DPPH assay.
Keywords Pongamia pinnata, Oil, GC-MS Analysis, Antioxidant Activity.