Purpose: To investigate the seed oils of Corchorus olitorius and Hibiscus sabdariffa for their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.

Methods: The physicochemical characteristics of oil of the plant seeds were determined using standard methods while their volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometery (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of these oils was determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method, and their antimicrobial effect was determined by agar dilution method.

Results: Phospholipids, carotenoids and phenols contents of the studied seed oils were approximately 2.0 %, 100 mg/100g and 6.7 mg/100g, respectively. GC-MS analysis of the volatile compounds showed the presence of various aromatic and aliphatic organic compounds while the antioxidant activity of the oils was in the range of 0 to 5 g/l, which was higher than that of ascorbic acid. The seed oils also showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 250.0 and 62.5 mg/ml for C. olitorius and H. sabdariffa seed oils, respectively.

Conclusion: C. olitorius and H. sabdariffa seed oils showed pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These characteristics should be exploited for possible applications in the food supplement, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.