Studies were conducted to assess the possibility of commercial exploitation of fruits and seeds of forest species to meet the shortfall in industrial and edible vegetable oils in the country. Seeds from 15 forest species were collected from various forests of Bangladesh. In cases where the seed coat could be detached, the weight ratio of seed-coat to kernel was worked out. Oil content of kernel, pulp or whole seed was determined by solvent extraction process, depending on the ease or otherwise of separation of the coat. The free fatty acid content, saponification value and iodine value ofthe extracted oil samples were determined. High percentages of oils were obtained from most of the species under investigation. Slightly lower yield is likely to be obtained when oil is extracted by expression process.

Comparative lower yield of oil obtained from Shorea robusta, Ponganiea Pinnata, Aleurites montana and Garcinia cowa than that obtained in other countries is thought to be due to various degrees of deterioration set in the seeds collected from the forest bed. Acceptable grades of edible oils may be produced from several species.