CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF RICINODENDRON HEUDELOTII (BAIL.) SEED OIL

Abstract

The technological characteristics and the fatty acid composition of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) seed oil from two different regions of Cameroon were studied. The fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography on a capillary column. The oil content varied according to the region (44.9–54.7%). The iodine value (160), saponification value (190) and unsaponifiable matter content (1.6%) were similar for the two types of seeds examined. The oil was composed mainly of linoleic acid (25–30%) and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found to be α-elaeostearic acid (48–56%). The latter fatty acid is subject to transformation during the esterification processes due to its trienic conjugated bonds. The triacylglycerol profile obtained by reversed phase liquid chromatography showed 20 triacylglycerols with two major ones identified as linoleodi-α-elaeostearic (29.7–33.1%) and tri-α-elaeostearic (13.1–15.9%).