Composition ofCelastrus orbiculatus seed oil

Abstract

The seed oil ofCelastrus orbiculatus (family Celastraceae) was reinvestigated to determine whether the benzoic acid that it contains is esterified with glycerol. Unlike acetic acid, benzoic acid is not incorporated in glycerides of this oil but, instead, is esterified with two sesquiterpenoid triols of the empirical formula C15H26O4.trans-Cinnamic acid also is esterified with these triols. Acetic acid is a component of these nonglyceride esters, as well as of the triglycerides. We found no evidence for the occurrence of formic acid in this oil. By countercurrent fractionation, we found that this oil contains 8% “ordinary” triglycerides, 59% mono-acetotriglycerides, and 33% nonglyceride substances.