Studies on the Seed Oils from Two Species of Leguminosae

Abstract

Seed oils from two species of Leguminosae (Aeschynomene indica L. and Leucaena glauca L) were examined on their general properties, on the fatty acid compositions determined by GLC and on the characteristics of unsaponifiable matters. The oils were obtained by extracting the dried seeds with ether. The general properties were as follows; A. indica (d25-4 0.9210, n20-D 1.4767, I. V. 92.8, A. V. 2.6, S. V. 194.4), L. glauca (d14-4 0.9269, n18-D 1.4762, I. V. 98.4, A. V. 4.7, S. V. 193.4). The fatty acid compositions were C16:0 22.2, C16:1 2.3, C18:0 5.2, C18:1 47.4, C18:2 21.0, C18:8 1.9 in the case of A. indica, and C16:0 20.7, C16:1 0.1, C18:0 11.8, C18:2 65.0, C18:8 14, C20:0 1.0 in the case of L. glauca.The main sterols were proposed to be dihydro-beta-sitosterol (A. indica) and beta-sitosterol (L. glauca) from their melting points, IR and UV absorption spectra, GLC-behavior, and melting points of their acetates.