Chemical Examination of the Seeds of Caesalpinia Sappan Linn

Abstract

The fixed oil obtained from the seeds of caesalpinia sappan linn. was found to consist of the mixture of the triglycerides of caprylic (2.25%), capric (0.97%), lauric (0.46%), myristic (1.6%), myristopalmitic (0.57%), palmitic (18.76%), palmitoleic (1.65%), oleic (27.30%), linoleic (31.6%), linolenic (14.75%), arachidic (0.07%) acids ad traces of a component containing cyclopentyl ring. The non drying nature of the oil can be exploited in paints industry. Caesalpinia sappan (1) Linn. (Family: Leguminosae) is a shrub or small tree abundant in South India, Bengal, and Burma. the wood has been reported to stop bleeding, cure vata, ulcers, and improve complexion (2). The decoction of the leaves is useful in rheumatic stains (3). The present communication reports the fatty acid composition of the fixed oil from the seeds of C. sappan.