COMPOSITION OF SEED OIL OF CLUSTERED ELDER (SAMBUCUS RACEMOSA L)

Abstract

The seeds of clustered elder (Sambucus racemosa L.) contain 28% of an oil. Its separation to groups of components was carried out by adsorption chromatography. Single groups of substances were further analysed by TLC and GLC in combination with physico-chemical methods (IR and MS). Thus the following substances were found and identified: n-alkanes (C17–C33), 2-methyl- and 3-methylalkanes, squalene, a mixture of esters, triglycerides, β-sitosterol, campesterol and a mixture of diglycerides. The conditions for the separation of esters by silica gel column chromatography were also found. The mixture of esters was thus separated into a group of aliphatic wax esters (C34–C44) and four groups of esters of steroidal alcohols (mainly β-sitosterol and campesterol) with aliphatic unsaturated acids (predominantly C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3). In the triglycerides representing the main fraction of the oil (93%), the acids C16:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 are present. The same acids were also found in diglycerides.