FATTY-ACID AND STEROL COMPOSITION OF THE SEED OILS OF MORINGA-HILDEBRANTII, BROCHONEURA-FRENEEI AND STRYCHNOS-SPINOSA

Abstract

The fatty acid and the sterol composition of Moringa hildebrantii (Moringaceae), Brochoneura freneei (Myristicaceae) and Strychnos spinosa (Loganiaceae) seed oils were evaluated. The seed oil content ranged from 5 to 64.5%. The oils have iodine values from 47 to 79. Investigation by gas liquid chromatography using Carbowax 20 M capillary column revealed fourteen fatty acids, mainly oleic (31-80%). Myristic acid was the major component for B. freneei (54%). Testing for the sterol fraction on an OV 17 column enabled nine sterols to be separated and quantitatively analyzed, mainly β-sitosterol (42-62%), stigmasterol (18-27%) and campesterol (10-24%).