Composition of Zelkova seed oil

Abstract

Seeds of the tree Zelkova serrata, family Ulmaceae, were found to contain 21.7% of glyceride oil having icdine value 12.9, saponification value 292, and glycerol yield 13.6%. The oil was converted to methyl esters and examined by gas chromatography, followed by fractional distillation of the esters and identification of the individual acids. The percentage composition of the acids is estimated as follows: caprylic 8, capric 73, lauric 3, myristic 1, palmitic 2, stearic 1, oleic 3, linoleic 3, undetermined 6. The content of capric acid is higher than has been found in any natural oil or fat. Comparing it with other genera of Ulmaceae, the oil of Zelkova is seen to resemble closely that of Ulmus sp. but to be quite different from the oils of Celtis and Trema. © 1959, The American Oil Chemists' Society. All rights reserved.