Sterol composition of 19 vegetable oils

Abstract

The unsaponifiables from 19 vegetable oils were divided into a sterol and three other fractions by thin-layer chromatography. All except olive and palm kernel oils gave the sterol fraction in a large quantity. Compositions of the sterol fractions were determined by gas liquid chromatography. Identification of each sterol was carried out by gas liquid chromatography and combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. Campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were present in all oils, and a minor amount of cholesterol in majority of the oils. Brassicasterol occurrence was widespread but its content was extremely small in oils other than rapeseed oil. Other sterols, presumably δ7-stigmastenol and δ5- and δ7-avenasterol were detected in most of the oils. © 1973 The American Oil Chemists' Society.