The fatty acid composition of seed oils from ten plant families with particular reference to cyclopropene and dihydrosterculic acids

Abstract

Oil contents and fatty acid compositions of 40 seed oils of the plant families Elaecarpaceae, Thymelaeceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae (order Malvales); Anacardiaceae, Celestraceae, Sapindaceae (Sapindales); Ebenaceae, Sapotaceae (Ebenales) and Rhamnaceae (Rhamnales) are presented. Cyclopropene fatty acids (CPFA) occur in two families in the order malvales not hitherto assayed. CPFA contents of seed oils of 12 Australian and Pacific species of Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae are given. CPFA occur randomly in small amounts in at least six families not in the order Malvales. Dehydrosterculic acid (DHS) occurs in small amounts in many species of Anacardiaceae, Celestraceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Malvaceae, Sapindaceae, Sapotaceae and Sterculiaceae. Linoleic acid was predominant in 28 of 40 seed oils, being as high as 63.9% in two species. The sum of 18:1 and 18:2 esters exceeded 70% in 20 oils. © 1980 American Oil Chemists' Society.