Chemical composition of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. Sims edulis) seed oil

Abstract

Seed oil composition of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims var. edulis) was investigated. Physico-chemicals properties were: acidity (0.47% as oleic acid), peroxide value (5.45 meq O-2/kg), induction time (2.46 h). spectrophotometric analyses were carried out to determine carotenes and chlorophylls content, color and uv characteristics. sterols, aliphatic alcohols and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. Three major sterols, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol were 42.51%, 30.87% and 11.14% respectively. Aliphatic alcohol composition showed 7 compounds ranging from C22 to C28, with a total content of 8.72 mg/kg in the oil. Thirteen fatty acids were found, seven saturated fatty acids (SFA) and six unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 72.60% of the total, mainly linoleic acid (72.26%). A low content of oleic acid (16.05%) was found. The results showed that the Passi flora edulis Sims VAR. edulis seed oil could be used as a source of essential fatty acids (EFA) and for industrial purposes.