Fatty acids and sterols in the seeds of Cαssiα αuriculαtα and Cαssiα siαmeα

Institute of Petroleum Technology, Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University, Raisan, Gandhinagar-382 007.

Gujarat, India

E-mail : ledwani_lalitall@yahoo.co.in

Manuscript received 19 February 2009, revised 8 June 2009, accepted 3 July 2009

The comparative study on the composition of fatty acids and sterols in the seed oil of Cαssiα αuriculαtα Linn. and Cαssiα siαmeα. Lam. was carried out. The total oil content in the seeds was found 3.25% in Cassia auriculata and 2.99% in Cassia siamea. Sterols and fatty acids have been isolated and characterized on the basis of chemical and GC analysis. Three sterols (cholesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol) and four fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid) were found from the seed oil of both the plants. All compounds were identified by comparison with authentic samples. Linoleic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol were identified as major constituents of the oil.