SEED LIPID CONSTITUENTS OF 3 SPECIES OF PROBOSCIDEA

The fatty acids, sterols, and tocopherols of the saponified seed lipids from three species of Proboscidea (Martvniaceae) have been determined. Linoleic acid was found to be the major fatty acid (ca 60%), along with oleic (ca 30%), palmitic (ca 6%) and stearic (ca 3%) acids as minor constituents. Traces of palmitoleic, linolenic, myristic, heptadecanoic, arachidic and behenic acids were detected and estimated. Beta sitosterol was the major sterol (ca 78%) along with five other common plant sterols. Among the tocopherols, γ-tocopherol was the major constituent (ca 60%), α- and δ-tocopherols being the other constituents. The fatty acid, sterol, and tocopherol compositions resemble closely that of soy bean oil. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.