Fatty acids, triacylglycerols, and sterols in neem oil (Azadirachta indica A-Juss) as determined by a combination of chromatographic and spectral techniques

Quantitative thin-layer chromatography in silver ion and reversed phase modes, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry were employed to determine the lipid composition in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) kernel oil. Thirteen fatty acids and 25 triacylglycerols species were identified and quantified. The seven main triacylglycerols species were found in almost equal amounts in the range 7-10%. Saturated fatty moieties occupied positions 1- and 3- in the triacylglycerol molecule, oleic acid was almost equally distributed, and linoleic acid predominantly occupied position 2. Sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and fucosterol were the main components in free sterol and sterol ester fractions.