Phytosterols Content in Vegetable Oils of Brazil: Coconut, Safflower, Linseed and Evening Primrose

Abstract

In the last years phytosterols, natural components of plants, have received more attention due to association of their consumption with reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. There are several scientific studies about phytosterols in vegetable oils, but they are scarce in unconventional oils. The objective of this research was evaluating the content of phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol) in vegetable oils sold in São Paulo city, in Brazil. The analysis included cold alkaline saponification, derivatization with hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylchlorosilane reagents, and quantification by gas chromatography using flame ionization detection and internal standardization. The quality control parameters indicated that the method was suitable for analysis. Total sterols were between 272.3 mg kg -1 (coconut oil) to 6169.7 mg kg -1 (evening primrose oil). β-sitosterol was the component found in higher concentrations and evening primrose oil was the most representative in quantity of phytosterols.

Comparison of chemical characterization and oxidative stability of Lycium barbarum seed oils: A comprehensive study based on processing methods

“…In contrast to other vegetable oils, the three most abundant phytosterols in L. barbarum seed oils were Δ7‐campesterol, Δ5‐avenasterol, and campesterol, making up 63−70% of phytosterols. The contents of β‐sitosterol and stigmasterol, which were major phytosterols in most common vegetable oils, were also abundant and accounted for 1843.27–2062.34 mg/kg and 671.15–894.27 mg/kg, respectively (da Silva et al., 2020; R. Yang et al., 2019). The characteristic fingerprints of the special phytosterol composition could be further applied to authenticate oils and detect adulteration.…”

Sterols and pentacyclic triterpenoids from nettle root: content and composition as affected by pressurized liquid extraction

“…Because edible vegetable oils are the main sources of phytosterols, they can be used to evaluate the sterol composition of the lipid fraction of nettle root. For example, in the study by da Silva et al ., 48 the content of sterols (expressed as oil content) in different vegetable oils was investigated, and the content ranged from 27.23 mg 100 g −1 in coconut oil to 616.97 mg 100 g −1 in evening primrose oil. Also, in other edible oils, the mean value of the different varieties was 511.82 mg 100 g −1 for sesame seed oil, 49 and variation of sterols was in the range 170–190 mg 100 g −1 for tomato seed oil 50 .…”