FATTY ACIDS, TOCOPHEROLS AND CAROTENOIDS FROM SEEDS OF TUNISIAN CAPER “CAPPARIS SPINOSA”

Abstract

Capparis spinosa is widely distributed all over the Mediterranean Basin. Fatty acid composition of oils of C. spinosa from seven Tunisian regions was determined. The oil content of the seeds ranged from 23.25 to 33.64% on a dry weight basis. Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for the majority of the fatty acids. Oleic acid with 45.82% was the main fatty acid followed by linoleic acid (25.37%), palmitic acid (15.93%), palmitoleic acid (4.55%) and stearic acid (4.06%). C. spinosa seed oil also contained a high level of tocopherols (ca. 628 mg/100 g). g-Tocopherol was the major homologue (ca. 92%), followed by a-tocopherol (ca. 4%) and d-tocopherol (ca. 2%). Seed oil of C. spinosa contained high amounts of carotenoids (ca. 457 mg/100 g). The contents of b-carotene (as pro-vitamin A) were also very significant (ca. 375 mg/100 g). Results encourage the use of this plant species as a new source of vegetable oil for nutritional, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications.

Triacylglycerols and Phospholipids Composition of Caper Seeds (Capparis spinosa)

“…As we have previously reported [11,13], the mean content of total lipids was 32.2 ± 1.95% dry weight basis. The values were between 30.8% (GM) and 33.6% (CH).…”

“…Furthermore, the fruit with small soft seeds is preferred for the production of pickles. Previous studies reported the tocopherols, carotenoids, sterols, aliphatic and triterpenic alcohols contents of caper (Capparis spinosa) seeds [10][11][12][13]. Seeds of C. spinosa are rich in oil (ca.…”

Protein, Lipid, Aliphatic and Triterpenic Alcohol Content of Caper Seeds “Capparis spinosa”

“…Additionally, fruits with small, soft seeds are preferred for the production of pickles [10][11][12]. Previous studies have brought attention to the richness of C. spinosa seed oil, which contains essential fatty acids, sterols, tocopherols and carotenoids [13][14][15].…”

Convective drying kinetics of prickly pear seeds

“…Plant seeds are important sources of phytochemicals for nutritional, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications [1]. Moreover, the continued increase in world population and the ever increasing demand for oils necessitates the need to investigate new sources of oils [2].…”

“…Moreover, the continued increase in world population and the ever increasing demand for oils necessitates the need to investigate new sources of oils [2]. For these reasons, new plant sources of phytochemicals, especially from underexploited seeds, have been investigated [1]. Opuntia ficus-indica fruit contains as many as 100-330 seeds, including viable and aborted seeds ( [3]; [4]).…”