Unsaponifiable Lipid Constituents of Some Underutilized Tropical Seed Oils

Abstract

Sterols, triterpene alcohols, and hydrocarbons present in the unsaponifiable fraction of some underutilized tropical seed oils have been examined. The seeds include Telfairia occidentalis (TLO), Andenopus breviflorus (ADB), Cucumeropsis edulis (CME), Antiaris africana (ATF), and Monodora tenuifolia (MNT). The oil content of the seeds was high (34.7-68.8%), whereas triacylglycerols comprised the dominant lipid group in the oils (65.4-73.9%). The percentage of unsaponifiables ranged from 1.1 to 7.9%. Ten sterols were identified in the fractions. In the Cucurbitaceae oils (TLO, CME, and ADB), Delta(7)-sterols constituted the dominant sterols. These include 24-ethylcholesta-7,22E,25-trienol (7), 24-ethylcholesta-7,25-dienol (9), 24Z-ethylidenecholes-7-enol (10), and 24-ethylcholesta-7, 24-dienol (11). However Delta(5)-sterols (1-5) occurred at the highest concentration in the other two samples (ATF and MNT). Fifteeen triterpene alcohols were detected in the fractions. Olean-12-enol (16), isomultiflorenol (8), and lupeol (23) were the dominant alcohols in the Cucurbitaceae family, whereas alpha-amyrin (urs-12-enol) (20) was the dominant triterpene alcohol in ATF and MNT. A mixture of C(18)-C(34) n-alkanes, squalene, and some monoterpenes was detected in the hydrocarbon fraction.

Physicochemical properties of starch isolated from Antiaris africana seeds in comparison with maize starch

“…Although the fruits are reported to be edible and the seeds used as an antidysenteric 1, there has been no other documented uses. Available literature on the seed is scanty; however, the fatty acid composition of the seed oil has been reported 2. There is no data available on the seed productivity of A. africana tree at present possibly because the seeds have not found any industrial use.…”

LC-MS analysis of oils of Monodora myristica and Monodora tenuifolia and isolation of a novel cyclopropane fatty acid

“…However, GC-MS reports on the constituents of the seed oils did not identify any of the alkaloids inferred from the LC-MS results (Tables S3 and S4). The major compounds identified under GC-MS were terpenes, fatty acids and triglycerols (Esuoso et al, 2000). The compounds identified under LC-MS in this study were mostly non-volatile and could not have been identified by GC-MS.…”

“…Previous phytochemical reports on the constituents of the seed oils of these plant materials were by GC-MS (Esuoso et al, 2000, Adewole et al, 2013. However, GC-MS reports on the constituents of the seed oils did not identify any of the alkaloids inferred from the LC-MS results (Tables S3 and S4).…”

Effects of Topical and Dietary Use of Shea Butter on Animals

“…In addition to a stearic and oleic acids rich saponifiable fraction, Shea butter contains an unsaponifiable fraction composed of bioactive substances that are responsible for Shea butter's medicinal properties [32]. With regional variation in concentrations [6,33], the unsaponifiable fraction of Shea butter is composed primarily of triterpene alcohols, with some hydrocarbons, sterols, and other minor components such as vitamin E [34][35][36].…”

“…Collagen and elastin are the major structural proteins providing skin with toughness and plumpness and α-amyrin and lupeol, the triterpenes found in the unsaponifiable fraction of Shea butter, were found to contribute to the inactivation of proteases such as metalloprotease (e.g., collagenase) as well as serine protease (e.g., elastase) [36]. The anti-aging, potentially collagen-boosting effects were attributed to its unsaponifiable components [32,36].…”