Sacha Inchi Seed (Plukenetia volubilis L.) Oil: Terpenoids

Abstract

Sacha inchi oil is a product obtained from oilseed (Plukenetia volubilis L.) and is an excellent source of bioactive compounds, especially in polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols. These compounds are causally related to their positive impact on human health. In this study summarizes some monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes reported in Sacha inchi oil seeds and reviews their sensory properties. The terpenoids that characterize Sacha inchi seed oil are: α-pinene, sabinene, limonene, aristolene, cycloartenol, 24-methylene cycloartenol, lanosterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and phytol. The sensory properties of this oil are due to a set of volatile compounds including terpenoids, the odor descriptors of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes are: flower, pine, turpentine, pepper, wood, lemon, orange, and sweet. These compounds were characterized by gas chromatography with different detectors.