Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in the Seed Oil of Pentaclethra macrophylla (African Oil Bean Tree)

Abstract

This study characterized the bioactive components in the seed oil of <i>Pentaclethra macrophylla</i> to establish its usefulness in replacing costly convectional oils in industrial applications. Identification and quantification of the bioactive attributes were performed using gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) after extraction with n-Hexane. The main bioactive contents per 100 g in the oil were sitosterol (457.58 mg), campesterol (34.54 mg) and stigma-sterol (18.52 mg) been the most abundant sterols. The oil contained per 100 g β-carotene (15.89 mg), xanthophyll (10.32 mg), lutein (9.22 mg), and neo-xanthin (5.46 mg) as the highest carotenoids. The oil has ɣ- tocopherol (43.83 mg) and α-tocopherol (3.35 mg) also per 100 g. The main terpenes per 100 g in the oil were γ-elemene (17.28 mg), α-caryophyllene (13.06 mg), β-elemene (12.43 mg) and D-limonene (6.11 mg). Terpenoids including β-amyrin, α-amyrin and lupeol were found in trace amounts.