Fatty acid profile of lipid compounds in germinated and ungerminated seeds of Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms

Abstract

Fatty acid profile of lipid compounds in germinated and ungerminated seeds of Sphenostylis stenocarpa was investigated. Seed lipids were extracted with n-hexane, separated with silicic column chromatography and analysed with thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography (GLC). ). The total lipid content of ungerminated seed was 7.6% while that of germinated seed was 4.6%. Polar lipids separated from non-polar lipids by silicic column chromatography showed that neutral lipids represented 3.3%, glycolipids and phospholipids represented 2.1% and 2.2%, respectively in ungerminated seeds while germinated seeds had 2.1% neutral lipids, 1.4% glycolipids and 1.1% phospholipids. Thin layer chromatographic separation showed three classes of lipids in germinated and ungerminated seeds which were cholesterol, oleic acid and palmitic acid. These lipids were yellow and solid at room temperature. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the oil indicated that the seed oil of S. stenocarpa is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Among the unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2) is the major constituent followed by oleic acid (C18:1) as the second main unsaturated fatty acid. Palmitic acid (C16:1) was the major saturated fatty acid followed by stearic acid (C18:0). This study suggests that oil extracted from germinated and ungerminated seeds of S. stenocarpa could have potential utilitarian benefit as edible oil and in industry.