Fatty acid and sterol oil composition of four Tunisian ecotypes of<i>Ziziphus zizyphus</i>(L.) H.Karst

Abstract

Abstract Oils isolated from seeds of Ziziphus zizyphus (L.) H. Karst. were investigated by capillary gas chromatography. A comparison of four Tunisian ecotypes (Sfax, Choutrana, Mahres and Mahdia) shows that they differ only in the quantitative composition, while the qualitative profiles are similar. Ten fatty acids are identified from seed oils. The qualitative study shows that oleic acid is the major compound in Sfax and Mahdia ecotypes seed oils. The ecotype of Choutrana is rich in linoleic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids ranged from 40.4% to 44.4% of the total fatty acids for each ecotype. The ratio of the poly-unsaturated/saturated (P/S) varied from 9.6 to 10.1 in all ecotypes. Five major sterols have been identified. The β-sitosterol is the prominent component in all the ecotypes and the highest level is found in the Sfax ecotype. Stigmasterol is more abundant in Sfax and Choutrana ecotypes. Campesterol is important in Choutrana seeds.