| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4515320 | Industrial Crops and Products | 2008 | 4 Pages |
The lipid profile of nuts from Ximenia caffra and Ricinodendron rautanenii was determined and compared. Although the total oil content of X. caffra and R. rautanenii nuts was similar (47.6 ± 7.5% versus 53.3 ± 13.7%), the fatty acid profiles differed significantly. X. caffra had a higher content (p < 0.05) of saturated fatty acids than R. rautanenii (20.19 ± 1.07% versus 13.87 ± 3.68%) and contained C22:0 and C24:0 which were lacking in R. rautanenii. Total monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in X. caffra than R. rautanenii (71.48 ± 0.99% versus 36.66 ± 1.95%). Oleic acid (C18:1n9) was the major monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in X. caffra whereas erucic acid (C22:1n9), the major MUFA in R. rautanenii, was undetectable in X. caffra. R. rautanenii had a greater polyunsaturated fatty acid content than X. caffra which contained C18:3n3 (α-linolenic acid) and nervonic acid (24:1n9). X. caffra is potentially an important source of essential fatty acids.
