50
F. B. SHORLAND
have been reported in the seed fats of Pongamia glabra (Leguminosae)
(267).
(g) Seed fats with higher saturated fatty acids: These are represented by the Leguminosae, Moringaceae, Ochnaceae, and Sapindaceae.
In some instances, the higher saturated acids may attain considerable
proportions as in Adenanthera pavonina (Leguminosae) seed fats,
which contain 25% lignoceric acid (268). The seed oil of Adhatoda
vasica of the Acanthaceae family is also exceptionally rich in the higher
saturated acids and contains 3.1% arachidic, 22.2% behenic, 10.7% lignoceric, and 5.0% cerotic acids (269). Other members of this family are
classified with the palmitic acid-rich fats. The fatty acid composition of
peanut (Arachis hypogaea) oil is perhaps typical of this group in containing 5.1-9.9% of C 20 to C 24 saturated acids (3).
(h) Seed fats of w
r
hich stearic acid is major component: Gnetaceae,
Meliaceae, Menisphermaceae, Sterculiaceae, Guttiferae, Dipterocarpaceae, Burseraceae, Sapotaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Verbenaceae.
Most seed fats are characterized by a low content of stearic acid. In
the families in the stearic acid-rich group, however, the content of
stearic acid usually ranges between 15 and 60%. The fatty acid composition (weight %) may be illustrated by that of the seed fat of Kokum
butter from Garcinia indica (Guttiferae) as follows: stearic, 56.4;
palmitic, 2.5; oleic, 39.4; and linoleic, 1.7 (270).
(i) Seed fats of which myristic and lauric acids are major components: In this group the following botanical families are represented:
Lauraceae, Myristicaceae, Simarubaceae, Vochysiaceae, Salvadoraceae,
and Palmae. The nutmeg, Myristica fragrans (Myristicaceae), seed oil
is illustrative of a myristic acid-rich fat. It contains (wt. %) 1.5 lauric,
76.6 myristic, 10.1 palmitic, 10.5 oleic, and 1.3 linoleic acids (271). The
fatty acid composition (wt. %) of the lauric acid-rich seed fats may be
exemplified by that of the palm, Elaeis guineensis (Palmae), as follows: octanoic, 2.4; decanoic, 3.7; lauric, 45.2; myristic, 18.6; palmitic,
8.5; stearic, 2.5; arachidic, 1.9; oleic, 15.1; and linoleic, 2.1 (272).
(/') Seed fats of which capric (decanoic) acid is a major component:
This group is represented by the Ulmaceae, in which the seed oils of the
eight species of elm, and several varieties of these species so far examined, contain 50-73% decanoic acid [cf. Hilditch (3) and S0rensen and
S0ltoft (273)]. Their fatty acid composition (weight %) is represented
by that of the American elm (Ulmus americana) seed as follows: octanoic, 5.3; decanoic, 61.3; lauric, 5.9; myristic, 4.6; palmitic, 2.9; oleic,
11.0; and linoleic, 9.0. As earlier indicated, certain other species of
Ulmaceae seed oils belong to the linoleic-rich group.
(5) General conclusions regarding the fatty acid occurrence and
F. B. SHORLAND
have been reported in the seed fats of Pongamia glabra (Leguminosae)
(267).
(g) Seed fats with higher saturated fatty acids: These are represented by the Leguminosae, Moringaceae, Ochnaceae, and Sapindaceae.
In some instances, the higher saturated acids may attain considerable
proportions as in Adenanthera pavonina (Leguminosae) seed fats,
which contain 25% lignoceric acid (268). The seed oil of Adhatoda
vasica of the Acanthaceae family is also exceptionally rich in the higher
saturated acids and contains 3.1% arachidic, 22.2% behenic, 10.7% lignoceric, and 5.0% cerotic acids (269). Other members of this family are
classified with the palmitic acid-rich fats. The fatty acid composition of
peanut (Arachis hypogaea) oil is perhaps typical of this group in containing 5.1-9.9% of C 20 to C 24 saturated acids (3).
(h) Seed fats of w
r
hich stearic acid is major component: Gnetaceae,
Meliaceae, Menisphermaceae, Sterculiaceae, Guttiferae, Dipterocarpaceae, Burseraceae, Sapotaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Verbenaceae.
Most seed fats are characterized by a low content of stearic acid. In
the families in the stearic acid-rich group, however, the content of
stearic acid usually ranges between 15 and 60%. The fatty acid composition (weight %) may be illustrated by that of the seed fat of Kokum
butter from Garcinia indica (Guttiferae) as follows: stearic, 56.4;
palmitic, 2.5; oleic, 39.4; and linoleic, 1.7 (270).
(i) Seed fats of which myristic and lauric acids are major components: In this group the following botanical families are represented:
Lauraceae, Myristicaceae, Simarubaceae, Vochysiaceae, Salvadoraceae,
and Palmae. The nutmeg, Myristica fragrans (Myristicaceae), seed oil
is illustrative of a myristic acid-rich fat. It contains (wt. %) 1.5 lauric,
76.6 myristic, 10.1 palmitic, 10.5 oleic, and 1.3 linoleic acids (271). The
fatty acid composition (wt. %) of the lauric acid-rich seed fats may be
exemplified by that of the palm, Elaeis guineensis (Palmae), as follows: octanoic, 2.4; decanoic, 3.7; lauric, 45.2; myristic, 18.6; palmitic,
8.5; stearic, 2.5; arachidic, 1.9; oleic, 15.1; and linoleic, 2.1 (272).
(/') Seed fats of which capric (decanoic) acid is a major component:
This group is represented by the Ulmaceae, in which the seed oils of the
eight species of elm, and several varieties of these species so far examined, contain 50-73% decanoic acid [cf. Hilditch (3) and S0rensen and
S0ltoft (273)]. Their fatty acid composition (weight %) is represented
by that of the American elm (Ulmus americana) seed as follows: octanoic, 5.3; decanoic, 61.3; lauric, 5.9; myristic, 4.6; palmitic, 2.9; oleic,
11.0; and linoleic, 9.0. As earlier indicated, certain other species of
Ulmaceae seed oils belong to the linoleic-rich group.
(5) General conclusions regarding the fatty acid occurrence and