Oil content and fatty acid composition of Ailanthus excelsa roxb. seed oil

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Fatty acid content of petroleum ether (60-80°) extracted oil of mature seeds of Ailanthus excelsa, has been analyzed for the first time by GC and GC-MS using standard fatty acids. Oil content of the seeds was found to be 65 g.kg-1 (weight per kg dry seeds). The oil of the seeds contained seven identified fatty acids, accounting for 89.28% of the total fatty acids and five unidentified compounds. The predominant fatty acids were oleic acid (37.72%), linoleic acid (25.83%), palmitic acid (13.79%) and stearic acid (9.12%). DHA, eicosenoic acid, and arachidonic acid were present only in minor amounts. It is inferred that the seed oil of Ailanthus excelsa may be a good source of essential fatty acids.

Fatty acids; seed oil; Ailanthus excelsa; GC analysis; GC-MS analysis