Fatty acids, bioactive lipids and radical scavenging activity of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. seed oil

In the present contribution lipid composition and characteristics of Indian Celastrus paniculatus seed oil were determined. C. paniculatus seeds are a rich source of oil (46\%). The amounts of neutral lipids in the oil were the highest, followed by glycolipids and phospholipids. Oleic followed by palmitic and linoleic were the major fatty acids in C. paniculatus seed oil and its lipid classes. C paniculatus seed oil being characterized by a relatively high amount of phytosterols, wherein the sterol marker was beta-sitosterol followed by campesterol and stigmasterol. gamma-Tocopherol was the major tocopherol isomer while the rest being alpha-tocopherol. When C paniculatus oil and extra virgin olive oil were compared upon their radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical C. paniculatus oil exhibited stronger RSA. In consideration of potential utilization, detailed knowledge on the composition of C paniculatus oil is of major importance. The diversity of applications to which C. paniculatus oil can be put gives this plant great industrial importance. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.