Characterisation of fatty acids and bioactive compounds of kachnar (Bauhinia purpurea L.) seed oil

Information concerning the exact composition of kachnar (Bauhinia purpurea) seed oil is scare. In the present contribution, a combination of CC, GC, TLC and normal-phase HPLC were performed to analyse lipid classes, fatty acids and fat-soluble bioactives of kachnar seed oil. n-Hexane extract of kachnar oilseeds was found to be 17.5\%. The amount of neutral lipids in the crude seed oil was the highest (ca. 99\% of total lipids), followed by glycolipids and phospholipids, respectively. Linoleic, followed by palmitic, oleic and stearic, were the major fatty acids in the crude seed oil and its lipid classes. The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acid, was higher in neutral lipid classes than in the polar lipid fractions. The oil was characterised by a relatively high amount of phytosterols, wherein the sterol markers were beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol. beta-Tocopherol was the major tocopherol isomer with the rest being delta-tocopherol. In consideration of potential utilisation, detailed knowledge of the composition of kachnar (B. purpurea) seed oil is of major importance. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.