FATTY ACIDS, TOCOPHEROLS AND CAROTENOIDS FROM SEEDS OF TUNISIAN CAPER “CAPPARIS SPINOSA”

ABSTRACT

Capparis spinosa is widely distributed all over the Mediterranean Basin. Fatty acid composition of oils of C. spinosa from seven Tunisian regions was determined. The oil content of the seeds ranged from 23.25 to 33.64% on a dry weight basis. Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for the majority of the fatty acids. Oleic acid with 45.82% was the main fatty acid followed by linoleic acid (25.37%), palmitic acid (15.93%), palmitoleic acid (4.55%) and stearic acid (4.06%). C. spinosa seed oil also contained a high level of tocopherols (ca. 628 mg/100 g). γ-Tocopherol was the major homologue (ca. 92%), followed by α-tocopherol (ca. 4%) and δ-tocopherol (ca. 2%). Seed oil of C. spinosa contained high amounts of carotenoids (ca. 457 µg/100 g). The contents of β-carotene (as pro-vitamin A) were also very significant (ca. 375 µg/100 g). Results encourage the use of this plant species as a new source of vegetable oil for nutritional, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The seeds of Capparis spinosa may serve as a new potential source of oil (ca. 27%). It contained mainly unsaturated fatty acids (ca. 77%). Oleic acid was the major fatty acid (ca. 45%). The level of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids was about 25 and 1%, respectively. Moreover, C. spinosa seed oil is an important source of tocopherols (as vitamin E), with approximately 628 mg/100 g and also of carotenoids (457 µg/100 g). These compounds have an important role in the prevention of many diseases and can be used in a number of personal care products. Seeds of C. spinosa are especially attractive for producing oil for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.