FATTY-ACID, STEROL AND TOCOPHEROL COMPOSI TION OF OIL FROM THE FRUIT MESOCARP OF 6 PALM SPECIES IN FRENCH-GUIANA

Oils from the fruit mesocarps of six palm species were studied (Jessen ia bataua Jacq., Astrocaryum vulgare C. Martius, Euterpe oleracea C. M artius, Oenocarpus bacaba C. Martius, Elaeis oleifera H.B.K. Cortes, B actris gasipaes H.B.K.). The fatty acid composition, determined by gas chromatography (GC), revealed the predominance of oleic acid in all t he oils (39 to 70 %). This analysis was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the triglycerides. GC analysi s of the sterols revealed the existence of delta 5 sterols and beta si tosterol in particular (36 to 78 %) in the oils. Finally, an HPLC stud y of the tocopherols and tocotrienols generally showed a strong predom inance of alpha tocopherol in the banding patterns, but also the exist ence of tocotrienols in varying proportions. Only the oil from the Ela eis oleifera H.B.K. Cortes species was richer in tocotrienols than in tocopherols.