Lecythis pisonis Camb. nuts: oil characterization, fatty acids and minerals

The lipid content, the acid value, refractive and iodine indexes, the oil f atty acids profile as well as the concentration of inorganic elements conta ined in the Lecythis pisonis Camb. (Lecythidaceae) nuts were determined. Th e samples came from four different regions in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The samples showed a high lipid content (34.2 to 61.3%) that presented a fatty acid profile, an iodine value and an index of refraction equivalent to the corn oils. Among the macronutrients, high levels of P (5.2 to 6.2 mg g(-1)) and Sn (69.1 to 77.0 mu g g(-1)) were observed in all the nuts. High level s of Pb (3.3 to 3.8 mu g g(-1)), Cu (2.9 to 3.3 mu g g(-1)), Zn (2.6 to 3.8 mu g g(-1)) and Mn (4.0 to 11.6 mu g g(-1)) were found. It is evidence of a possible toxicity and it could compromise the use of the L. pisonis nuts for human consumption. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.