Determination of free and esterified sterols in potential new oil seed crops by coupled on-line liquid chromatography-gas-chromatography

In vegetable oil, free and esterified sterols are characteristic constituen ts of the unsaponifiable matter and provide rich information about the oil quality. The sterol pattern of plants discussed as potential new oil seed c rops have been determined by using coupled on-line normal phase liquid chro matography-gaschromatography (LC-GC). The content and composition of free s terols as well as the concentration of sterol esters have been analyzed in seed oils of different varieties of crambe (Crambe abyssinica), meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba, L. douglasii), cape marigold (Dimorphotheca sinuata), les querella (Les querella fendleri), iron weed (Vernonia galamensis, V. petiti ana), spurge (Euphorbia lagascae, E. lathyris), and various species of cuph ea (Cuphea lanceolata, C. lutea, C. paucipetala, C. viscosissima, C. wright ii).