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Seeds of the east african savannah bush Balanites orbicularis as a possible new source of lipids for commercial use
Author(s) -
Radunz A.,
Grosse W.,
MeviSchütz J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02541837
Subject(s) - balanites aegyptiaca , oleic acid , linoleic acid , food science , botany , fatty acid , biology , horticulture , composition (language) , arid , chemistry , biochemistry , ecology , medicine , alternative medicine , linguistics , philosophy , pathology
The fruits of the native East African savannah bush Balanites orbicularis Sprague were analyzed for their chemical composition. The seeds of these fruits were found to be rich in triacylglycerols with a high content of oleic and linoleic acids. Due to the high essential fatty acid content and the absence of toxic cyclic and oxy fatty acids, the oil from these seeds could be an extremely valuable form of nutrition. The significance of this plant is discussed briefly pertaining to its importance as a food and energy source in countries with arid regions.