The oil of Amaranthus cruentus has been characterized by major and minor
compounds. The series of fatty acids, triglycerides, sterols, methylsterols, terpenic
and aliphatic alcohols, tocopherols, and hydrocarbons have been identified, by
standards and mass spectrometry, and quantified by HRGC and HPLC. The
content of these chemical compounds, together with the equivalent carbon
numbers (ECN) and triglyceride carbon numbers (TCN), have been compared with
the results of other edible vegetable and cereal oils. Composition of hydrocarbons is
remarkable; mostly the high content of squalene (4.16 g/kg of seed) as well as
concentration of nalkenes (C23:1–C33:1) that reaches 332 ppm, while the
concentration of nalkanes (C23–C33) is only 155 ppm. The high concentration of
βtocopherol (546 ppm) and the profile of fatty acids show that amaranth oil is not
protected against rapid oxidation while most of the sterols are esterified.
Pharmaceutical and industrial applications of the most unique chemical
compounds are also given.
Amaranth oil Triglycerides Fatty acids Hydrocarbons Sterols
Electronic Publication