| Resume |
Samples of Azadirachta indica and Carapa procera seeds collected in Benin have been analyzed and the
results are compared to scarce literature data. The extracted lipids (44.0 and 61.5%, respectively) were
examined for fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. The most interesting feature is the very
high oil content and the prominent concentration of oleic acid (59.1%) of C. procera seed oil. Oleic (43.5%),
linoleic (18.7%), palmitic (17.8%) and stearic (17.4%) acids were the predominant fatty acids in A. indica
seed oil, while palmitic (21.1%) and oleic acids (59.1%) were the major acids in C. procera seed oil, this
leading to saponification values of 167 and 188 and iodine values of 75 and 69, respectively. Among the
unsaponifiable fraction (1.2 and 1.6%, respectively), whose composition has never been reported to date
– except the sterol fraction of A. indica – the major sterol is -sitosterol (77.7 and 61.2%). Tocols (298 and
92 ppm respectively) show -tocopherol and -tocopherol as major components (30.8 and 67.3%; 32.5
and 12.2%, respectively). Regarding the cake, results show the interesting content of proteins (31.4 and
20.2%) comprising 17 amino acids with the prominent concentration of arginine, leucine, aspartic and
glutamic acids and a noticeable amount of sugars (9.6 and 12.4%). Total ash in cake amounts 5.3 and 8.3%,
primarily N and K, but C. procera shows a noticeable amount of Na (1574 ppm). Possible uses of oils and
cakes are discussed. |