COMPOSITION OF DELPHINIUM SEED OIL

Abstract

The fatty oil of delphinium seed (Delphinium hybridum (Hort.)) was examined. Fresh seed gave an oil composed mainly of glycerides but having 2.8% of free fatty acids. The oil from older seed contained about 50% of free fatty acids, apparently as a result of lipase action in the seed. The total fatty acids were found to include cis-11-eicosenoic acid (18%) and eicosadienoic acid (1%), the latter identified as tetrahydroxyeicosanoic acid. Other acids that were identified and the estimated percentages were: 9-hexadecenoic <1, palmitic 4, linoleic 16, oleic 53, and stearic 1. Spectroscopic analysis indicated a content of 2.5% of octadecatrienoic acid. Eicosoic acids have not been observed previously in the seed oils of this plant family (Ranunculaceae).