Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acid Profile of Phoenix Tree Seed and its Oil

Various components of Phoenix tree (Firmiana simplex) seed were determined. Oil, protein, moisture, ash, and fiber accounted for 27.8 +/- 0.3, 19.7 +/- 0.4, 7.5 +/- 0.2, 4.4 +/- 0.3, and 31.23 +/- 0.93 % (w/w) of the seed, respectively. The acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, and unsaponifiable matter content of Phoenix tree seed oil extracted using the Soxhlet method were 3.73 +/- 0.02 mg KOH/g, 1.97 +/- 0.21 mmol/kg, 183.74 +/- 2.37 mg KOH/g, and 0.90 +/- 0.05 g/100 g, respectively. The total tocopherol content was 54.5 +/- 0.5 mg/100 g oil, which consisted mainly of delta-tocopherol (29.5 +/- 0.6 mg/100 g oil) and gamma-tocopherol (13.8 +/- 0.8 mg/100 g oil). Linoleic acid (L, 30.2 %), oleic acid (O, 22.2 %), and sterculic acid (S, 23.2 %) were the main unsaturated fatty acids of Phoenix tree seed oil. The saturated fatty acids included palmitic acid (17.4 %) and stearic acid (St, 2.9 %). The work shows the first report of sterculic acid in seeds of this species. This oil can be used as a raw material to produce sterculic acid.