Studies on some chemical aspects of kusum oil

Chemical methods, chromatography and infrared spectroscopy have been applied to ascertain the location and nature of the cyanogenic compounds in kusum oil. Observations indicate the cyanogenic compounds to be a part of glyceride molecules in which one of the hydroxyl groups of the latter is bonded to the cyanogenic compound through an ether linkage. Chromatographic behavior of the isolated cyanogenic compounds further indicates that at least two glyceride molecules are involved. These glycerides are predominantly esterified with saturated fatty acids.