Fatty acid and sterol compositions of malagasy tamarind kernel oils

The oil contents of six samples of Malagasy tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) kernel were determined by hexane extraction (6.0–6.4%) and chloroform/methanol extraction (7.4‐9.0%). The protein contents were very low (trace‐0.1%). Investigation by gas liquid chromatography revealed 15 fatty acids, mainly palmitic (14–20%), stearic (6–7%), oleic (15–27%), linoleic (36–49%), arachidic (2–4%), behenic (3–5%) and lignoceric (3–8%) acids. Testing for the sterol fraction enabled seven sterols to be separated and quantitatively analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. The main sterols were β‐sitosterol (66–72%), campesterol (16–19%) and stigmasterol (11–14%).