Abstract

 Caper is a perennial shrub of the Mediterranean Basin. The most important economical species is Capparis spinosa. Sterols of C. spinosa seed oil isolated from seven Tunisian stands were identified and quantified. C. spinosa contained high levels of phytosterols (2240.4 mg/kg of total extracted lipids), of which β-sitosterol, with 1390 mg/kg, was the most abundant (57.53%). Campesterol and stigmasterol accounted for 382 and 265 mg/kg, respectively (17.05 and 11.85% of the total sterols, respectively). C. spinosa seed oil also contained a high level of 5-avenasterol (6%). We detect also brassicasterol (3.39 mg/kg). Cholesterol and campestanol are detected in much lower levels. These results bring attention to the richness of C.spinosa seed oil with sterols which are the most important class of the minor components.

Key words: Caper (Capparis spinosa), seed oil, unsaponifiables, sterols. 

Abbreviation

TLC, Thin layer chromatography; GC-FID, gas chromatography- flame ionization detector.