Revisiting the 4,4-dimethylsterols profile from different kinds of vegetable oils by using GC-MS

Abstract

4,4-Dimethylsterols, are a special class of naturally-occurring phytosterols that possess numerous health benefits via improving the endogenous cannabinoid system. The established 4,4-dimethylsterols profile in vegetable oils is limited to few common compounds, notably cycloartenol and 24-methylene cycloartenol. The analysis of other 4,4-dimethylsterols species was partially neglected because of co-elution or unclear fragmentation issues. In this study, 4,4-dimethylsterols profile in 31 different vegetable oils was identified and compared. The obtained results for the first time revealed a distinguishable presence of 4,4-dimethylsterols in the oils from the ericales order, and a complementary distribution in shea nut butter (triterpene 4,4-dimethylsterols) and rice bran oil (cycloartane 4,4-dimethylsterols). The established 4,4-dimethylsterols profile would not only promote functional researches but it would also have an important role in the detection of oils adulteration.