Vitamin E, Phospholipid, and Phytosterol Contents of Parkia biglobosa and Citrullus colocynthis Seeds and Their Potential Applications to Human Health.

Abstract

Vitamin E, phytosterol, and phospholipids are classes of lipids that are also referred to as nutraceuticals. These lipids are components of foods, which have nutritional as well as numerous other health benefits, and consumption has been shown to prevent certain deadly diseases. These compounds can only be obtained from plant products; there is therefore a need for more research on the availability of these compounds from common food sources. Oils extracted from Citrullus colocynthis and Parkia biglobosa seeds were analysed for vitamin E, phospholipid, and phytosterol contents using a chromatographic technique. The seeds had total vitamin E contents of 53.47 and 42.57 mg/100 g, phytosterol contents of 260 and 451 mg/100 g, and phospholipid contents of 409 and 1,603 mg/100 g for C. colocynthis and P. biglobosa, respectively. Thus, consumption of these two plants as condiments will help people consume these essential lipids and could serve as dietary supplements to prevent and combat occurrence of certain deadly diseases; this is important as the world is revolving towards disease prevention rather than curing, which is often more expensive and difficult.