Abstract
A simple and accurate method for the determination of phytosterols by capillary gas chromatography was developed for the analysis of the seeds and oil of the pumpkin Cucurbita pepo L., the naked seed variety growing in the southern Styrian parts of Austria. After extraction of the oil and saponification, the remaining unsaponifiable material was isolated and purified using silica gel columns. For greater volatility, the sterols were derivatised to trimethylsilylethers, and gas chromatography was performed on a column of high polarity, allowing separation of the Δ5-sterols from the Δ7-sterols and thus yielding a typical chromatographical pattern. Quantification of the phytosterols using 5α-cholestan or cholesterol as internal standards led to a method of high accuracy. Comparison of the chromatographic pattern of the phytosterol fraction of pumpkin seed oil with those of other vegetable oil samples permitted the use of this method to detect adulteration of pumpkin seed oil.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 20 April 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mandl, A., Reich, G. & Lindner, W. Detection of adulteration of pumpkin seed oil by analysis of content and composition of specific Δ7-phytosterols. Eur Food Res Technol 209, 400–406 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002170050516
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002170050516