Abstract
Semecarpus anacardium
(family Anacardiaceae) has many applications in the
Ayurvedic
and
Siddha
systems of medicine in India. Detailed knowledge on the composition of
S. anacardium
oil, in consideration of potential utilization, is of major importance. In this investigation, column chromatography, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography techniques were performed to analyze lipid classes, fatty acids and fat-soluble bioactives of
S. anacardium
crude seed oil. The amount of neutral lipids in the crude seed oil was the highest, followed by glycolipids and phospholipids, respectively. Linoleic followed by palmitic and oleic were the major fatty acids. The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was higher in neutral lipid classes than in the polar lipids. The main sterol compounds were β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. δ-Tocopherol followed by β-tocopherol were the main tocopherols. When
S. anacardium
seed oil and extra virgin olive oil were compared for their radical scavenging activity toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and galvinoxyl radical (by electron spin resonance spectrometry),
S. anacardium
seed oil exhibited a stronger RSA.