SEED LIPIDS OF THE MIRACLE FRUIT (SYNSEPALUM DULCIFICUM)

The lipids from the Miracle Fruit seeds comprised 10.15% of the dry weight. The neutral lipids, phospholipids and glycolipids were separated by silicic acid chromatography and the fatty acid composition of each fraction determined. The non-saponifiable lipids, amounting to 1.6% of the neutral lipids were separated into several fractions by thin-layer chromatography and the components of each analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The hydrocarbon fraction contained the n-alkane series from C₁₇ to C₃₂ with the C₂₉ and C₃₁ members present in relatively large quantities.

The major triterpene alcohols were α-and β-amyrin and the major sterol was identified as δ⁷ spinasterol. Two short-chain alchols were also present.