LIPID EVALUATION OF SOME TUNISIAN CITRUS SEEDS

ABSTRACT Seeds from five varieties of Tunisian Citrus fruits, namely blood orange (Citrus sinensis), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (Citrus limon L.), bergamot (Citrus bergamia) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), were examined for their composition of lipid classes and fatty acids. In addition, the oil yield, total fatty acids, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were determined. Petroleum ether‐extracted oils of these Citrus seeds amounted to more than 78% in the case of lemon seeds. The Citrus seed oils had three lipid classes as determined by thin‐layer chromatography. Triacylglycerols were the major oil class in all varieties. Gas chromatographic analyses revealed that the main fatty acids were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids.