Kosakowska O., Węglarz Z., Sidky M., Przybył J. and Geszprych A.

The comparative study on the composition of fatty acids and sterols in the seed oil of four forms of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) cultivated in Egypt was carried out. The total oil content in the seeds of the investigated forms ranged from 15.31 to 18.99 percent. As a result of the GC analysis five fatty acids were identified: palmitic, stearic, linolic, gamma-linoleic, and alpha-linoleic acid. The forms differed both in respect of the presence and the content of particular fatty acids. The HPLC analysis indicated the presence of four free sterols in the Roselle seed oil: brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol. Sitosterol appeared to be the main sterol and its content depended on the form of Roselle.

Key words: GC, HPLC, linolic acid, linoleic acid, sitosterol