FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION OF TOCTE (JUGLANS NEOTROPICA DIELS) WALNUT FROM ECUADOR

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acids composition in a tocte seeds oil ( Juglans neotropica Diels) sample cultivated in Ecuador. Methods: Tocte oil was obtained from tocte seeds using the cold pressing method. Fatty acids analysis was carried out using the gas chromatography method with a mass selective detector (GC/MSD) and using the database Library NIST14.L to identify the compounds. Results: Methyl esters fatty acids were identified from tocte ( J. neotropica Diels) walnut using the GC–MS analytical method. The total lipid content of tocte walnuts seeds of plants cultivated in Ecuador was of 49.01% of the total lipid content on fresh weight. Fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters on a capillary column DB-WAX 122-7062 with a good separation of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. The structure of methyl esters fatty acids was determined using the GC–MS. Tocte walnut presents 5.05% of palmitic acid, 2.26% of stearic acid, 19.50% of oleic acid, 65.81% of linoleic acid, and 2.79% linolenic acid of the total content of fatty acids in tocte oil. Fatty acids content reported in this study were similar to the data reported for other walnuts seeds. Conclusions: Tocte seeds are a good source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Tocte oil content oleic acid and with a good content of ɷ6 α-linoleic and ɷ3 α-linolenic. Tocte walnut can help reduce risk cardiovascular diseases in Ecuador for their good composition of fatty acids.