Protein, Lipid, Aliphatic and Triterpenic Alcohol Content of Caper Seeds "Capparis spinosa"

Capparis spinosa has a large natural distribution over the Mediterranean basin. It is used in traditional medicines, and it is one of the most commonly found aromatics in the Mediterranean kitchen. In this paper, the total storage protein and lipids of Tunisian Capparis spinosa seeds were investigated, and the quantities were ca. 27% and ca. 33%, respectively. In this study also the composition of the aliphatic and triterpenic alcohols of C. spinosa was characterized for the first time. Aliphatic alcohol contents were ca. 45 mg kg(-1) of total extracted lipids. Three compounds were identified, hexadecanol, octadecanol and tetracosanol, of which octadecanol was the major compound (ca. 28 mg kg(-1)). Triterpenic alcohol content was 396.82 mg kg(-1). Citrostadienol was the major compound (ca. 170 mg kg(-1)). beta-Amyrin, gramisterol, cycloartanol and 2,4 methylcycloartenol were also detected and identified.