Determination of lipid composition of the two principal cherimoya cultivars grown in Andalusian Region
Abstract Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) is a tropical fruit, native to inter-Andean valleys from Peru and Ecuador. The main cherimoya growing in the Mediterranean basin is the coast of Granada–Malaga (Spain), the so-called Costa Tropical. Recently, the number of studies related to economic exploitation of seeds and other by-products proceeding from new oleaginous vegetable sources has increased. Therefore, the aim of this work was to characterize the lipid fraction of the edible portion of the cherimoya and its by-products. Different fatty acids were identified in pulp, seed, and skin. The major fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic. On the other hand, α-tocopherol was identified in seeds and peel. Moreover, three different phospholipids were identified. Finally, β-sitosterol was the principle sterol in all samples and, to our knowledge, γ-sitosterol was identified only in pulp and peel of cherimoya for the first time.