A study on unconventional seed oils from Burkina Faso was carried out to determine their potential usefulness. The highest oil content was obtained with Marantes polyandra (55.0%) and the lowest with Detarium microcarpum seed oil (12.0%). Linoleic and oleic acids were the most dominant fatty acids of Balanites aegyptiaca, Combretum aculeatum, Detarium microcarpum and Lophira lanceolata. Eleostearic acid and cyclopropenic acids were the major fatty acids in the oils of Parinari curatelliflora and Sterculia setigera, respectively. Combretum aculeatum had the highest tocopherol content (800 ppm). All the results suggest that seed oils may have potential applications in food and cosmetic products.

Seed oils; Fatty acids; Tocopherol and stability