Sterols and squalene in apricot ( Prunus armeniaca L.) kernel oils: the variety as a key factor.

The profile of sterols and squalene content in oils recovered from the kernels of 15 apricot (Prunus armeniacaL.) varieties were investigated. Nine sterols (campesterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, cholesterol, gramisterol, Δ7-stigmasterol, Δ7-avenasterol and citrostadienol) were identified in apricot kernel oils. The β-sitosterol was the predominant sterol in each cultivar and consisted of 76–86% of the total detected sterols. The content of total sterols and squalene were significantly affected by the variety and ranged between 215.7–973.6 and 12.6–43.9 mg/100 g of oil, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]