Seed oils from two species of cucurbitaceae (Kikarasu-uri and Prince melon) were investigated on their general properties, the fatty acid compositions determined by gas chromatography and on the characteristics of unsaponifiable matters.
The oils were obtained by extracting the dried seeds with ether. The general properties were as follows ; Kikarasu-uri (d24 4 0.9235, n22 D 1.4555, I.V. 121.5, S.V. 210.5), Prince melon (d18 4 0.9180, n18 D 1.4765, I.V. 135.1, A.V. 3.5, S.V. 190.7). >
The fatty acid compositions were C12 : 0, 1.8; C12 : 1, 1.5; C14 : 0, 0.8; C14 : 1, 0.9; C16 : 0, 5.7; C18 : 1, 17.0; C18 : 2, 44.7; C18 : 3, 3.3; C20 : 0, 6.1; C20 : 1, 15.8 and C20 : 2, 2.4 in the case of Kikarasu-uri, and C12 : 00.6; C12 : 1, 0.7;C14 : 0, 0.5;C14 : 1, 0.2; C16 : 0, 9.1;C16 : 1, 1.8; C18 : 1, 10.2; C18 : 2, 60.9; C18 : 3, 1.7; C20 : 1, 2.9 and C20 : 2, 11.4 in the case of Prince melon.
The main sterols in unsaponifiable matters of Kikarasu-uri and Prince melon were considered to be brassicasterol and poriferasterol, respectively.