Abstract
Compositional analysis of the sterol fraction of olive oil can be used to assess the degree of purity of the oil and the absence of admixture with other plant oils. This determination also permits characterization of the type of olive oil in question: virgin, refined, or solvent-extracted. In the present work, 130 samples of olive oil were analyzed, the sterol fractions were separated from the unsaponifiable fraction by silica gel plate chromatography, and later they were analyzed as the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives by capillary column gas chromatography. From the results obtained, it was concluded that this methodology is able to differentiate among virgin, refined, and solvent-extracted olive oils. Stigmasterol, clerosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmasterol, and Δ7-avenasterol permit the differentiation of the three types of oil from one another. Campesterol, Δ5, 23-stigmastadienol, β-sitosterol, and Δ5,24-stigmastadienol permit the differentiation of only two oils from each other but confirm the conclusions obtained for other sterols. Correlations between the different sterols of virgin, refined, and solven-extracted olive oil also have been obtained.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pizzoferrato, L., S. Nicoli, and C. Lintas, GC-MS Characterization and Quantification of Sterols and Cholesterol Oxidation Products,Chromatographia 35:269–274 (1993).
De la Torre Boronat, Ma.C., Ma.C. López Sabater, and J. Colell Areny, Evolución de la fracción esterólica durante la maduración de las aceitunas,Grasas Aceites 36:198–202 (1985).
Leone, A.M., E. La Notte, and F. Lamparelli, La frazione sterolica del'olio di oliva e il suo significato analitico,Riv. Sci. Tecnol. Alimenti. Nutr. Um. 6:205–213 (1976).
Tiscornia, E., and G.C. Bertini, La composizione della frazione sterolica di oli ottenuti d'olive campionate in differenti momenti del loro ciclo di maturazione,Riv. Ital. Sostanza Grasse 55:277–282 (1978).
Camera, L., F. Angerosa, and A. Cucurachi, Influenza dello stocheggio delle olive sui constituenti della frazione sterolica dell'olio,55:107–112 (1978).
Fedelli, F., F. Camurati, N. Cortesi, G. Favini, V. Verri, and G. Jacini. Variazioni di composizione e struttura degli oli vegetali a seguito della raffinazione. Nota I. Oli lampanti di oliva. Neutralizazione con alcali,48:481–486 (1971).
Leone, A.M., E. La Notte, and F. Lamparelli, La componente non gliceridica dell' olio di oliva nelle varie fasi della rettifica. Nota I: la frazione sterolica,53:259–272 (1976).
Tisconia, E., and G.C. Bertini, Influenza dei processi di rettificazione sulla composizione della frazione sterolica di oli vegetali comestibili. Olio d'oliva,52:101–108 (1975).
De L. Duarte, H.M.P., and R.M.B.S. Martins, Insaponificable des corps grass. Fraction stérolique des huiles d'olive vierges portugaises,Grasas Aceites 27:101–106 (1976).
Amati, A., F. Carraro Zanirato, and G. Ferri, Determinazione degli steroli negli oli oliva vergine italiani. Aplicazione al controllo della genuitá.Riv. Ital. Sostanze Grasse 48:39–44 (1971).
Lanzón, A., T. Albi, and J. Gracián, Alteraciones registradas en los componentes alcohólicos del insaponificable del aceite de oliva en el proceso de refinación. Primeros ensayos,Grasas Aceites 38:203–209 (1987).
Grob, K., M. Lanfranchi, and C. Mariani, Evaluation of Olive Oils Through the Fatty Alcohols, the Sterols and Their Esters by Coupled LC-GC,J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 67:626–634 (1990).
Amelio, M., R. Rizzo, and F. Varazini, Determination of Sterol, Erythrodiol, Uvaol and Alkanosl in Olive Oils Using Combined Solid-Phase Extraction, High Performance Liquid Chromatographic and High-Resolution Gas Chromatographic Techniques,J. Chromatogr. 606:179–185 (1992).
Reglamento CEE 2568/91 de la Comisión, Relativo a las características de los aceites de oliva y de los aceites de orujo de oliva y sobre sus métodods de análisis.Diario Oficial L248, 1991, pp. 1–48.
Determinazione del contenuto di steroli mediante gascromatografia con colonna capillare. Norme Grassi e derivati. Metodo NGD C72.Rev. Ital. delle Sostanze Grasse C4:553 (1987).
Calapaj, R., S. Chiricosta, G. Saija, and V. Bivona, Valutazione di risultanze analitiche gascromatografiche e spettrofotometriche nell'accertamento della presenza di oli di semi in campioni di olio di oliva,Riv. Ital. Sostanze Grasse 70:585–594 (1993).
Skoog, D.A., and D.M. West,Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 3rd edn, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1976.
Moreda, W., M.C. Pérez, and A. Cert, Determinación de algunos parámetros de pureza en aceites de oliva. Resultados de un estudio colaborativo,Grasas Aceites 46:279–284 (1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
de Blas, O.J., del Valle González, A. Determination of sterols by capillary column gas chromatography. Differentiation among different types of olive oil: Virgin, refined, and solvent-extracted. J Am Oil Chem Soc 73, 1685–1689 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02517973
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02517973