Abstract

According to the great importance that seed oils has in relation to human health, cumbaru seed oil (DIPTERYX ALATA VOGEL) had its chemical structure and positional distribution of glycerol chains investigated by solution ¹H and ¹³C NMR, as well as the natural degradation has been evaluated. The NMR techniques applied to the study of this oil showed that it is mainly constituted by oleic and linoleic glycerols with low content of saturated glycerols such as palmitic. Another important point was that this oil did not degraded or oxidated by itself or by light action quickly, it was stored at normal laboratory conditions during two years, and it was analyzed after that time and both ¹H and ¹³C solution NMR spectra presented the same signals since this oil was extracted from the seed.

Keywords: Cumbaru oil; 13C NMR; Chemical characterization