A. J. Deutschman

Oil composition ofCucurbita

The entire range of fatty acid composition is found for seeds of self-pollinated fruit from 22 individual plants representing 17 named species ofCucurbita. It appears that some varieties merit interest as a source of drying oil and edible oils. Xerophytes that are genetically related have similar types of unsaturation and molecular-weight distribution.

Protein Evaluation of Two Species of Cucurbita Seeds

Summary An experiment was conducted with weanling mice to evaluate the protein quality of two samples of gourd seeds (Cucurbita digitata gray and C. foetidissima HBK). These materials were compared with whole egg protein. The gourd seeds were fed after fat extraction and after autoclaving (30 min at 120°) in addition to the feeding of the untreated ground material. Amino acid analyses showed that the C. digitata seeds were deficient in phenylalanine plus tyrosine, methionine, and threonine; while, the C. foetidissima seeds were deficient in methionine and threonine. Nitrogen retention data, liver transaminase activities and amino acid retention estimates all indicated that C. foetidissima seeds were superior to C. digitata in protein quality and that C. foetidissima seeds could be improved by autoclaving but was still of lower protein quality than whole egg.

Photolytic synthesis of methyl sterculate containing mixture from methyl stearolate and diazomethane

A method for synthesis of a mixture containing methyl sterculate is described. The presence of the cyclopropene compound was verified by Halphen Test, infrared absorption and the effect on fatty acid distribution in egg yolks produced by hens consuming the synthetic product.

Catalytic elimination of cyclopropene-containing acids

A procedure is described for decreasing the cyclopropene ring acids in cottonseed oil triglycerides as indicated by the Halphen test. Continuous reaction of the oil in the presence of aluminum silicate catalyst at elevated temp effectively decreases its cyclopropene acid content. The effect of temp and space velocity are described from temp of 170-225C. The treated oil produces no observable effect on egg quality or production.