Contents of tocols in different types of dry shell fruits

ArticleThe aim of this study was to identify all forms of vitamin E in different kinds of dry shell fruits (generally called ‘ nuts ’ ) obtained from different sources and to perform their mutual comparison . All tocols were determined by reversed phase HPLC using is ocratic elution with fluorescence detection. Almonds were evaluated as the most important source of α - tocopherol (average value 1 , 132 mg kg - 1 ), β - tocopherol was present in all samples as a minor component, its maximum content was found in hazelnuts (9.6 mg kg - 1 ). γ - T ocopherol was found in all kinds of nuts and the highest content was found in pistachios (584 mg kg - 1 ), very high amount of δ - tocopherol was contained in Brazil nuts (2 , 29 8 mg kg - 1 ). Tocotrienols were found in a smaller number of nut kinds than tocopherols. α - Tocotrienol was found only in three kinds of nuts - Brazil nuts, which contained the highest amount (399 mg kg - 1 ), pine nuts and hazelnuts grown in the Czech Republic, which were analyzed soon after harvest. Similarly, γ - tocotrienol w as det ermined only in four kinds of nuts (pistachios, macadamias, cashew and walnuts grown in the Czech Republic ) , which were analyzed soon after harvest ; t he most significant amount was found in pistachios (34.8 mg kg - 1 ) , β - and γ - tocotrienols were below the detection limit . In the Czech Republic, walnuts and hazelnuts are the most widely cultivated and consumed nuts. While in walnuts the most important form is γ - tocopherol (459 ± 40 mg kg - 1 ), in hazelnuts it is α - tocopherol ( 863 ± 10 mg kg - 1 )