The composition of essential oil and fatty acids of dry fruits of
Tetrapleura tetraptera
were analyzed by GC/MS. Forty-four compounds representing 98.5% of the essential
oil were characterized. The essential oil was dominated by acetic acid (34.59%), 2-hydroxy-3-
butanone (18.25%), butanoic acid (8.35%), 2-methyl butanoic acid (7.58%), 2-methyl butanol
(7.45%), butanol (4.30%), 2-methyl butenoic acid (3.65%) and Nerol (3.25%). The fatty acid was
dominated by palmitic acid (49.44%), linoleic acid (26.81%), oleic acid (19.72%) and stearic
acid (3.20%). The fatty acid was about 54% saturated and 46% unsaturated with omega-6 and
omega-3 constituting 27% and omega-9 (20%). The effectiveness of
T.tetraptera to the treatment
of variety of ailments does not depend largely on the essential oils composition of the plant since
the oil is dominated by acetic acid. Any essential oil that is dominated by acid is not a true
essential oil.
