Profiling Fatty Acid-Rich Extracts from Sterculia oblonga: Implications for Skin Care and Antioxidant Formulations

The increasing demand for plant-derived lipophilic compounds in the cosmetic and therapeutic industries has intensified the search for novel bioresources from underexplored botanical sources. In this study, the n-hexane extract of Sterculia oblonga stem bark was analyzed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) to profile its chemical constituents. A total of 25 compounds were identified, with a predominance of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Major components included cis-vaccenic acid (20.72%), palmitic acid (15.90%), oleic acid (10.76%), and their corresponding esters. Other constituents, such as aldehydes and long-chain thiols were also present, contributing to potential biological activity. The abundance of skin-conditioning fatty acids and oxidative stress-modulating lipids highlights the extract’s potential in the formulation of antioxidant-rich skin care products. These findings not only underscore the cosmeceutical relevance of S. oblonga but also support its sustainable utilization in natural product development.