Quantitative results of tocopherols, sterols, triterpene esters, and lipid degradation products in shea kernels using native or quantifier ion intensity corrected analogue standards

• 30 antioxidative unsaponifiable constituents (USCs) quantified in fermented shea kernels • USCs included tocopherols; Δ 7 -sterols; triterpene alcohols, acetates and cinnamates • GC-MS quantification using native or quantifier ion/TIC corrected analogue standards • 18 triterpene esters made up 2.8 g/100 g kernel and 97% of quantified USCs • Simultaneous quantification of lipid degradation products: FFAs and their alkyl esters In shea kernels from the Vitellaria Paradoxa tree, lipids make up approximately half of the mass. The lipid portion includes a significant proportion of non-glyceridic lipids, also known as unsaponifiable matter (USM). Shea kernel samples from a controlled study in Burkina Faso, investigating local storage conditions in covered soil pits, were analyzed for USM compounds using GC-MS. The quantification was performed using external calibration curves of native (exact compound) or analogue (chemically similar) standards, and relative intensity corrections of quantifier ions were based on EI mass spectra of standards, samples, and MS libraries. The USM compounds amounted to 2.9 ± 0.4 g/100 g ( n =19) of the shea kernel samples. They included three tocopherols, two Δ 7 -sterols, squalene, and triterpenes, where the triterpenes accounted for an average of 98% of the total quantified beneficial compounds. The triterpenes included four triterpene alcohols, comprising 1%, ten triterpene acetates, and eight triterpene cinnamates, comprising 97% of the quantified unsaponifiable extractables. The concentration of the four predominant tetra- and pentacyclic triterpene cinnamate esters were: α-amyrin 907 ± 110 mg/100 g kernels, lupeol 577 ± 73 mg/100 g, butyrospermol 264 ± 44 mg/100 g, and β-amyrin 130 ± 17mg/100 g. The triterpene acetates were less abundant; the four dominant were of the triterpenes: α-amyrin 268 ± 38 mg/100 g, lupeol 203 ± 39 mg/100 g, butyrospermol 165 ± 32 mg/100 g, and β-amyrin 68 ± 9 mg/100 g. The quantified USM compounds are known to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and related health effects. Of particular interest are the tetracyclic and pentacyclic triterpene esters due to their exceptionally high levels in shea butter compared to other oils and fats.