Variations in the phytosterol and tocopherol compositions and the oxidative stability in seed oils from four safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL) varieties grown in north‐easternMorocco

Summary Phytosterol and tocopherol contents and oxidative stability were evaluated from seeds oils of four safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L ) varieties originating from S pain ( R ancho), I ndia ( S harda) and M orocco ( C artamar and C artafri), which were cultivated at the experimental station in O ujda (a semi‐arid region of eastern M orocco). Total phytosterols ranged from 3640 to 4140 mg kg −1 . GC analysis allowed the identification of nine compounds, of which β‐sitosterol was the major component. Total tocopherols ranged from 461.56 to 499.68 mg kg −1 . HPLC analysis allowed the identification of three compounds, α‐tocopherol (99.45%–98.84%), β‐tocopherol (0.94%–0.5%) and γ‐tocopherol (0.21%–0.01%). Oxidative stability study showed that S harda had the lowest induction period of 2.3 h compared with 7.18, 7 and 6.67 h for C artafri, R ancho and C artamar, respectively. Likewise, we established a positive correlation between the oxidative stability and γ‐tocopherol; however, this difference was not significant.