To identify the phytosterol composition in the cottonseed kernels of Zhongmian No. 49, the seeds were dehulled, crushed, sieved, saponified, solvent-extracted, and silylated for derivatization. Subsequently, separation was performed using an HP-5MS column on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) platform, and semi-quantitative analysis was conducted using the internal standard method.

The results indicated that the cottonseed kernels of Zhongmian No. 49 contain nine types of phytosterols: cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, avenasterol, Δ7-avenasterol, 24-methylene cycloartanol, and high root diol. The total sterol content in every 100 g of Zhongmian No. 49 cottonseed kernels was found to be 124.870 mg, with higher concentrations of β-sitosterol, campesterol, and Δ5-avenasterol, which accounted for 79.669%, 10.647%, and 4.238% of the total sterol content, respectively. High root diol is a characteristic component.

This study provides technical and data support for the comprehensive utilization and nutritional evaluation of cottonseed and offers a new method for the identification of high-quality edible oils.