<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The seeds of<jats:italic>Diplocyclos palmatus</jats:italic> L. (Cucurbitaceae) contained 23% oil and 15% protein. The UV, IR,<jats:sup>1</jats:sup>H‐NMR and<jats:sup>13</jats:sup>C‐NMR spectrometry of the oil, and oxidation, reduction and gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of the methyl ester of conjugated fatty acid isolated by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed the presence of punicic (octadeca‐<jats:italic>cis</jats:italic>‐9,<jats:italic>trans</jats:italic>‐11,<jats:italic>cis</jats:italic>‐13‐trienoic) acid. The fatty acid composition (wt %), as determined by GLC, is: punicic, 38.2; 18∶2, 43.9; 16∶0, 8.1; 18∶0, 4.9 and 18∶1, 4.9.