Oil yield and fatty acid profile of seeds of three Salvia species. A comparative study

Abstract

Summary A comparative study of the oil yield and fatty acid composition of three Salvia species seeds collected in different locations has been conducted. Seed oil extraction was made using a Soxhlet-extractor and fatty acid analysis was undertaken using a GC-FID. The effect of the collecting site on oil yield, as well as the content of individual fatty acid and total fatty acid and fatty acid content was significant. Seed oil yield varied from 14.94 to 22.83% and the total fatty acids ranged from 67.36 to 82.49 mg/g DW. α-Linolenic (24.02-49.19%), linoleic (20.13-42.88%), oleic (12.97-17.81%) and palmitic (8.37-16.63%) acids were the most abundant fatty acids in all analyzed samples. α-Linolenic acid was found to be the major fatty acid in S. verbenaca and S. officinalis species, however, S. aegyptiaca was characterized by the prevalence of linoleic acid. Among the unsaturated fatty acids, which were represented in all samples in high amounts (78.16-89.34%), the polyunsaturated fatty acids (α-linolenic and linoleic acids) showed important levels ranging from 63.09 to 74.71%. Seeds of S. verbenaca were the richest in polyunsaturated fatty acids.