The oil of amaranth grain (Amaranthus spp.) is a rich source of poly-unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, we tested 10 amaranth samples representing two species (Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus) in two consecutive years (2010, 2011). Grain oils were analysed by gas chromatography for their fatty acids profile. In 2010, oil content ranged from 6.4-8.2% for A. cruentus and 6.3-7.9% for A. hypochondriacus. In 2011, the level was 7.1-8.2% and 6.6-8.7% for A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus, respectively. Linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids were dominant fatty acids in all of the oil samples. The essential linoleic acid level was 33.3-38.7% (A. cruentus) and 31.7-47.5% (A. hypochondriacus) in 2010 and 34.6-39.9% (A. cruentus) and 34-44.5% (A. hypochondriacus) in 2011. The minority fatty acids, i.e. stearic, α-linolenic, and arachidic acids were also observed. Eicosenoic and behenic acids were present in the grain in trace amounts. Statistical evaluation showed a significant effect of year and species of amaranth on the levels of certain fatty acids. There was a strong positive correlation between oil content and oleic acid, and a negative correlation between oleic acid and either of the other two fatty acids, linoleic and α-linolenic ones.

Oil content, fatty acids profile, acid and saponification values of poppy seeds grown on two localities of the Slovak Republic were evaluated in the study. Statistically significant effects of locality, genotype and their interaction (P < 0.05) for numerous descriptors were proved by non-parametric tests. Results confirmed that variation in the analysed parameters was influenced by the colour of seeds. Ochre variety Redy contained the highest oil level in both localities (49.9 and 52.4%) and linoleic acid level (74.3 and 71.6%). White-seeded Racek and Albín had the highest acid value (2.8 and 2.4% of free fatty acids) and grey-seeded Malsar and blue-seeded Maratón contained the highest saponification value. Buddha, a high-morphine poppy variety, differed significantly in all monitored parameters. High negative interrelation between linoleic and oleic acids levels was observed. Oil content was positively correlated with linoleic acid and negatively with oleic acid. Weather conditions at the end of vegetation influenced the accumulation of oil and essential linoleic acid.

The main aim of the present study was to find differences in the content of fatty acids and variations in elemental composition in beef samples of longissimus dorsi muscle related to cattle age and gender. A further goal was to describe interrelations among the selected variables (descriptors) characterising the samples. For this purpose, an extensive data table was compiled, which contains chemical descriptors specifying forty-six beef samples originating from four well-known Austrian grassland-based beef labels. The following descriptors were investigated: (a) concentrations of 33 fatty acids, (b) concentrations of 19 elements, (c) contents of dry-mass, protein, intramuscular fat, and ash, (d) total content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), (e) total contents of omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) PUFA and their ratio. The correlation analysis provided a number of statistically significant correlations among the descriptors, which were concordant with the results of the principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Furthermore, the effect of age and gender of cattle (both acting as target factors) on the fatty acid content and elemental composition of beef was examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and appropriate non-parametric tests. Several important interrelations among the beef characteristics investigated were also discovered. Finally, the most relevant beef descriptors were utilised in linear discrimination analysis (LDA) for predicting the slaughter age of the cattle for beef authentication.

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