Gamma‐linolenic and stearidonic acids from Moroccan Boraginaceae

Abstract

Seeds from 20 species belonging to Boraginaceae, subfamilies Boraginoideae and Heliotropioideae, were surveyed in a search for new sources of g-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). Seed oil content ranged from 7.5% in Echium humile ssp. pycnanthum to 28.8% in Anchusa undulata. GLA ranged from 0.2% of total fatty acids in Heliotropium undulatum to 20.2% in Lithodora maroccana. This last species may be considered as new source of GLA. GLA content was also tested in other Lithodora species from the south east of Spain, to compare GLA percentages among related taxa. GLA amounts in all Echium species reached approximately 12%, in good agreement with previous findings in other European Echium species. SDA ranged from an absence in several Cynoglossum species to 16.2% in Echium humile ssp. pycnanthum, which may be considered as a new source of this fatty acid.

Separation of γ‐linolenic and other polyunsaturated fatty acids from Boraginaceae via supercritical CO2

“…The obtained linear calibration curve was fitted using linear regression with R 2 ≥0.99. The amount of GLA was quantified via the calculated area under the GLA peaks and a linear calibration curve, according to the following equation: Seed fatty acid profiles obtained in this study are in close agreement with previous investigations 8. For instance, the results of this study indicated high amount of ALA (40–41%) in Echium species, which is confirmed by the previous reports 8, 9.…”

“…GLA could inhibit the growth and metastasis of a variety of tumor cells including breast, colon, prostate, superficial bladder, pancreatic and hepatoma cells 4–6. Another fatty acid of commercial interest is SDA, which is used in creams that are applied topically to reduce inflammation induced by irradiation 7, 8. SDA has been detected together with GLA in seed oils of Boraginaceae, Primulaceae and plants from the genus Ribes (Saxifragaceae) 7.…”

Searching for health beneficial n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids in plant seeds

“…In addition, minor genetic variations 12 and not least different methodical parameters (fatty acid transmethylation and GC conditions) could influence the fatty acid profile, too.…”

Enhancing total lipid and stearidonic acid yields inBuglossoides arvensisthrough PGPR inoculation

“…; Tsevegsüren and Aitzetmüller ; Velasco and Goffman ; Guil‐Guerrero et al . ). Stearidonic acid (SDA; 18:4 n‐3), an uncommon n‐3 fatty acid found in the plant kingdom, has been shown to accumulate to significant levels in the seeds of a small number of plant species belonging to the Boraginaceae family (Guil‐Guerrero ).…”