Investigating Some Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acid Composition of Native Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) Seed Oil

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of seed and seed oil obtained from the native black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) were investigated in 2008 and 2009. The results showed that the seed consisted of 27.5-33% crude oil, 20.2-22.5% crude protein, 3.5-6% ash, 42.4-46.6% carbohydrate and 112.2-152.0 mg total phenolics/100 g. Twenty different fatty acids were determined, with the percentages varying from 0.02% myristic acid (C14:0) to 78.7% linoleic acid (C18:2). According to the GC analysis of fatty acid methyl esters, linoleic acid (C18:2), followed by palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) were the major fatty acids, which together comprised approximately 97% of the total identified fatty acids. High C18:2 content (average 73.7%) proved that the black mulberry seed oil is a good source of the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid. Linolenic acid (C18:3) was also found in a relatively lower amount (0.3-0.5%). The a-tocopherol content was found to be between 0.17 and 0.20 mg in 100 g seed oil. The main sterols in the mulberry seed oil were b-sitosterol, D5-avenasterol, D5, 23-stigmastadienol, clerosterol, sitosterol and D5, 24-stigmastadienol. The present study stated that the native black mulberry seed oil can be used as a nutritional dietary substance and has great usage potential.

Fatty acids composition of Spanish black ( Morus nigra L.) and white ( Morus alba L.) mulberries

“…The linolenic acid (C18:3) ranged from 1.42% (MN4) to 2.40% (MA3). Gecgel et al (2011) found lower levels of linolenic (0.45%) in M. nigra than those found in the current study, whereas Ercisli and Orhan (2007) did not detect it in M. nigra and M. alba.…”

“…These results agree with those previously found by Gecgel et al (2011), who reported an average content of 73.70% (C18:2) in black mulberry (M. nigra L.), and also with Yang et al (2010) who observed an average of 79.37% (C18:2) in M. alba L. Among the studied clones, M. nigra had the lowest C18:2 levels (average 72.97%), whereas M. alba clones had the highest levels of this fatty acid (average 74.90%). However, Ercisli and Orhan (2007) in Turkish mulberry fruits found that M. nigra had higher C18:2 levels (average 61.85%) than M. alba clones (average 57.26%).…”

“…2). This agrees with the results previously obtained by Ercisli and Orhan (2007), Yang, Yang, and Zheng (2010), and Gecgel, Velioglu, and Velioglu (2011).…”

“…Similar results were reported by Gecgel et al (2011) and Yang et al (2010), but these authors observed lower C16:0 values. Nevertheless, Ercisli and Orhan (2007) reported higher values of these fatty acids, except C16:0, in M. nigra.…”

“…Gecgel et al (2011) also detected the behenic (C22:0) and palmitoleic (C16:1) acids in black mulberry. However, Ercisli and Orhan (2007) detected behenic acid (C22:0), and palmitoleic acid (C16:1) at concentrations of 0.26% and 0.67%, respectively, but only in M. alba.…”