Fatty acid profiles of some Fabaceae seed oils

Authors: Knothe, Gerhard; RAZON, LUIS - De La Salle University; MADULID, DOMINGO - De La Salle University; AGOO, ESPERANZA - De La Salle University; DE CASTRO, MARIA - De La Salle University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2016
Publication Date: 5/21/2016
Citation: Knothe, G.H., Razon, L.F., Madulid, D.A., Agoo, E.M., De Castro, M.E. 2016. Fatty acid profiles of some Fabaceae seed oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 93:1007-1011.

Interpretive Summary: Plant oils composed mainly of so-called triacylglycerols are promising feedstocks for numerous applications to replace petroleum-based materials. Knowledge of the exact composition of the triacylglycerols making up these oils is essential to judge which of the possible applications are the most promising and what the properties of the materials may be. This work describes the nature of the fatty acids contained in the triacylglycerols of six seed oils as the fatty acids in the triacylglycerols are the major property-determining factor. These seed oils are obtained from the same family of plants to which also common commercially important plants such as soybean, pea, peanut, and alfalfa belong. The results show some relationships to the oils of the other members of this plant family but also differences, all of which are discussed. As mentioned, the results will be useful in determining properties and most promising applications.

Technical Abstract: The fatty acid profiles of six seed oils of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family are reported and discussed. These are the seed oils of Centrosema pubescens, Clitoria ternatea, Crotalaria mucronata, Macroptilium lathyroides, Pachyrhizus erosus, and Senna alata. The most common fatty acid in the fatty acid profiles of these oils is linoleic acid with palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linolenic acids usually completing the most prominent fatty acids in these species. Long-chain saturated fatty acids were observed in all oils. Centrosema pubescens and Macroptilium lathyroides exhibited the greatest amounts of long-chain saturated fatty acids exceeding the amount of stearic acid in these oils. C. pubescens exhibited slightly more than 6% C24:0 together with some fatty acids > C25 while M. lathyroides contained approximately 4% C22:0 and 3% C24:0. The results are comparatively discussed to previous data on the fatty acid profiles of Fabaceae species.