Purpose: To evaluate the fatty acid composition of six
Centaurea species, viz,
Centaurea behen
,
C.
saligna,
C. depressa,
C. urvillei subsp.
urvillei,
C. urvillei subsp.
hayekiana and
C. aggregata subsp.
aggregata, from Elazığ, Turkey.
Methods: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of the oil extracts of four Centaurea species were
prepared. The fatty acid compositions of Centaurea species were analyzed by gas chromatography
(GC).
Results: Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in Centaurea species and subspecies ranged from 24.61 -
50.92% of their total fatty acid content, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were in the range of
3.40 - 37.96% and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) 12.21 - 20.57%. Palmitic acid C 16:0, oleic acid
C 18:1 ω9 and linoleic acid C 18:1 ω3 were the major fatty acids in all the species. Oleic acid was the
main constituent of
C. urvillei subps.
urvillei and
C. agrregata subsp.
aggregata with a content of 26.92
and 50.92%, respectively.
Conclusıon: The oil extracted from Centaurea species is a good source of essential fatty acids.
