Sardinian Boraginaceae are new potential sources of gamma-linolenic acid

José Luis Guil-Guerrero; Francisco Gómez-Mercado; Rebeca Pilar Ramos-Bueno; María José González-Fernández; Miguel Urrestarazu; Miguel Ángel Rincón-Cervera

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.09.111

Sardinian Boraginaceae are new potential sources of gamma-linolenic acid

Food Chem. 2017 Mar 1:218:435-439. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.09.111. Epub 2016 Sep 17.

Authors

José Luis Guil-Guerrero¹, Francisco Gómez-Mercado², Rebeca Pilar Ramos-Bueno³, María José González-Fernández³, Miguel Urrestarazu⁴, Miguel Ángel Rincón-Cervera⁵

Affiliations

¹ Food Technology Division, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain. Electronic address: jlguil@ual.es.
² Botany Division, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain.
³ Food Technology Division, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain.
⁴ Agronomy Division, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain.
⁵ Food Technology Division, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain; Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.

PMID: 27719932
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.09.111

Abstract

The aim of this work was to establish the richness in γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n6) and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n3) of several Sardinian Boraginaceae species. To this end, seeds of selected species were collected from their natural habitats and analysed. The highest GLA contents were found in the seed oils of two endemic Borago taxa, i.e. B. morisiana (24.4 and 24.6% GLA of total fatty acids for samples from San Pietro Island and Sardinia Island, respectively), and 22.9% GLA for B. pygmaea. Both Borago species contained more GLA than B. officinalis collected in the same ecosystems. SDA was found in significant amounts in Echium plantagineum seed oil from the Lattias Mountains (15% SDA of total fatty acids). It is notable that both Borago GLA-rich species are under threat of extinction, thus revealing the importance of the preservation of the natural Sardinian ecosystems for endangered species and human health.

Keywords: Borago morisiana; Borago pygmaea; Endangered species; Sardinian Boraginaceae; Stearidonic acid; γ-Linolenic acid.

MeSH terms

Boraginaceae / chemistry*
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / analysis
Humans
Italy
Seeds / chemistry
gamma-Linolenic Acid / analysis*

Substances

Fatty Acids, Omega-3
gamma-Linolenic Acid
stearidonic acid