Abstract
The plant family Compositae is known to produce a set of unusual fattly acids in their seed oil. Saussurea, a genus of the Compositae is less studied in respect to the fatty acid compsition of their seed oil. Only Saussurea candicans was reported to contain crepenynic acid (33%) as seed oil component.
In continuation of our exploration of the portential of wild oil seeds, fatty acids in seed oils of seven Saussurea species (S. amara, S. salicifolia, S. lipschitzii, S. pseudoalpina, S. pricei, S. parviflora, and S. dorogostaiskii) growing in Mongolia a were investigated by means of capillary GLC on capiallary columns of different selectivity (Silar 5 CP and BPX 70).
γ‐Linolenic acid was found at levels up to 11% of the consitituent fatty acids of Saussurea spp. seed oils. This is the first time that γ‐Linolenic acid has been found in members of the plant family Compositae. Moreover, the number, position and configuration of the double bonds in γ‐linolenic acid and that of other fatty acids was additionally confirmed by silver ion thin layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The occurence and distribution of γ‐linolenic acid, which has found considerable interest for pharmaceutical and dietary use, may be of chemotaxonomical significance in the plant family Compositae.