Chemical study of medicinal plant seeds

Seeds from Plantago lanceolata L., Tagetes minuta L., Centaurea calcitrapa L., Dipsacus fullonum L. var. sylvestris, Cichorium intybus L., Ammi majus L. and Passiflora coerulea L. harvested at Olavarria (Buenos Aires, Argentina) were defatted with n-hexane, yielding 2.3 - 3.2 - 22.9 - 27.4 - 13.3 - 11.7 y 29.9% of crude oils (dry basis), respectively. Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of the oils were determinated, witt only three acids in significative proportion : 16:0, 18:1 y 18:2. The residual seed meals contained low level of crude protein and high level of available lysine in the Dipsacus fullonum L., Ammi majus L., Passiflora coerulea L. y Centaurea calcitrapa L, meals (7.37 - 5.1 - 4.49 - 4.04 g/16 g N, respectively). Values of total phosphorous, phytic acid, ash, crude fiber, calcium, polysaccharides (starch absent) and residual lipid were reported.