Distribution of fatty acids in edible organs and seed fractions of borage (Borago officinalis L.)

BACKGROUND: Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is currently used as a vegetable in the north of Spain. The edible parts of the plant are the petioles, leaves and stems. The objective of this study was to determine the oil and fatty acids content in the edible tissues (leaves, petioles and stems) and seed fractions (endosperm + cotyledon, seed coat and elaiosome) of white- and blue-flowered borage accessions. RESULTS: Leaves showed higher mean values of oil content (2.7%) than petioles and stems (1.1% and 1.4%, respectively) in both, blue- and white-flowered material. The most abundant fatty acids in leaves were palmitic, linoleic, alpha-linolenic and stearidonic acids (about 75% of the total fatty acids), while in petioles and stems myristic and linoleic acids were most abundant (about 60% of the total fatty acids). Palmitic, oleic, linoleic and gamma-linolenic (GLA) acids were the major fatty acids of seed coat and endosperm + cotyledon in borage seeds (85% of the total fatty acids), while palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids were the most abundant fatty acids of elaisome in borage seeds (80% of the total fatty acids). CONCLUSION: This paper shows that green parts of borage contain substantial amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids for animal and human nutrition. Thus, borage could be a 'power food' of the future because of its content of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly the essential fatty acids, which have great potential to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer and infectious diseases. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.