Fatty Acid Composition of the Aerial Parts of Some Centaurea Species in Elazig, Turkey

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 Elazig, 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 omega 9 and linoleic acid C 18:1 omega 3 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. Conclusion: The oil extracted from Centaurea species is a good source of essential fatty acids.