Composition of Fatty Acids and Tocopherols Content in Oilseeds of Six Wild Selected Plants from Kahuzi-Biega National Park/DR. Congo
Kazadi Minzangi
Department of Biology, Research Centre in Natural Substances CRSN/Lwiro, Official University of Bukavu, RD Congo
Pius T. Mpiana
Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.BOX 190, Kinshasa XI, RD Congo
Bashwira Samvura
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Pedagogy Bukavu, RD Congo
Archileo N. Kaaya
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Matthäus Bertrand
MRI - Max Rubner-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernährung und Lebensmittel, Food Department Working Group for Lipid Research, Schützenberg 12, 32756 Detmold, Germany
Justin N. Kadima
Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, Rwanda
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) in Democratic Republic of the Congo is packed with fantastic oilseed plants that need to be analysed in order to promote a sustainable exploitation for both commercial and food supply purposes. The study aimed to determine the content of Fatty acids (FAs) and Tocopherols in the oilseeds from Eckebergia capensis Sparrman (Meliaceae), Entada abyssinica Steud. ex A. Rich (Leguminosae), Macaranga kilimandscharica Pax (Euphorbiaceae), Prunus africana (Rosaceae), Sesbania sesban L. (Fabaceae) and Telfairia pedata (Cucurbitaceae) using gas liquid chromatography and HPLC.
Results: The respective oil yields for the six studied plants ranged from a minimum of 7.2% for S. sesban seeds to a maximum of 42.2% for P. africana seeds. Eighteen FAs were detected, of which, five saturated (SFAs), six monounsaturated (MUFAs) and seven polyunsaturated (PUFAs). The SFAs fraction was dominated by stearic acid varying from 5.95 % in M. kilimandscharica oil to 76.19% in P. africana oil. The content in PUFAs fraction represented by linoleic acid an omega-6 fatty acid varied from 3.19% in P. africana oil to 58.82% in S. sesban oil while alpha-linolenic acid an omega-3 accounted for 0.32% in P. africana oil to 5.88% in S. sesban oil. The MUFAs fraction represented by oleic acid an omega-9 fatty acid varied from 3.4% in P. africana oil to 41.77% in T. pedata oil. The highest content of tocopherols was 10.9 mg/100 g in S. sesban oil, followed by E. abyssinica (7.9 mg/100 g) and M. kilimandscharica oil (4.9 mg/100 g).
Conclusion: The findings will help select the appropriate plant for specific desired FAs and tocopherols.
Keywords: Oilseed plants, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, fatty acids, tocopherols