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Stearidonic acid (SA, 18:4n‐3) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that constitutes the first metabolite of α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) in the metabolic pathway leading to C20–22 PUFA, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), which recently have received much attention because of their various physiological functions in the human body. Recently, several studies indicated that dietary SA increased EPA more efficiently than ALA. Thus, vegetable oils containing SA may become a dietary source of n‐3 fatty acids that is more effective in increasing tissue n‐3 PUFA concentrations than the current ALA‐containing vegetable oils. Nevertheless, few SA sources occur in nature, although there are still a large number of species untested to date. SA has been detected in variable amounts in several species of algae, fungi and animals tissues, but the seeds of some plant families seem to be better sources of SA, especially Echium (Boraginaceae) species. This work reviews the nutritional significance, medical uses and natural occurrence of SA.

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Forty-nine plant species from Spain, belonging to the Boraginaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Onagraceae, and Ranunculaceae families, were surveyed in a search of new sources of γ-linolenic acid (18:3ω6, GLA). Fatty acid profiles from seeds, stems, roots, flowers and leaves were determined. GLA was detected mainly in seed and root tissues. High GLA amounts were found in seeds of Boraginaceae species, with a maximum of 20.25% of total fatty acids in Myosotis nemorosa. Within the Scrophulariaceae the highest GLA content (10.17%) was found in Scrophularia sciophila. Variable amounts of stearidonic acid, (18:4ω3, SDA) were present in Boraginaceae species, ranging from 0.08% of total seed fatty acids in Anchusa azurea to 21.06% in Echium asperrimum. SDA was also very abundant in all organs of Asperugo procumbens. A multivariate analysis was performed using our results and those reported for other plant species belonging to the same families in order to investigate a possible correlation between the fatty acid profile and the genera within these families.

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