665.325The lipophylic extracts of three Viscum album subspecies growing on different host plants in Turkey were comparatively analyzed for derived methyl esters of their fatty acids by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The sample of V. album ssp. album growing on apricot trees was remarkably rich in palmitic acid (11.47%). Arachidic acid was found in only ssp. austriacum and ssp. abietis samples. The unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic and linoleic acids, were identified in nine lipophylic extracts obtained from V. album samples belonging to ssp. album. The amounts of linoleic and oleic acid were the highest in the sample of ssp. album growing on apricot trees (12.18 and 9.19%, respectively).Viscum album L. (European mistletoe) (Loranthaceae), which is an evergreen, semiparasitic plant found on the branches of deciduous trees, is represented by three subspecies; namely ssp. album, ssp. abietis (Wiesb.) Abromeit, and ssp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollmann [1].Since ancient times, European mistletoe has been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, convulsions, arthrosis, cancer, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis [2,3].Phytochemical studies on V. album have revealed the presence of some pharmacologically active substances including alkaloids, polysaccharides, phenylpropanes, lignans, lectins, viscotoxins, and flavonoids [4,5].Linoleic and α-linolenic acids, obtained from plant material, in the diet are the precursors in tissues of two families with opposing effects which are referred to as "essential fatty acids" (EFA): arachidonic acid (AA) and pentane (eicosopentaenoic acid: EPA) and hexaene (docosahexaenoic acid: DHA) acids. The role of EFA is crucial; without a source of AA or compounds which can be converted into AA, synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) by a cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme would be compromised, and this would seriously affect many normal metabolic processes [6].The purpose of this research was to determine the fatty acid composition of lipophylic (leaves, stems, and twigs) extracts from eleven V. album samples belonging to three V. album subspecies growing in Turkey: ssp. album, ssp. abietis, and ssp. austriacum. This is the first report on the fatty acid content of lipophylic extracts prepared from leaves, stems, and twigs of V. album subspecies growing on different host plants in Turkey. Therefore, any comparison with previously published data was not possible.In this study, lipophylic extracts were obtained from leaves, stems, and twigs of V. album samples. These parts of plants are known to be poor in fatty acids. On the other hand, a considerable content of sterols and aliphatic alcohols was noted in all samples. But many of these compounds could not be identified by GC-MS apparatus. Therefore, the sum (10.10-36.15%) of fatty acids of extracts is not close to 100%.Among the eleven V. album samples, the highest oil yield was obtained from ssp. album leaves, twigs, and stems growing on pear tree (11.95%), and ssp. austriacum leaves, twigs, and stems growing on pine tree gave...