Characterization of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum) Seed Lipids

Abstract

The composition and content of lipids, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, tocopherols and sterols in nine fenugreek genotypes were analyzed. Lipid content in fenugreek seeds ranged from 5.8 to 15.2%. Major fatty acids were: linoleic acid (45.1-47.5%), a-linolenic (18.3-22.8%), oleic (12.4-17.0%), palmitic (9.8-11.2%) and stearic (3.8-4.2%) acids. The ratios of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids were between 2.1 and 2.7. Similar fatty acid distribution was observed in all analyzed samples with some deviations. a-Tocopherol was the predominant component found in the fenugreek lipid antioxidants, and it constituted over 84% of the total amounts of tocopherols. It amounts ranged from 620 to 910 mg/kg lipids. b-Sitosterol was the major sterol in all samples, varying from 14,203 to 18,833 mg/kg of lipids. Campesterol and cycloartenol were other major sterols, and these compounds including b-sitosterol constituted 56-72% of all sterols. Fenugreek seed lipids consisted predominantly triunsaturated (56.9-66.5%) and diunsaturated (32.2-41.6%) triacylglycerides. Among these components trilinolein (LLL; 12.9-20.5%) dominated followed by PLL (14.0-20.4%), LnLnO (7.8-17.7%), PLO (5.7-11.6%), OLL (6.9-10.6%), LLLn (3.2-9.6%), and LnLnL (3.5-7.6%). Results of the study show that fenugreek seed lipids may be a source of a nutraceutical ingredient for food applications.

Genetic variation in fatty acid composition of fenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed oil

“…Fatty acids viz., eicosanoic acid (20:1) acid and 13-Docosenoic acid (20:1 n-9) showed their presence above 1 % in some varieties. These results are in agreement with Ciftci et al,(2011),except the amount of -linolenic acid, which was more in our study. Similarly Sulieman et al, (2008) analyzed the composition of fatty acids in Sudan fenugreek and El-Sebaiy and El-Mahdy (1983) analyzed fatty acid composition in Egyptian fenugreek also found less content of linolenic acid as compared to present study.…”

Content of biogenic elements and fatty acid composition of fenugreek seeds cultivated under different conditions

“…In a Canadian experiment investigating different fenugreek cultivars grown on semiarid soil in three experimental fields, the lipid content of seeds fluctuated widely from 5.8% to 15.2% (Ciftci et al, 2011). Abdelgani et al (1999) cited studies support the observation that agrotechnological factors and environmental conditions may strongly differentiate the oil content of fenugreek seeds.…”

Efficacy of Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract in Reducing Metabolic and Inflammatory Alterations Associated With Menopause

“…A more polar solvent such as ethanol is used to extract more polar constituents (e.g. tannins and glycosides) (39,40). Interestingly, in our experiment, both EE and HE of T. foenum-graecum could correct metabolic and inflammatory alterations induced by ovariectomy (although the HE showed stronger effects).…”