Composition of Fatty Acids and Tocopherols Content in Oilseeds of Six Wild Selected Plants from Kahuzi-Biega National Park/DR. Congo

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.