Fatty acids and beta-carotene in australian purslane (Portulaca oleracea) varieties.
The fatty acid profile and beta-carotene content of a number of Australian varieties of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) were determined by GC and HPLC. The total fatty acid content ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 mg/g of fresh mass in leaves, 0.6 to 0.9 mg/g in stems and 80 to 170 mg/g in seeds. alpha-Linolenic acid (C18:3omega3) accounted for around 60% and 40% of the total fatty acid content in leaves and seeds, respectively. Longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids were not detected. The beta-carotene content ranged from 22 to 30 mg/g fresh mass in leaves. These results indicate that Australian purslane varieties are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid and beta-carotene.
Liu
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L
Smart Foods Centre, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Howe
P
P
Zhou
Y F
YF
Xu
Z Q
ZQ
Hocart
C
C
Zhan
R
R
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D019207:beta Carotene