Unexploited Acacia cyanophylla seeds: potential food sources of ω6 fatty acids and antioxidants?
BACKGROUND
In order to investigate new sources of dietary phytochemicals, recent studies have focused on underexploited seeds. In this study the total lipid contents, fatty acid profiles and levels of soluble proteins, minerals and antioxidants in seeds from 12 Acacia cyanophylla ecotypes commonly grown in Tunisia were determined.


RESULTS
Total lipids averaged 101.7 g kg(-1) on a dry weight basis. Linoleic (61.11-65.45% of total fatty acid content), oleic (19.67-22.85%) and palmitic (9.18-9.98%) acids were the principal fatty acids. Smaller proportions of stearic (1.49-1.82%), vaccenic (1.13-2.05%) and palmitoleic (0.34-0.58%) acids were also quantified. Proteins (by Kjeldahl assay) averaged 107.2 g kg(-1) on a dry weight basis. Total phenolics averaged 1.91 g gallic acid equivalent kg(-1) dry weight (DW) and total flavonoids averaged 0.40 g rutin equivalent kg(-1) DW. The free radical-scavenging activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay averaged 0.59 mmol L(-1) Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), while that determined by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay averaged 0.28 mmol L(-1) TEAC.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study confirm the presence of ω6 fatty acids at high levels in A. cyanophylla seeds. These metabolites could be used as such and/or extracted for the formulation of supplements and/or ingredients to provide a ratio close to the ideal for the ω3/ω6 balance.
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Campus Universitaire, Tunis 2092, Tunisia.
Nouha
N
Youzbachi
Walid
W
Elfalleh
Nizar
N
Tlili
Stephane
S
Gregoire
Olivier
O
Berdeaux
Christian
C
Salles
Saida
S
Triki
Mohamed-Larbi
ML
Khouja
Abdelhamid
A
Khaldi
Nizar
N
Nasri
D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D060146:Ecotype; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014416:Tunisia
D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D059808:Polyphenols; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl