Lipid characterization of Eryngium maritimum seeds grown in Tunisia

Fatty acid, triacylglycerol, phospholipid, tocol and sterol compositions of E. maritimum seeds collected from plants grown in ten different Tunisian littoral locations were determined. Constitutes from different locations are significantly different. Seeds presented high oil content, ranging from ca. 22% to 34% on a dry weight basis, and were characterized by a constant fatty acid profile among the growing locations. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed an important level of unsaturated fatty acids (ca. 90% of total fatty acid content), with a prevalence of oleic (ca. 63%) and linoleic (ca. 25%) acids. Results obtained by GC-FID showed that the carbon number (CN) values of the TAGs in all samples were 50 (1.5%), 52 (25.6%) and 54 (73%). Phosphatidylcholine was the most common phospholipid, accounting for more than 60% of the total content, followed by phosphatidic acid (about 30%). Different tocols concentration was reported in seeds with β-tocotrienol as the most abundant one in all samples. Stigmasterol was the most abundant sterol in all seeds, representing nearly 70% of the total content, followed by β-sitosterol and Δ7-sitosterol. In all, the findings of this work highlight the valuable levels of minor constituents from Eryngium maritimum storage lipids which can be therefore a prospective source of useful natural bioactive molecules that may replace synthetic antioxidants.