Fatty acids and other lipid composition of five Trifolium species with antioxidant activity

Abstract

The contents of fatty acids and other lipids of Trifolium balansae Boiss, Trifolium stellatum Lin., Trifolium nigrescens Viv. subsp. petrisavi (Clem) Holmboe, Trifolium constantinopolitanum Ser., and Trifolium resupinatum L. var. resupinatum L. (Leguminosae) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The whole plant hexane extracts of five Trifolium species contained eight fatty acids consisting of linolenic (31.1%) and palmitic (18.9%) acids as the most abundant unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, respectively. The total unsaturation for the oils of five Trifolium species was 30.6-42.2%. In addition to fatty acids, some alkanes and phytol were also obtained. The antioxidant activity and contents of fatty acids and lipids of five Trifolium species T. balansae, T. stellatum, T. nigrescens subsp. petrisavi, T. constantinopolitanum, and T. resupinatum var. resupinatum are presented for the first time in this study.