Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Some Edible Plants

The total lipid contents and the distribution of fatty acids were determined in the leaves, fruits and seeds of eight plant species, collected from different areas of NWFP, Pakistan. Results for total lipid and fatty acid composition are given. The amount of lipid, on fresh weight basis, varied from 0.25 % to 1.14 %. The general order of decreasing lipid potential was seeds> leaves> fruits. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed that principal saturated fatty acid in the species was palmitic (3.14 to 37.71 %). Among the monounsaturated series oleic acid (1.56 to 15.96 %) was highest while linoleic (4.77 to 38.49 %) and alpha­linolenic (5.32 to 44.03 %) acids observed the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids, but their relative proportions varied. Most of the plant foods discussed in this article contribute significantly to the diets of the populations of NWFP and the nutrient values reported herein represent a contnbutlon 10 the e,pandlng database of the nutrient contents of the plant foods of thiS part of Pakistan

MUHAMMAD IMRAN ,MUHAMMAD IQBAL BANGER ,IKHTIAR KHAN ,