CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF FLOWER BUD AND OILS OF TUMBLEWEED (GUNDELIA TOURNEFORTI L.) AS A NEW POTENTIAL NUTRITION SOURCES

Abstract

ABSTRACT The chemical composition and mineral contents of flower bud of tumbleweed (Gundelia tourneforti L.) wild growing in Turkey were studied. The tumble weed flower buds were rich in crude oil, crude protein and crude fiber. At the same time, it proved to be a good source for minerals K, Ca, P, Na, Fe, Mg, Zn. The oil of flower buds were rich in linoleic (57.8%), followed by oleic (28.5%) and palmitic (8.1%). Stearic, vacsenic and arachidic were also found. The total content of sterol of the oil was established as 3,766.60 mg/kg, with β-sitosterol as the predominant sterol that accounted for more than 51.76% of the total amount of sterols. Other sterols were established as 18.52% stigmasterol, 9.82% 5-avenasterol, 6.02% campesterol, 3.68% 7-stigmastenol and 2.63% 7-avenasterol. The total content of vitamin E active compounds in the oil was determined as 51.9 mg/100 g. The predominant isomers were α-tocopherol (48.9 mg/100 g) and γ-tocopherol (1.0 mg/100 g). PRACTICAL APPLICATION The head part of Gundelia tournefortii is composed of several groups of flowers. The gundelia is an edible spiny, thistle-like flowering plant. The edible parts are the leaves, stems, roots, and undeveloped flower buds. The soft white part of the young leaves is used in soup. The flowers, leaves, seeds and stems of Tumbleweed are consumed as food sources. At the same time, it is an important food source and a well-known medicinal plant in Eastern Anatolia.