FATTY ACID PROFILES OF LEAVES OF NINE EDIBLE WILD PLANTS: AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nine species (Amaranthus viridis L. , Atriplexnummularia L. , Chenopodium album L. , Plantago major L. , Portulaca oleracea L. , Solanum nigrum L. , Sonchus oleraceus L. , Stellaria media L. and Taraxacum officinale W.) of edible wild plants grown in Australia were examined for their fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. The total fatty acid contents in the young leaves of these species ranged from 8.75 to 29.12 mg/g of dry matter, and were predominantly comprised of the alpha‐linolenic acid (4.78 to 19.88 mg/g). These plants did not contain any of the longer‐chain omega‐3 fatty acids, namely eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid or docosapentaenoic acid.