Alpha linolenic acid rich oils. Composition of Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha Inchi) oil from Peru

Abstract

In this short paper the oil obtained from the Plukenetia volubilis seeds, a plant belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae, is described. This crop is cultivated in several Countries of South America. For P volubilis oil numerous classical chemical parameters were evaluated. The obtained data indicate that this oil can be classified as rich in alpha linolenic acid (> 50 %). For the commercial development of this product all available precautions must be taken to avoid or to slow down the oxidative degradation.