Fatty acids in different pulses produced and consumed in Bangladesh

Abstract

Five pulse samples, Musuri (Lens esculenta), Orhor (Cajnus indicus), Motor (Pisum sativum), Kheshari (Lathyrus sativus) and Mash-kalai (Phaseolus Munqo), produced and consumed in Bangladesh, were extracted with ether (Soxhlet). Total fat, estimated by gravimetry, ranged from 1 to 1.7 % of dry weights. Four saturated and 4 unsaturated fatty acids were detected in all in these fat extracts by g.l.c. The fat from Musuri, Orhor, Motor and Kheshari had 18 to 28 % palmitic acid and 54 to 67 % linoleic acid. Musuri fat also had oleic (17 %) and linolenic (10 %) acids as major components. Fat from Mash-kalai had an unusual pattern of fatty acids and contained linolenic (70 %) and behenic (10 %) acids as major components. The unsaturated by saturated fatty acid ratios in the fat extracts ranged between 2.3 for Orhor to 4.4 for Musuri.