Proximate composition and seed lipid components of sorghum cultivars from Argentina

Abstract

Seeds of 11 sorghum cultivars (Sorghum bicolor) from Argentina were analysed for proximate composition, fatty acids and sterols. Oil, protein, carbohydrate and ash contents varied between 41 and 66 g kg(-1), 111 and 156 g kg(-1), 670 and 730 g kg(-1) and 13.8 and 20.6 g kg(-1) of dry matter, respectively. Fatty acid profiles revealed that the major acids were palmitic (15.1-24.8%), oleic (29.9-41.8%) and linoleic (35.9-51.3%). Unsaponifiable matter was examined for sterols. Sitosterol was the prominent component in all cultivars (43.8-57.9%), followed by campesterol (18.7-29.1%) and stigmasterol (12.4-20.5%).