Composition of Fatty Acids in Winged Bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC] Seed Oil

Abstract

The oil content and fatty acid composition of 19 genetically improved cultivars of winged bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC] seeds were determined. The oil content ranged from 14.5% to 22.7%. Oleic acid (41.4% +/- 1.5) and linoleic acid (29.7% +/- 1.1) were main constitutents and contributed above 70%, however, the total unsaturated fatty acid ranged from 66.8% to 78.9% (73.9% +/- 0.9). Varieties BRWS-103, BRWS-114 and BRWS-118 have higher linoleic acid while BRWS-101, BRWS-102 and BRWS-105 have many fold higher oleic acid. Palmitic (10.9% +/- 0.6), behenic 6.7% +/- 0.4) and stearic (3.5% +/- 0.3) acids were the major saturated fatty acids. Parinaric acid, a toxic fatty acid was absent in seed oil of all the varieties. The oil can be stored for longer period being low in linolenic acid (0.9% +/- 0.1).