The occurrence of ricinoleic acid in Linum seed oils

Abstract

Thirty-one Linum species, representing each of the 5 taxonomic sections of the genus, were analyzed for fatty acid composition of the seed oils. Linolenic acid was the major component of the seed oil of species from the sections Linum and Dasylinum, whereas linoleic acid predominated in those from the sections Syllinum, Linastrum and Catbartolinum. All 5 species tested from the section Syllinum contained ricinoleic acid as a minor component, ranging between 3% and 8% of total fatty acids. Ricinoleic acid was not present in any other species analyzed. An unidentified fatty acid was present as a minor component in species from the sections Linum and Dasylinum but absent in species from other sections of the genus. © 1984 AOCS Press.