Distribution of fatty acids from the Pinus seed oils and a chemotaxonomic survey

Abstract

Fatty acids from the seed oils of Pinus densiflora, P. thunbergii, P. tabulaeformis, P. henryi, P. taiwanensis, P. massoniana, P. bungeana and P. koraiensis were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry. The results showed that the distribution of fatty acids from the seed oils in all 8 species are very similar: the dominant component is linoleic acid and there are also three kinds of Delta 5 unsaturated fatty acids. No significant differences in fatty aid composition among the Pinus species examined was noted.