Fatty Acid Composition of Hibiscus trionum L. (Malvaceae)

Abstract

The genus Hibiscus plants have different uses, some are used as foods (H. esculenta L.), and some species as remedy in traditional medicine (H. sabdariffa L.) as well as a colorant for herbal teas. The only species that grows naturally in Turkey is H. trionum L. The plant especially infests soy and corn fields, and therefore it is considered to be a noxious weed. The plant is also found to be a host for Potato Virus Y (PVY) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). Infestation of the crop fields by this plant shows that it germinates easily. Since it produces many seeds, distribution of the plant is also quiet easy. Though, seed oil yield is low (4.7%) since linoleic acid composition of the seed oil is quiet high (67,5%), it can still be used as a source of unsaturated fatty acids. The other major fatty acids are palmitic, oleic and stearic acids in the studied seed oil.