Lipid Composition of Carduus thoermeri Weinm., o nopordum aCanthium L. and s ilybum marianum L., gro Wing in Bu Lgaria

Zhelev, I., P. MerdZhanov, М. AngelovA-RomovA, m. ZlAtAnov, g. AntovA, I. DImItRovADyulgeRovA and A. StoyAnovA, 2014. lipid composition of Carduus thoermeri Weinm., Onopordum acanthium l. and Silybum marianum l., growing in Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 20: 622-627 Seed oil chemical composition of wild growing Carduus thoermeri Weinm., Onopordum acanthium l. and Silybum marianum l. were studied for the first time in Bulgaria, by using gC, HPlC, tlC and spectrophotometrical methods. the major components of fatty acids were oleic (342 530 g.kg-1), linoleic (176 511 g.kg-1) and palmitic (99 150 g.kg-1). α-tocopherol was the main component in the tocopherol fraction of O. acanthium seeds (911 g.kg-1). In the sterol fraction the main components were β-sitosterol (546 632 g.kg-1) and campesterol (128 156 g.kg-1). Phosphatidylinositol was with the highest concentration in the phospolipid fraction (317 g.kg-1 in C. thoermeri and 320 g.kg-1 in O. acanthium). Due to content of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and phytosterols, the seeds of these widespread species (especially O. acanthium) could be utilized as a valuable oil source for human consumption.