Ácidos grasos constituyentes del aceite de las semillas de Leonotis nepetaefolia L.

Leonotis nepetaefolia (L.) R.Br. specie, known as Baston de San Francisco, has been used in Cuba for medicinal and ornamental purposes. However, the fatty acid (FA) composition of the seed oil obtained from this species in our country has not been reported. Taking into account these facts, the aim of this work was to determine the FA constituents of L. nepetaefolia seeds oil. Seeds were collected, milled and extracted with hexane in an ultrasonic bath. The extracts (n=2) were filtered and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator at 60 °C. Organoleptic characteristics and extraction yields of the oils were determined. The content of FAs, analysed as methyl esters, were determined by gas chromatography with a BPX-70 capillary column and a flame ionization detector. A light yellow oil with peculiar odor was obtained, yielding 28.2% (w/w). The main FAs found were oleic (C18:1 n-9; 43,2%), laballenic (C18:2 n-5,6; 18,4%), palmitic (C16:0; 15,0%), linoleic (C18:2 n-9,12; 13,4%), and stearic (C18:0; 5,7%), while other fatty acids, such as C12:0 to C16:0, C16:1 (n-7 y n-9), C17:0, C18:1 (n-7), C18:3 (n-9,12,15), C20:0, C20:1 (n-11), C22:0, and C24:0 were found in proportions < 1%. Overall, the FAs content is in good agreement with that described in literature for this species. These results represent the first study of the chemical composition of the oil from this species growing in Cuba and could contribute to support its potential medicinal and nutritional uses.