The Occurrence of Very Long-Chain fatty acids in oils from Wild Plant species Originated from Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Fatty acids C20-C26 are important for use in oleo-chemical industry whereas they also allow assessing chemotaxonomic relationships among plant taxa. There are however, comparatively few common vegetable fats which contain them in appreciable amounts.Using gas chromatography this type of very long-chain fatty acids was analyzed in oils from Pentaclethra macrophylla (Fabaceae), Millettia dura (Fabaceae), Tephrosia vogelii (Fabaceae),Cardiospermum halicacabum (Sapindaceae), Maesopsis eminii (Rhamnaceae), Podocarpus usambarensis (Podocarpaceae) and Myrianthus arboreus and M. holstii (Moraceae),wild plant species from Kahuzi-Biega National Park and adjacent areas in D.R. Congo. These plants are used by the local population mainly for nutrition and medical purposes.The percentage of very-long chain fatty acids in the analyzed oils ranged from 1.2 to 21.3%. P. macrophylla revealed the highest rate and M. holstii showed the lowest rate. These acids consist of arachidic, eicosenoic, eicosadienoic, eicosapentaenoic, erucic, behenic and lignoceric acids. Traces of non-methylene interrupted fatty acids were identified (0.1 – 0.2%) in three of the analyzed species and at a significant level (7.4%) in P. usambarensis. Some species had an arachidic acid content similar to that of groundnut oil and could be used as an alternative source of this acid.