Investigation on the potential of halophytes as a source of edible oil (Case Study: Suaedaaegyptiaca and Halocnemumstrobilaceum)

Abstract

Given the extent of saline lands in Iran, cultivation and utilization of halophytes and salt tolerant species under the condition that both water and soil are saline could be a viable option in production and extraction of vegetable oils from halophytes and salt tolerant species. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of two halophytes namely: Suaeda aegyptiaca and Halocnemum strobilaceum as a source of edible oil as well as quantitative and qualitative oil analysis. Therefore, the seeds of two halophytes were collected from saline lands of Yazd province, Iran. The extraction of fatty acids was performed by Soxhlet method using a solvent. The analysis of fatty acids was performed by GC. The oil yield obtained from S.aegyptiaca and H.strobilaceum was calculated to be 32.99 and 17.76%, respectively. According to the results of oil analysis, Lauric acid (C12), Myristicacid (C14), Palmitic acid (C16) and Stearic acid (C18) were identified as saturated fatty acids in the seed oil of both studied halophytes. Unsaturated fatty acids included Oleic acid (C18: 1), Linoleic acid (C18: 2) and Linolenic acid (C18: 3) and related isomers. Our results clearly indicate that the seeds of S.aegyptiaca could be used as a source of edible oil for human consumption. Although the oil yield obtained from H.strobilaceum was almost half that of S.aegyptiaca, however, due to the percentage of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids identified in H.strobilaceum, further investigation is required to examine the real potential of this halophyte as a source of edible oil.