Potential oil resources from underutilized seeds of Cynophalla flexuosa (Capparaceae) from coastal and semiarid regions of Northeast Brazil

Abstract

In this study, the oil content and fatty acid profile of Cynophalla flexuosa seeds from three localities with different climatic characteristics were analyzed. The mean oil content ranged from 16.37% in seeds from coastal area (Restinga ecosystem) to 22.74% in those from two semiarid regions (Caatinga ecosystem). Our initial hypothesis that temperature, precipitation, altitude and salinity would have a significant effect on oil production was not confirmed. The fatty acid profile was predominantly saturated in seeds from Restinga, with a high content of palmitic acid (56.46%). In seeds from Caatinga, palmitic acid (42.89%) and oleic acid (44.22%) were equally predominant. At higher altitudes (e.g. Caatinga), C. flexuosa seeds produced more oleic acid, and at sea level (e.g. Restinga), production of this fatty acid was reduced (22.05%). Cluster (UPGMA) and Principal Component Analyses (PCA) showed that the fatty acid profile of C. flexuosa seeds differed within and between localities and may have been influenced by climatic parameters such as altitude, minimum temperature, and latitude. Although C. flexuosa belongs to Capparaceae, a family close to Brassicaceae, its fatty acid profile was different from those of Capparis spinosa (caper) and Brassica napus (canola), mainly due to the low percentage of linoleic acid (less than 10%). Based on the fatty acid profile, we present potential uses of C. flexuosa seed oil, which may vary according to the origin of the plants.