TOTAL LIPIDS, PROTEINS, MINERALS AND ESSENTIAL OILS OF PINUS NIGRA ARNOLD AND PINUS SYLVESTRIS GROWING WILD IN KOSOVO

Abstract

The soil and climatic conditions allow the growth of a lot of medical herbs in Kosovo. Lipids, proteins, minerals and essential oils were quantitatively determined from the Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus sylvestris growing wild in Germia Park (located in the north-east of Pristina). Total proteins were analyzed, by Kjeldahl method. The total amount of proteins in Pinus nigra Arnold is 7.714 % and in Pinus sylvestris is 4.375 %. Lipids are analyzed by Soxhlet extraction. The total amount of lipids in Pinus nigra Arnold are 7.185 % and in Pinus sylvestris 6.670 %. Essential oils were isolated using steam distillation. The total amount of essential oils in Pinus nigra Arnold are 0.35 % and in Pinus sylvestris 0.32 %. The mineral content was studied and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Six elements, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper were determined in Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus sylvestris . The mean levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper are 0.0246 %, 0.128 %, 0.426 %, 1.72 x10 -3 %, 0.0173 %, 3.83 x10 -4 % in Pinus nigra Arnold, respectively. The mean levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper are 6.9 x10 -4 %, 0.042 %, 0.118 %, 9.5 x10 -3 %, 0.084 %, 1.9 x10 -3 % in Pinus sylvestris , respectively. Calcium and potassium are present in large amounts of Pinus nigra Arnold while calcium and iron to Pinus sylvestris .