Combining NMR Spectroscopy and Gas-Liquid Chromatography for Analysis of the Fatty Acid Composition of Fenugreek Seed Oil (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)

• Published in: Journal of applied spectroscopy 2013-11, Vol.80 (5), p.779-782
• Main Authors: Skakovskii, E. D., Tychinskaya, L. Yu, Mauchanava, V. A., Karankevich, E. G., Lamotkin, S. A., Ahabalayeva, A. D., Reshetnikov, V. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Glycerin; Glycerol; Linolenic acids; Liquid chromatography; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Omega-3 fatty acids; Ovarian cancer; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Seeds
• ISSN: 0021-9037; 1573-8647
• DOI: 10.1007/s10812-013-9842-0

1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy established that fenugreek seed oil consists mainly of triacylglycerides. Oleic and linoleic acids are found preferentially in the 2 position and α-linolenic acid is found preferentially in the 1,3 positions of the glycerol backbone. By combining NMR and gas-liquid chromatography, we have shown that fenugreek seeds contain 5.5 %-6.8 % oil, consisting mainly of unsaturated fatty acids (68.2 %–82.1 %): linoleic (31.3 %–46.8 %), α-linolenic (15.1 %–36.6 %), and oleic (11.6 %–21.3 %). The highest unsaturated fatty acid content is found in the cultivars D-19, Ovary Gold, Blidet, Ovary 4 and the lowest fatty acid content is found in the Metha cultivar. The percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids is higher in oils of fenugreek cultivars from northern regions (Belarus, Hungary, France).