Minor lipid components of some Acacia species: potential dietary health benefits of the unexploited seeds

BACKGROUND: Oilseed samples from four Acacia species ( A. cyclops, A. ligulata, A. salicina and A. cyanophylla) were analyzed in order to evaluate the potential nutritional value of their unexploited seeds. METHODS: Samples were collected from different Tunisian geographic locations. Seed oils were extracted and carotenoids, tocopherols and sterols were analyzed using chromatographic methods. RESULTS: The studied Acacia seeds seem to be quite rich in lipids (from 6% to 12%). All Acacia species contain mainly the xanthophylls zeaxanthin and lutein compounds: from ca. 38 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 113 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyanophylla). Total tocopherols varied from ca. 221 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 808 mg.kg(-1) of total lipids (A. ligulata). Sterols are highly present and their contents ranged between ca. 7 g. kg(-1) of total lipids (A. salicina) and 11 g. kg(-1) of total lipids (A. cyclops). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that these unexploited seeds might have a potential nutritional value and encourages researchers to more explore and find developments for these plants for healthy purposes.