Mertensia (Boraginaceae) seeds are new sources of γ-linolenic acid and minor functional compounds

In this work, seeds from selected Mertensia species were analyzed for γ-linolenic acid-rich oils and minor functional compounds. Fatty acids (FA) were analyzed by GC-FID; tocopherols, sterols, squalene, and phenolics compounds by HPLC-DAD, and the structures of the latter were confirmed by LC-MS. M. maritima spp. asiatica and M. sibirica showed the highest amounts of γ-linolenic acid (22.8 and 18.7%, respectively) and total FA (15.9 and 10.9 g/100 g seeds, respectively). M. sibirica had the greatest levels of sterols, phenolics and tocopherols (244.8, 243.9 and 66.3 mg/100 g, respectively), in which stigmasterol, rosmarinic acid and α-tocopherol (237.7, 180.1 and 53.6 mg/100 g, respectively) were the most abundant components. M. maritima spp. asiatica and M. arizonica showed the highest amounts of squalene (2.5 and 1.1 mg /100 g seeds). Mertensia species constitute a new source of GLA-rich oils, suitable to be marketed by the pharmaceutical and food industries.