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Fatty Acid Profiles of Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants

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Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants

Abstract

The current diet in Western societies contains large amounts of linoleic acid instead of α-linolenic acid, which clearly differs from the previous diets developed by Paleolithic people. Accordingly, in Western diets, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio ranges between 15/1 and 16.7/1, instead of the traditional safe range of 1−2:1. To improve this ratio, Mediterranean edible wild plants constitute a wide reservoir of useful plants that can be consumed as salads, seeds, fruits, and spices. Depending on the consumed organ, edible wild plants provide different fatty acids; usually leaves, fruits, and stems constitute a valuable source of α-linolenic acid, while the seeds typically contain linoleic acid. This chapter discusses about the fatty acid content of different organs of Mediterranean wild edible plants, which can contribute to fulfill the daily need of essential fatty acids for human beings.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid, 20:4n-6

ALA:

α-linolenic acid, 18:3n:3

DHGLA:

Dihomo-γ-linolenic, 20:3n-6

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3

EFA:

Essential fatty acid

EA:

Erucic acid, 22:1n-9

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3

FA:

Fatty acid

GLA:

γ-linolenic, 18:3n-6

LA:

Linoleic acid, 18:2n-6

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid

OA:

Oleic acid, 18:1n-9

PA:

Palmitic acid, 16:0

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SA:

Stearic acid, 18:0

SDA:

Stearidonic acid, 18:4n-3

TAG:

Triacylglycerol

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Technology Division, Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

    José Luis Guil-Guerrero PhD

  2. Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología II, Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    María Esperanza Torija-Isasa PhD

Authors
  1. José Luis Guil-Guerrero PhD
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  2. María Esperanza Torija-Isasa PhD
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Correspondence to José Luis Guil-Guerrero PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata

  2. Dept. de Investigación Agroalimentaria, IMIDRA, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Tardío

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Guil-Guerrero, J., Torija-Isasa, M. (2016). Fatty Acid Profiles of Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants. In: Sánchez-Mata, M., Tardío, J. (eds) Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3329-7_8

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