Fatty acid composition of hempseed oils from different locatins in Turkey

Recent interest in hempseed as a source of food has largely focused on its oil content and fatty acid profile. The oil content and fatty acid composition (15 fatty acids) of twenty one different hempseed samples of domestic origin from north-western Turkey were monitored. The samples were obtained from seed wholesalers and local spice shops and are of unknown genetic origin. The oil content of the hempseeds ranged between 29.6 to 36.5%. Out of the 15 detected fatty acids, the omega-6 linoleic acid (18:2n-6) was predominant and fluctuated from 55.4 to 56.9%, while the omega- 3 á-linolenic (18:3n-3) acid ranged from 16.5 to 20.4% and the omega-9 oleic acid (18:1n-9) ranged from 11.4 to 15.9%. Of the minor fatty acids, the highest concentrations were found for ã-linolenic acid (18:3n-6), range 0.6-1.1%, followed by stearidonic acid (18:4n-3), range 0.3-0.5%. These results show that hempseed grown in north-western Turkey provides a well balanced and rich source of dietary omega-6 and -3 essential fatty acids and appears to be a potentially valuable source of food.El reciente interes por las semillas de canamo como alimento se ha enfocado en su contenido en aceite y su perfil de acidos grasos. En este estudio se analizo el contenido en aceite y composicion de acidos grasos de 21 muestras diferentes de semillas de canamo de origen genetico desconocido en el noroeste de Turquia. El contenido en aceite de las semillas vario entre 29,6 y 36,5%. De los 15 acidos grasos detectados, el acido linoleico (18:2n-6) (omega-6) fue predominante y fluctuo entre 55,4 y 56,9%; el acido �¿-linolenico (18:3n-3) (omega-3) entre 16,5 y 20,4%; y el acido oleico (18:1n-9) (omega-9) entre 11,4 y 15,9%. Entre los acidos grasos minoritarios, se encontraron las mayores concentraciones (entre 0,6 y 1,1%) para el acido �Á-linolenico (18:3n-6), seguido del acido estearidonico (18:4n-3), entre 0,3 y 0,5%. Estos resultados muestran que las semillas de canamo que se cultivan en el noroeste de Turquia pueden ser un alimento potencialmente valioso y constituirian para la dieta una fuente rica y equilibrada de acidos grasos omega-6 y -3